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!
