Can Selling Girl Scout Cookies Help You Return To Paid Work?

When my girls joined Girl Scouts, I didn’t realize that I was also signing up… to become a cookie saleswoman! There are lots of benefits to having the girls be their own “Cookie CEO” as this Confessions of Cookie Mom blog shares. And while the goal is to have my daughter’s do most of the selling, I help in more ways than one. Loading boxes of cookies to and from my car, delivering them to cookie buyers, double checking the financial records, encouraging my daughters when they get discouraged about a slow sales day, and much more.

What’s your mom fundraising experience? Bake sales? Christmas wrapping paper? Spring flowers? Mulch? Cookie dough? Boy Scout popcorn? Yard sales? 

Whatever your experience, it’s important to know that fundraising isn't just about school bake sales and community events — it's a valuable skill set that seamlessly translates into numerous job roles. 

Professional Fields Seeking Fundraising Experience

If you are looking to return to paid work after a career pause, positioning the skills you’ve developed through parenthood will elevate you amidst the competition. Consider these fields and how each may be looking for exactly what you have to offer:

Nonprofits

Your expertise in fundraising for churches, schools, and community organizations positions you perfectly for roles in nonprofit development. You've mastered the art of mobilizing resources and engaging donors while also being resourceful with a small budget. This makes you a valuable asset for organizations looking to raise funds for their causes. 

Corporate Social Responsibility

As a mom, you often engage in fundraising activities to support causes that align with your values and benefit your children's school, community, or other organizations. Similarly, Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives are driven by a company's commitment to social and environmental issues that align with its values and purpose. Your experience in fundraising for causes close to your heart positions you well to understand and contribute to a company's CSR efforts.

Event Coordination

Fundraising and event planning go hand in hand, and as a parent, there’s no doubt that you've orchestrated countless memorable events, from bake sales to lemonade stands and you may have been involved in bigger events like the school gala or talent show! Your talent for coordinating logistics and rallying volunteers (your partner and children count!) positions you well for careers in event coordination. 

Sales and Business Development

Fundraising and sales share common core principles—relationship-building, effective communication, and the ability to inspire action. Your experience as a mom fundraiser has sharpened your skills in persuasion, cultivating relationships, and closing deals… “how many girl scout boxes should I put you down for?” These qualities make you an excellent candidate for sales and business development roles. Remember, you're not merely selling cookies or raffle tickets; you're selling ideas, solutions, and opportunities!

Marketing and Communications

In today's competitive business landscape, businesses rely on skilled marketing and communications professionals to create compelling campaigns and engage their target audience. As a mom fundraiser, you've demonstrated your ability to craft persuasive messages, leverage social media, and engage a variety of people in your community. You’ll easily be able to help brands build meaningful connections with their customers.

Other Mom Transferable Skills

Fundraising is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to mom transferable skills that are valuable in the workplace. Budgeting, teamwork,  relationships building, research and problem solving, adaptability and agility, strategic thinking, communication, motivation, and organization are just a few more to consider. 

For even more mom skills that transfer to the workplace, click here.

Ready to leverage your mom transferable skills and get back to paid work? Contact me today to set up a free consultation. Let's strategically position your fundraising experience (and more!) as a valuable asset that will impress employers during interviews and make your resume shine.

Transferable Mom Skill: Fostering Learning And Curiosity For Unique Personalities

Motherhood sure would be a lot easier if each of our children (both our own and others’) were all the same, right? You think you have this motherhood thing down (on a good day) and then another child comes along and everything you thought you knew is thrown out the window. One child is quiet and reserved and the other is boisterous and outgoing. One child loves to read and the other would rather be outside playing in mud puddles. One likes to listen, the other likes to pretend they didn’t hear you.

While it might make motherhood easier, where would the fun be in raising the same children who all grow up to be the same adult? Each child learns and grows in unique ways that complement and enhance their own skills and talents. As mothers, it’s our job to figure out how to do that in a way that sets our children up for success in the home, at school, in extracurricular activities, and eventually into adulthood. 

This is no easy task, and is one of the many mom transferable skills that easily puts any mother at the top of the candidate pool when applying for jobs. If you’ve taken a career pause from work to focus on your children, it’s important to know how to showcase the skills you develop in motherhood on a resume, cover letter, and in an interview when you decide to return to paid work. 

The Initial Groundwork: Problem Solving

Each child – and adult – is unique, so the challenge all mothers face is figuring out how to foster learning and curiosity in that individual. The initial work that you put into figuring out how to do this is basic problem solving. 

You can do this in a few ways:

• Take notes on what your child enjoys and does not enjoy.

• Experiment with different methods of learning that stimulate different senses.

• Consult trusted resources (parenting books, pediatrician, teachers, etc.)

These are just a few of the simplest ways you can go about problem solving to determine the best way to foster learning and curiosity in your child. 

Of course, there are a few scenarios that make this problem more complex. For instance, if your child is completely different from you, you have to think in ways that may be unfamiliar to you. Or, if you have two (or more) children that are completely different, you have to figure out how to focus learning and curiosity in different ways, simultaneously. There is often a lot of trial and error as you go along, and the process never stops as your child grows and their needs change.

This is an experience that develops incredible problem solving skills and is directly transferable to the workplace. Each person on your team will have their own unique ways to learn and work, and having the skill to manage those differences while bolstering teamwork is desired by hiring managers.

Taking Action: Fostering Learning And Curiosity 

Once you figure out what works well for your children, you’ll need to set up an environment that will bring success to your children. Which is not easy when you have to meet different needs for different personalities and development stages. But you, momma, do it and do it well. You figure out how to do it because you have experimented with different strategies to figure out what works best, you have paid attention to the carrots and sticks that your child responds to, you have figured out what they need to learn, and you help them think through what they might do differently next time and adjust when they make mistakes. Knowing how to foster learning and curiosity for your children is a top priority. 

If you know how to showcase this passion and drive when searching for a job, you are sure to land at the top of the list of candidates. When teams have a safe environment to learn and explore their curiosity, it can mean increased productivity, exciting innovation, and a healthier bottom line. Maybe you are the person to make that happen in the workplace. Any team would be lucky to have your mom transferable skill enhance their work! 

OTHER MOM TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Fostering learning and curiosity is just one of many transferable mom skills that you possess and hiring managers want. When preparing your resume, cover letter, and interview talking points, consider other mom skills, such as budgeting, teamwork,  relationships building, research and problem solving, adaptability and agility, strategic thinking, communication, motivation, and organization. 

For even more mom skills that transfer to the workplace, click here.

Partner With Parents Pivot After A Career Pause 

Are you considering returning to paid work after a career pause but don’t know where to start? Parents Pivot is here to help you every step of the way, from building confidence to writing a resume, to rehearsing for an interview to negotiating your salary. Contact us today to begin your journey towards return to work success!

How Your Household Budget Can Help You Land A Job

I’ll never forget the first time that I saw my mom sitting down in front of a stack of papers and receipts, punching away at her calculator and writing down numbers. I remember thinking that she was playing a game and asking if I could join in. I laugh now, thinking about the look on my moms face!

Now that I have two girls of my own, I understand the importance and responsibility that she felt in making sure our household budget not only paid all of our necessary expenses, but gave us a lifestyle of fun and flexibility, without worry. There is a lot that goes into budgeting for a household, and all of the ins-and-outs you learn to make the numbers work develop skills that are easily transferable to the workplace. 

If you are like most moms that come to Parents Pivot for return-to-work coaching and support, you are probably surprised to hear that many of the tasks you do at home develop skills that are well sought after by hiring managers across many industries. It’s all about perspective, and budgeting is no exception. Let’s dive into a few ways that your household budget skills can help you land a job after a career break. 

Mom Transferable Skill: Household Budget Management

As a mom who keeps the house, the people, the pets, and the extracurricular activities all running at or under budget, here are some specific budgeting skills you’ve probably learned that are impressive to share with employers:

You know what’s worth the money, and what’s not. 

There are some things that are worth spending the extra money on (kids shoes that don’t wear out after 3 months), and some things that are not (one-time use Halloween costumes). You have a knack for identifying value and determining the best purchasing choice to help you and your family reach your goals.  

In the workplace, that same skill is needed to spot where a company might be overspending and where they might be underspending. Cutting back or investing is a decision that is often hard to make, and one that you make weekly, if not daily! 

When things change, you get creative within your budget.

Simply stated, a budget is a guideline for how much money you have to spend in a specific category. Sometimes, you have to flex those buckets to make ends meet. For example, if you have an unexpected health care bill because your child broke her arm, instead of dipping into savings, you may opt to reduce your eating out budget for a month or two. Or if your income suddenly drops for whatever reason, you may need to rethink your meal plan for the month to include food items that are more in season and on sale.

Businesses are no different. Revenue may be less than expected one month and more than expected the next. They need someone to help them balance the budget when things don’t go exactly as planned, to keep things on track towards their business goals.  

You’ve accounted for the necessary expenses, while also adding in much-needed value.

If we only spent money on the absolutely necessary expenses, life wouldn't be much fun. No one NEEDS a TV streaming service, a night out at the local arcade, to play sports, or to go on vacation. But those things are a whole lot more fun than paying for water and sewer services! They are where memories are made and life happens. 

In a business, knowing when and how to treat employees to a special lunch, allowing space for professional development funds, or knowing it’s time to host a fun team building day is critical to balancing the books and morale. Without the people that make the business tick, the budget doesn’t mean much.

I’ll add in a very special note here that you also know and recognize when to invest in yourself! Sometimes, you need to invest in new clothing for a job interview or a night out for your sanity. The same goes for investing your return to work transition. I often hear resistance from moms about paying for THRIVE group coaching and I hear you - when you aren’t making money, it’s hard to justify spending money on yourself. But remember that all smart investments end up being of benefit, often saving you money or ultimately making you money in the long term. THRIVE group coaching can help you land a job sooner, thus you’ll be making money sooner. You’ll also learn salary negotiation skills to help you get a return on your THRIVE investment. The bottom line: invest in yourself and you’ll reap the rewards on the other side!

You’ve simplified your budget.

No mom has ever said, “I need to make this complex.” And a household budget is no exception! You’ve figured out how to budget in the least amount of time while minimizing mistakes. In doing so, you’ve saved yourself loads of time and headache. In business, time is money, so knowing how to simplify a budget is an obvious desired skill. 

You know where to look for hidden opportunities.

In my local community, you can pay $15 per person to visit the Art Museum on any given day of the week…except for the first Sunday of every month when it’s completely free for everyone! Hidden opportunities like that abound in mom life, and you’ve become an excellent detective to find them. 

This mom transferable skill is probably on the top of every hiring managers list when budgeting is a main responsibility for the job. Those hidden opportunities to save money may seem like pennies at first, but added together and overtime, can mean thousands of dollars saved for a business.

You focus on not just spending within the budget, but also building savings.

Many moms are hyper aware of their household budget because they have taken time off of work to care for their children. That usually means a one-income household has to support several people. You take great care to spend within the budget, but also to put money away for a rainy day or an unexpected emergency. 

The health of any company depends on building up savings for the same reasons. You never know when you need to spend expected funds, and having the wisdom to save as part of the budget is needed for anyone stewarding a business budget.

OTHER MOM TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Budgeting is just one of many transferable mom skills that you possess and hiring managers want. When preparing your resume, cover letter, and interview talking points, consider other mom skills, such as teamwork,  relationships building, research and problem solving, adaptability and agility, strategic thinking, communication, motivation, and organization. For even more mom skills that transfer to the workplace, click here.

Empathy in the Workplace: Mom Transferable Skill

Have you created a closer bond with your friends who have all become moms around the same time? If you are like most moms, the answer is a resounding yes! And that is the magic of empathy. Empathy is the ability to understand what others are going through.  It brings people together when there may not otherwise be a reason to connect. Empathy is a skill that mothers develop instinctively, and as you consider returning to paid work, it is also a value that is highly marketable as a candidate.

Empathy In Motherhood

In a recent article from mother.ly, one mom took to social media to share about her sleep woes with her four-year-old son. She noticed that those who did not have kids weren’t as empathetic as those who had kids. They withheld the heart emojis and instead responded with things like, “Sleep is overrated” or “you’ll miss this age one day.” Not incredibly helpful in the sleep-deprived moment. Instead of feeling heard and understood, she feels regret for sharing her true feelings.

Even so, her ultimate conclusion is this:

“Becoming a mom has made me even more empathetic to others and made me want to help those around me—even if I don’t personally get what they’re going through. I don’t go around doling out advice left and right, but I certainly listen when a fellow mom is sharing a struggle. And I try to give advice when I think I can help. (Sometimes just sharing your own story when asked is a great way to offer validation to another parent!)”

Empathy In The Workplace

Here’s a workplace equivalent example: you come into the office and notice that one of your coworkers seems distracted and not “on her game” like she usually is. She’s making mistakes that she normally wouldn’t let slip past her. Instead of bubbling with frustration and harboring a “she needs to pull herself together” attitude, you discretely inquire about what might be bothering her. You find out that she has a lot of heavy, personal things going on at home: behavior issues with her kids and her dad’s health is failing. It’s easy for you to understand where she is coming from. You offer to listen as she gets things off her chest and lend a hand with some of her tasks that day to help her overwhelmed mind. The 15 minutes and simple, empathetic gesture turned her day around.

Empathy As A Leadership Skill

“…giving time and attention to others fosters empathy, which in turn, enhances your performance and improves your perceived effectiveness. 

• Empathy in the Workplace: A Tool For Effective Leadership White Paper from Center for Creative Leadership

People that lack empathy can be difficult to work with, and even more difficult to follow if they are in a leadership role. Empathy grounds you and provides you with the ability to connect with others in a way that inspires, motivates, and lifts them up out of the rut they may be stuck in. A critical part of leadership in any organization is the ability to build and maintain relationships, a skill deeply rooted in empathy.

How To Position Empathy In A Job Interview

So how do you market this mom transferable skill in a job interview or in a cover letter? Here are 3 tips to frame empathy in a way that catches a potential employer’s eye:

You are an active listener. In order to understand how someone is feeling, you have to be willing and practice listening. As an empathetic leader, you are always on the lookout for red flags that may alert you to something being “off.” You know how to respectfully inquire and support others without judgment or condescension. And once people start talking, you actively listen, which quickly builds trust and connection with the other person.

You can foster a multi-perspective community. Not everyone has the same experiences and challenges. But everyone can relate to one another in their own unique way through empathy. You demonstrate how to practice empathy in practical ways by acknowledging the feelings, experiences, and viewpoints of others, even if they aren’t the same as yours. This walk-the-walk attitude is a powerful way to build a team that starts to mimic the same behavior. 

You can cultivate compassion. We’ve all heard the old adage, “It’s a dog eat dog world out there.” It’s time to change that, and you are willing to do your part to make a difference. Showing compassion for others on the team instead of encouraging intense, unhealthy competition sets the stage for higher employee satisfaction, improved workplace productivity and collaboration, and overall better work environment.

OTHER MOM TRANSFERABLE SKILLS

Empathy is just one of many transferable mom skills. When preparing your resume, cover letter, and interview talking points, consider other mom skills, such as relationship building, research and problem solving, adaptability and agility, strategic thinking, communication, motivation, and organization. For even more mom skills that transfer to the workplace, click here.

Transferable Mom Skill: Motivation

If you have ever tried to convince a toddler to put on a coat or pick up a room full of toys, you know the power of tapping into what motivates people. With each child, you quickly learn that what motivates one person may have little effect on another, and you adapt your methods accordingly. As a mom, you become adept at motivating different personalities and temperaments in order to achieve desired outcomes, responses, and behaviors.

Those motivational skills come in handy at home, but have you ever thought about how you can use them in the workplace? Being able to successfully motivate others fosters productivity, increases performance output, and boosts morale. It is not surprising, then, that it is a valuable skill employers look for in potential employees. If you are considering a return to paid work, be sure to highlight your motivational skills in your resume, cover letter, and interviews. Follow the talking points below to show how the motivational skills you’ve honed as a mom transfer to the workplace.

How to Transfer Your Mom Motivational Skills Into the Workplace

As a mom, you know how to motivate your family - you do it every day! That ability to guide and inspire your family is useful at home, but it is also valuable in the workplace. Here are a few ways you can position the motivational skills you’ve developed as a mom into a must-have asset for potential employers.

You know how to provide vision and purpose to your “team”.

As captain of the ship at home, you set the course for your family. You know how to clearly communicate what you are working towards, as well as what each member needs to do to achieve family goals. For example, you might share how household responsibilities contribute to a smoothly running home, or what needs to be done to prepare for a vacation. In the workplace, this ability to communicate goals and cast vision gets everyone on the same page, unifies them in a common purpose, and motivates them to work hard to achieve those objectives. 

You are experienced at fostering teamwork.

Whether it’s cleaning the house for company, taking family pictures (a true test of cooperation), or building a loving family environment, you know how to rally the troops and encourage everyone to work together. Teamwork is essential for strong family bonds, and you are experienced at cultivating common purpose, accountability, appreciation of differences, and mutual trust and respect. In the workplace, the ability you’ve developed as a mom for bringing together diverse personalities and viewpoints to achieve a common goal will help you engage your coworkers and encourage them to work together to carry out team objectives.

Your high emotional intelligence will build trust and positive relationships.

Your toddler’s tantrums or teenager’s mood swings may have stretched your limits, but they also developed your emotional intelligence. As a mom, you’ve learned how to manage your emotions and maintain your composure, even in the face of meltdowns and outbursts. You also know how to empathize with your kids when they’re upset and connect with them at a deep, individual level. These abilities to regulate your emotions and build strong, positive relationships not only help you motivate your kids at home, they will also help you motivate adults in the workplace. As an emotionally intelligent leader at work, you will make your coworkers feel valued, inspire their trust, and influence their performance.

You will encourage and empower your team.

Mom life is full of teaching new skills, and you’ve spent years empowering and inspiring your kids as they grow and develop. You’ve learned when to be hands-off and when to give guidance, when and how to praise and correct, and how to build confidence in their abilities. You know how to nurture each child’s skills for productive purposes, and in the workplace, this ability to encourage and empower will produce a team that is highly motivated to perform at their very best.

You are experienced in tailoring motivational methods to unique personalities.

If you have multiple children, you have seen how different individuals can have widely different motivators. Where one child may be highly motivated by praise, another may be more motivated by new responsibilities. After a few years of parenting, you have become well-versed in various motivational methods, and you know how to apply them to your children. This ability to tailor motivation strategies to unique personalities will be a valuable asset to future employers as you bring out the best in every person on your team.

Other Mom Transferable Skills

Motivational skills are one example of transferable mom skills, but there are many others! When preparing your resume, cover letter, and interview talking points, consider your other mom skills, such as research and problem solving, adaptability and agility, strategic thinking, communication, and organization. For even more mom skills that transfer to the workplace, click here.

And if you need a little extra motivation in your job search, then join us for THRIVE! Learn more about how this program can help you as you return to paid work below.

A Solution For Returning to Paid Work: THRIVE

Get the help and support you need to return to paid work with THRIVE group coaching!

THRIVE is a supportive community of like minded returners going through the same thing you are, returning to work after a career pause. THRIVE connects you with other talented, paused parents as you explore career choices, define your strengths, learn how to leverage your skills, and get excited for this next chapter in your life.

Join us for this 3 month return to work program in the fall of 2021! Let THRIVE be the catalyst for you to move towards what’s next.

Dates: Wednesdays October 6, 13, 20, 27, November 3, 10, 17, December 1 & 8

Time: 9am PT/ 10am MT/ 11am CT/ 12pm ET

Location: this THRIVE will be online through Zoom so you can join from anywhere!

Join THRIVE Online today!