As a first time Mum, I understand that moment when you come up for air, brain fog slowly clearing and you start thinking about what getting back into paid work looks like.
Take note I said paid work, because girl you have been working hard these past months looking after and nurturing that beautiful baby of yours, oh how we’d all be rich if we were paid a salary for that!
So paid work, for those that choose not to go back to their former workplace, don’t have the option to or feel things have shifted and it’s time for something new, there can be a lot of thoughts and emotions floating, no not floating, whizzing around your brain about what to do next.
Saddle that up with a little self-doubt, and a drop of Mum guilt and we have a nice concoction ready to boil.
First things first, take a deep breath… and some time (I know this can be easier said than done) to think about what your ideal situation looks like. Is it part-time to work around kids and daycare, full-time or freelancing?
Do you stay in the line of work you were doing or open yourself up to new opportunities? Don’t feel pigeonholed into one specific thing, remember that all those skills you have acquired over the years are transferable and there’s a whole world out there with all sorts on offer.
Once you have an idea of what you want to do, freshen up the old CV and start putting those feelers out. Let people know what you are looking for.
A mindset I’ve always taken with me to interviews is the idea that when I take a job, I don’t want to be able to tick every box. If we do that we are just staying in our comfort zone, which can be nice, but takes away the spark of a challenge.
So chat with friends, reach out to recruiters, cold call places you have always liked the look of, check out the job posting websites, update your LinkedIn to #opentowork, and see what’s out there and where your next role might be waiting.
And be kind to yourself! While you’ve been raising that wonderful child the world hasn’t changed all that much, even though you may feel like it has. You were great at what you did before you went on maternity leave, and you are still great now. It’s easy to let a little self-doubt creep in and if you need a confidence boost, this is it! See this as a chance to make your next opportunity work for you.
Now going outside your comfort zone can feel a little scary and you may have that little niggly voice in your head trying to stop you from growing. But that fear shows you that you are taking the right step. Don’t let it hold you back but instead, let it drive and encourage you to overcome it so you can reach your full potential.
Brush off your favourite work outfit from before so when an opportunity for an interview or a chat comes up, you feel nice and ready.
When you head to interviews, be confident in the skills you have. Plus let’s be realistic, Mum life teaches you a lot about time management, problem solving, multi-tasking and not sweating the small stuff. Having a child gives you a whole new perspective on life and what really matters and that in itself is a huge asset in whatever role you head to next.
After the Pandemic there are a lot of organisations that appreciate the need for more flexibility in the workplace and offer hybrid or remote roles. Something to look into if you are hoping to work around daycare sicknesses and drop-offs. Plus places are starting to pop up even here on the beaches where you can hot desk in co-workspaces and a creche is on site to help you out.
So what are you waiting for, take that deep breath, dust off that CV and go get ‘em!
First time Mum Megan Stuart Adams is a PR & Communications Consultant with over 20 years experience. Passionate and self-motivated, Megan’s talents lie in all things communication, from consulting, talent management, crisis and issues management, to strategic planning, media relations and training.