If you’re anything like the majority of parents, your career took a backseat when it came to raising kids. You probably planned on finishing up your degree, getting a better job and maybe even starting your own business later in life. But then reality struck with the arrival of your second child or maybe with the addition of another kid. Suddenly, what once seemed like an afterthought has taken center stage in your life and you no longer have time for other priorities. That’s when it becomes evident that choosing to focus on your career is now more important than ever before. Your family needs you at home more than ever before and you can’t just sit idly by waiting for things to get better. However, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways for you to get back on track when it comes to working once again. Here are a few practical tips you can use to turn around your career while simultaneously focusing on your family:
Networking is key when you have kids
When you have kids, you’ve got to find ways to start building a network. This will be crucial when you’re trying to find a new job or position that better fits your needs and your family’s needs. Networking can take many forms like attending professional events, joining professional associations and starting your own business. Networking is especially important when you have young children who need more attention than ever before. It may be a good idea to start looking at options like working from home or finding a virtual assistant so that you can focus on other things while your kids are in school or with an activity.
Don’t wait for work to come to you
When you’re in your mid-30s or even your mid-40s, you may assume that opportunities will come knocking on your door. However, this simply isn’t the case for a lot of parents. Mom and Dad may want to take a break from the workforce or they may be afraid to put themselves out there because they’re afraid of what other people might think. However, you shouldn’t wait for opportunities to come to you. You should be actively seeking them out and finding ways to get your name out there. This may mean spending more time on social media like LinkedIn and Twitter. You may want to consider setting a schedule for posting and tweeting content that is related to your industry or your area of expertise. It may also be a good idea to join professional networking groups online and in-person.
Get online
One of the best ways to get your career back on track is to get online and start searching for jobs. Setting up an online resume is an important step, especially if you’ve been out of the workforce for a while. This will allow you to put your relevant work experience and education information in one place. You can also set up a LinkedIn profile and add photos so that potential employers can see who you are and what you’re about. You can also start networking with potential employers online. Join relevant LinkedIn groups and start posting relevant content related to your industry. You can also start creating YouTube videos and blogging.
Take courses and get certified
If you have a degree, it may be worth looking into online course options. This is especially true if you have a degree that you wish to put to use again. You may want to look into online MBA degree options that allow you to complete your program while also raising your children. You may also want to consider taking certificate programs that are designed to provide you with specific skills that may be relevant to your current position. This will allow you to quickly boost your resume and your pay. You can also look into getting certified in relevant fields. This provides an additional layer of legitimacy to your resume and it can also boost pay.
Have a clear goal.
While it may be tempting to get back into the workforce just for the sake of doing so, you need to have a clear goal in mind. You don’t want to get back into the workforce just because you feel like it. You need to have a goal that is specific, measurable and realistic. This will allow you to stay motivated and make decisions based on what is best for you and your family. You may decide to get back into the workforce simply to make ends meet and pay the bills. This is something that many people decide to do. You may also decide to get back into the workforce in order to have more time to spend with your family. This goal may feel a bit unrealistic at first, but it is possible to achieve.
Cultivate an environment that is conducive to work
You don’t want to get back into the workforce and immediately turn inward. You don’t want to be so busy constantly that you forget to enjoy the things that are important to you. This includes family time and other things that are important to you. You don’t want to get back into the workforce and forget about the important people in your life. This includes your children, your partner and your pets. You don’t want to get back into the workforce and forget about your goals and what you want to accomplish in your life. This includes having more time and the ability to focus on important things that are unrelated to your job.
Don’t Turn Yourself Into a Robot
If you get back into the workforce, you need to remember that you are human and you are not a robot. You need to remember that you are a person with emotions and real feelings. You need to remember that you have a family and a life that you need to prioritize. You need to remember that you need to take care of yourself. This means that you need to make sure that you are eating well, that you are getting enough sleep and that you are recharging your batteries from time to time.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are many ways to get your career back on track once you have children. Start networking, getting online and taking courses and getting certified. These will help you to find work quickly, get a salary boost and build your resume. In addition, you can get certified in relevant fields and then apply for jobs that are related to those fields. Lastly, cultivate an environment that is conducive to work by making sure that you are eating well, that you are getting enough sleep and that you are recharging your batteries from time to time.
