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.

A Mom’s Entrepreneurial Spirit

Four years ago, Parents Pivot was born out of a desire to support moms who had left paid work to take a career pause and wanted to return, but were finding it difficult. During a career pause, moms have time to reflect and aren’t necessarily the same person they were before their pause (motherhood changes you!) or they no longer have the same goals. While that is completely normal and OK, many moms lack the confidence to navigate the job search with their new-found perspective. 

The thing is, moms are superheroes that take life by the horns and successfully manage their household despite all of the uncertainty, chaos, and mundane routines that come with parenthood. From budgeting and organization to strategic thinking and problem solving (and much more), moms have what it takes to reenter the workforce and pursue new career goals. Not only that, they are often more equipped and qualified than many who did not take a career pause!

Building Your Value Through Your Entrepreneurial Spirit

One mom skill that is transferable to the workplace that Parents Pivot is passionate about building awareness in the lives of moms is an entrepreneurial spirit. Most people think “entrepreneur” equates to starting your own business. While it can and does mean that, an entrepreneurial spirit can also take you far in leadership within an organization.

Here are a few ways that you can position the entrepreneurial spirit you’ve built during your career pause as a desired job skill.

You see what needs done, and do it! As soon as you become a parent, something shifts inside your brain and your mama bear instincts kick into full gear. That means protecting your child, but it also means that you will do whatever it takes to provide for them and create an environment that is the best for them to learn and grow. When you see something that needs to be done, whether that is meal planning, cleaning dried up apples from under the couch, or organizing the local soccer carpool schedule, you do it! There is no task too big or too small for you, when it comes to ensuring success for your family. That same mind set is a well sought after skill in the workplace, and is proof that you lead by example. 

You work well with a team. Let’s be honest, it takes a village to raise children and you have learned when to ask for help. The list of “teammates” you work well with may include babysitters, teachers, extended family, and medical professionals. You coordinate and communicate with them to ensure the best care for your children. It’s a sign of wisdom to know that you can’t do it all on your own. In the same vein, successful teams and businesses need a collaborative group of people with a variety of skills to create a well rounded operation to reach their business goals. And they have to be able to work well together to achieve success.

You work well independently. While it takes a village, and teamwork is important, you work well independently too. Sometimes – like that night when a stomach bug decided to hit your little one at 3am – you have to problem solve and make decisions in the moment, on your own. You assess situations quickly and move toward action when you need to. You are good at thinking on your feet and don’t freeze when you're needed. In the workplace, this is a critical skill for any position that will ensure your potential employer that you can work under pressure and still achieve results.

You are always on the lookout to make things more efficient. Part of business is making money. For non-profits that means raising money for a cause and for-profits make money to grow and expand their offerings. In all circumstances, operating as efficiently as possible is important for a lean and healthy budget. The same can be said for time as well. Time is money, after all! You are an expert at doing things efficiently, because if you don’t… it could result in a missed soccer practice, a meltdown in the grocery store, or going over budget on eating out. You group tasks together to get them done quickly, you delegate when it makes sense, you eliminate things that are not the best use of your time.

You make decisions based on value added. Sometimes, it just makes sense to spend money for the best end result. For example, paying a monthly fee to have your groceries delivered is likely worth the investment because it keeps you from going over budget, avoids potential meltdowns when children are in toe, and saves you time that you can invest in doing something else. You are good at weighing the pros and cons of an investment and deciding what will yield the highest return on your investment. This is evidence of a true entrepreneurial spirit!

You problem solve when the unexpected arises. I love this “broom” story that came up in one of the Parents Pivot THRIVE cohorts. Let’s say you ask a mom, “could you please go get the broom out of the closet?” She goes to get the broom but it is not in the closet. She doesn't just come back and tell you the broom isn't in the closet, she thinks about where else the broom could be and looks in other places. She takes ownership of the problem and tries to find a solution on her own without coming to help right away. This is true for how you will handle work problems as well. 

Find A Partner To Help Your Value Shine

Have you taken a career pause and feel that your goals and career aspirations have changed? Don’t let that discourage you from pursuing a professional life that will bring you joy. Parents Pivot has helped over 100 moms through our Thrive Like A Mother job search coaching group, and hundreds more through 1:1 coaching. We’d be honored to help boost your confidence in applying for – and securing – a job that allows you to return to paid work.

You can explore the Parents Pivot website for resources, job openings, upcoming events, our coaching packages, and more. Be sure to sign up for our newsletter (at the bottom of our homepage) to receive tips and the latest information to help you pivot to paid work directly in your inbox.

Motherhood During Crisis & Uncertainty | Mom Transferable Skill

Parenthood unlocks incredible potential for developing workplace skills – often in ways that you may not recognize. From the first day of parenthood you are juggling the unexpected, from pop-up illness to temper tantrums to extracurricular schedules and more… you have to flex each and every day in order to keep your family functioning and moving forward. 

I’ll never forget the first time that I had to reschedule our family’s week-long vacation because of a health crisis that didn’t play favorites – we all got hit, but not at the same time. Talk about a tiring and frustrating week! But at the end of it, I had gone head-to-head with an unfortunate and unexpected problem and came out the other side a stronger parent, and also a stronger candidate for returning to paid work. 

How does parenting during crisis and uncertainty translate to the workplace?

It can be a challenge to showcase the skills you’ve developed during motherhood into a resume or job interview asset, but it can (and should!) be done. Your career pause has shaped and developed your skills just as much as any other job. Here are a few ways you can highlight skills you’ve developed through parenting during crisis and uncertainty.

You are flexible and adaptable. You may have a preferred way of doing things, but you’re wise enough to know when you need to be flexible and change things up. As a parent and caregiver you are often called on to deal with the unpredictable and manage the unexpected, learning to adjust working through sometimes daily uncertainty. If things need to change, there is no point in beating around the bush. You know how and when to be flexible in your strategy, planning, and execution of team (read: family!) projects. This skill is particularly desired in projectment management roles. 

You are prepared. Life’s curveballs don’t throw you for a loop because you are ready for anything. You think through various scenarios and outcomes and have a plan for each situation, just in case. For example, when you plan for a trip with kids (even just a trip to the park!), you think ahead, packing extra diapers, snacks, a favorite book or toy in case of an unexpected meltdown. Your team (read: family!) often relies on you when things go south to keep them all together and functioning smoothly. Preparedness is especially important for project management roles.

You don’t buckle under pressure. When things get tough, you take a deep breath and meet the challenge head on. You understand that setbacks are a part of life, an opportunity to get curious, learn more, and change things up. You don’t let small setbacks bring you down. Instead you aren’t afraid to have tough conversations and do the dirty work to do what needs to be done. This role is particularly important for deadline-driven roles. 

You know when to ask for help. As much as you’d like to do it all, life has taught you that you can’t. It takes a village to raise a child, and reaching out to other people for support is a strength, not a weakness. You also know when to take care of yourself, and respect the limitations of others on your team (read: family!) as well. This is a critical skill in any role!

Finding Return to Work Support During Uncertain Times

Unfortunately, parenting isn’t the only uncertainty in our lives. Even with the global pandemic behind us, our world is still sitting in uncertain times. The International Monetary Fund recently issued a warning that the global financial outlook could slow growth. Since 2020, our world has been sitting in uncertainty, bouncing between crisis after crisis – the future unknown to all. 

While this warning is unsettling, uncertain financial times signal a great time for parents to return to paid work after taking a career pause, providing families with peace of mind and financial security. If you feel that now is the time for you to return to work and want help navigating the job market during uncertain times, Parents Pivot THRIVE group coaching can help! Joining the Thrive Like A Mother job search coaching group will connect 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. Learn more here.

Shifting Perspectives: Mom Skills That Land Jobs

What’s holding you back from pivoting to paid work outside the home? For many moms, they think they aren’t qualified after taking a career pause to care for their family. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Moms are building skills daily that are not just desirable in the workplace, but put them at the top of the stack of candidates and land them their dream jobs. The key is to know how to identify these skills and showcase them in a way that translates to the workplace. Below, you’ll find a list of mom skills that are transferable to the workplace and will help you pivot back to paid work successfully.

Land A Job With These Mom Transferable Skills

Everyone knows that moms wear many hats at home, but did you know those hats are also relevant (and sought after!) inside the workplace? Here are some examples:

Budgeting 

As a mom who keeps the house, the people, the pets, and the extracurricular activities all running at or under budget, your budgeting skills will wow employers. Learn more about how to showcase your mom budgeting skills.

Teamwork

If your child is cared for by anyone else other than yourself (nanny, babysitter, daycare teacher, school teacher, spouse, partner, grandparent) you are mastering the mom transferable skill of teamwork. Learn more about how to showcase the mom teamwork skill. 

Relationship Building

You know what your children like and dislike, their quirks, and what motivates them. Take a moment to consider how you got to know your kids so well. It may seem obvious, but spending time with them and actively listening to them in conversations has made you the expert on your children. No one knows how they tick like you do. Learn more about how to showcase your mom relationship building skills.

Research and Problem Solving

If you’re a mom, you are no stranger to research. From the moment you found out you were expecting, you have likely spent countless hours poring over information in order to make the best choices for your kids. Birthing methods, feeding plans, parenting techniques, and schooling; medical issues, injuries, and behavior problems. Parents encounter problems that need solving nearly every day. Learn more about how to showcase mom problem solving skills. 

Adaptability and Agility

If there’s one thing moms learn how to do pretty quickly after becoming a parent, it’s adapt. Unexpected challenges, changes to plans, and sticky situations are part and parcel to mom life. Learning how to stay flexible and think on your feet is key to responding well to the inevitable stresses, demands, and surprises of parenting. Learn more about how to showcase mom adaptability and agility skills.

Strategic Thinking

Summer is coming quickly and that means that our momma brains are already starting to kick into overdrive. School being out for the summer means we have to prepare for rearranging daily schedules for new extracurriculars, summer camps, and vacations. Even during a pandemic, things change from season to season and I’m guessing you are already in your planner looking at the months and days!

Whether you realize it or not, summer time takes a lot of strategic thinking, planning, and adaptability on your part. Rearranging daily schedules for new extracurriculars, summer camps, and vacations is just one example of the complicated logistics it takes to manage family summer schedules. Learn more about how to showcase mom strategic thinking skills.

Communication

You communicate with a variety of people on a daily basis to care for your family: coaches, teachers, care givers, extended family, friends, librarians…the list goes on and on. Not only do you communicate a clear message of how to care for your children, you know how to deliver it in a way that is effective and respectful. Learn more about how to showcase (and practice!) mom communication skills.

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. Learn more about how to showcase your mom motivational skills.

Organization

As a parent, you’ve been fully in charge of making changes (some that not everyone likes), improving workflow, and making transitions easier for those involved. Not everyone has the organizational skills it takes to do this. And it’s not easy. But you got this! Learn more about how to showcase your mom organization skills.

Fostering an Environment for Learning and Curiosity

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. Learn more about how to showcase your mom fostering environment skills.

Partnering with Parents Pivot

A career pause in a resume is no longer a no-no – you can take the time off you need to focus on motherhood. And when you are ready, Parents Pivot is here to help you transition back to paid work and follow your career dreams. Learn more about our individual and group coaching that helps moms secure jobs after a career pause – from just a few months to 15 years and more!

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.

Return to Work Success Stories of 2022

Here at Parents Pivot, we love helping moms successfully reconnect to their careers with strength and clarity. It is an honor and a privilege to get to be a part of their journeys, and in 2022, we celebrated with several moms who successfully returned to paid work after a career break. What a joy it was to share in their milestone moments!

Parent Pivot’s THRIVE Like A Mother job search coaching group helps moms rediscover what fulfills them, grow their self-confidence, build their network, and clarify their direction. As they connect with other talented paused parents, they gain valuable opportunities to explore career choices, define their strengths, learn how to leverage their skills, and get excited for the next chapter in their life.

The women below are just a few of the Parents Pivot clients who either graduated from THRIVE or worked with us 1:1, and who successfully landed a job in 2022 after completing coaching. Join me in congratulating them for their great accomplishment!

Return To Work Success Stories: THRIVE Graduates & Coaching Clients

Congratulations to Mara Siegal Van Nostrand, who was hired earlier this year as the Director of Brand Management at St. Arnold Brewing Company. We’re so happy for her on this huge return-to-work success!

Congratulations to Mary D on securing a position as Project Administrator with Advantage Engineers! She landed this job after only one month in the THRIVE coaching program. Her advice to parents looking to return to paid work? “Remember you have value to good companies -- Don’t sell yourself short!”

Congrats to THRIVE graduate Jessica for returning to paid work and securing an Interim Communications Director at a private high school.

Congratulations, Cora Lindsay! After receiving career coaching from Parents Pivot, she secured a Marketing and Media Relations Manager position with Houston Marathon Committee. Here’s what she had to say about her coaching experience: 

“The coaching I received from Parents Pivot helped me analyze and assess everything I was navigating through a completely fresh lens that was an invaluable piece of the puzzle for reconstructing what it was I needed and wanted out of my future.” 

Want Your Own Return to Work Success Story?

Returning to work after a career pause can be daunting. Many paused moms are unsure about what they want to do, worry they’ve been off the career path too long, and feel overwhelmed by the job-search process. If that’s you, Parents Pivot is here to help! Explore our parents roadmap to see what Parents Pivot has to offer, including membership into the Parents Pivot community, job postings, group coaching, and tons of helpful resources. 

And great news – Spring 2023 cohorts for THRIVE are now open for enrollment! Learn more about how you can THRIVE Like a Mother in 2023 here. You can also sign up for our FREE masterclass, “3 Must Haves for Success in Your Return to Paid Work.” Join Anna and the Parents Pivot coaches on January 19 to learn what you need to know about the current landscape for returning to paid work, work through some of the most common struggles returners face, hear from someone who successfully returned to paid work after a career pause, and discover the 3 things you must have for a successful return to paid work. Learn more and register today!

While you’re there, be sure to check out the Words of Returner Wisdom blog post! In it, five women from the Parents Pivot community open up and share their stories, learnings, and advice about successfully returning to paid work after years of a career pause. It will be a valuable resource to you as you begin to craft your own return to work success story.

Transferable Mom Skill: Teamwork

“Plays well with others” isn’t just a checkmark box on preschool report cards. It’s a checkmark box in adult and professional settings as well! If you can’t work on a team to collaborate towards achieving a shared goal, you aren’t going to make the cut in today’s workplace environment. Even when working remotely, employers are expecting exceptional teamwork skills from everyone to maximize efficiency, land the client, and get the job done. 

If you are looking to return to work after a career pause, or transfer your career direction entirely, it can be deflating to keep up with other applicants with strong, gap-free resumes. A gap in professional work experience does not have to throw a warning flag at the hiring manager, especially for moms! With the right perspective and confidence, you are the perfect candidate for the job you are applying for. It’s all about knowing how to showcase your transferable mom skills! And teamwork is at the top of the list of skills where moms excel.

What Does Teamwork Look Like For Moms?

Even stay-at-home moms are raising children with other people and they all have to work together in the best interest of the child. Take these examples:

• The mom who drops her child off at daycare is working with a team with the daycare worker to transfer childcare responsibilities during their time at the facility.

• The mom who puts her children on the school bus in the morning is working together with the driver to get her kids to school safely and on-time.

• The mom who arranges for grandma and grandpa to watch the kids for a date night is ensuring that she gets a break to practice self care and invest in an adult relationship.

• The mom who participates in a mommy and me playgroups is showing her child the benefit of community and social interaction by inviting others into the child’s learning experience.

• The mom who delegates household responsibilities to a spouse or partner is enlisting the skills of others to keep the house running smoothly.

• The mom who struggles with breastfeeding works together with a lactation consultant to find the best techniques and make a plan for successfully feeding her baby.

• The mom who takes her child to the pediatrician brainstorms solutions to behavioral problems and puts together a plan to reach developmental milestones. 

The takeaway is this: if your child is cared for by anyone else other than yourself (nanny, babysitter, daycare teacher, school teacher, spouse, partner, grandparent) you are mastering the mom transferable skill of teamwork. And guess what? That is each and every single one of us.

How To Professionally Showcase Teamwork As A Transferable Skill

Each of the scenarios above (and there are dozens, if not hundreds more!) are examples of how moms utilize teamwork to run a household and raise children. It involves delegating, enlisting, collaborating, strategy, clarity of communication, accepting responsibility, and taking action. 

Here are a few examples of how you can showcase this in a resume or cover letter:

• Works in concert with others to maximize efficiency in reaching a shared goal

• Juggle changing schedules to ensure each team member is accommodated

• Creates and implements team strategy to effectively meet deadlines and budgets

• Manages a team of contractors to ensure project completion

• Continually invests in ongoing education and personal growth

Again, this is only the tip of a very large iceberg. Take a few moments this week to consider all the ways you are learning, practicing, and excelling at teamwork in your household. Then, brainstorm ways you can directly relate that to a job description you have your eye on. At Parents Pivot, we are here to help you craft the perfect portfolio to help you land a job after a career pause. Contact us today if you’d like to invest in yourself and learn how to put mom transferable skills to work for you!

Other Mom Transferable Skills

Teamwork is just one of many transferable mom skills. When preparing your resume, cover letter, and interview talking points, consider other mom skills, such as 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.