Once we were career girls - women in the workforce. We knew our jobs, we did them well. We had diaries, meetings, telephone messages, budgets, and deadlines. But then we stepped down from our paid positions and took on a job with a long term contract that was more challenging than our paid positions - we became mothers.

Juggling the demands of paid employment and being a mother is a challenging experience. One of the biggest challenges that women face when they want to return to the workforce is simply that: returning to the workforce. It can be a daunting prospect - chances are you and your priorities have changed since becoming a mother. And time has marched on in the workplace whilst you have been changing nappies and chasing toddlers.

Whether you have been out of the job market for a matter of months, or if it has been years; whether you were the committed career woman who now only wants to work part-time; whether you want to change careers- there are some simple steps that you can follow to increase your potential for success.

Plan, plan, plan!
Before you launch yourself back into the job market, take the time to identify what you are looking to achieve. Be honest and realistic about your needs, your goals, your family priorities and financial commitments. Ask yourself some simple questions:

• When do you want to return to the workforce?
• Why do you want to return to the workforce?
• What are your goals?
• Do you want to build a career or are you looking for employment that contributes to the family finances without the need to take work home?
• Are you looking for full-time or part-time work?
• What childcare arrangements will you need?

The ideal time to begin planning for your return is before you leave but if you haven't done that already, don't despair. It is never too late to spend time planning for your return to work.

Remember you can answer to a name other than "Mum"
It can be easy to lose yourself in all that is involved in being a mother. As time goes on, and your baby grows, it is possible to have some activities and relationships that are just about enjoying your life, not being a mother. Being confident in yourself and understanding who you are, outside your role as a mother, is important when it comes time to present yourself to prospective employers.

Staying in touch with the world outside your front door
We hear a lot about networking these days. Luckily, it is something that we can all do: friends, colleagues, the mothers at playgroup or on the Bub Hub forums, and family can all help you keep in touch with what is happening in the workplace, and be your ears about new opportunities while you are taking the time with your child. You may not be heading into the office every day, but you can make an effort to keep in touch with your workmates and your employer. Arrange to meet colleagues for lunch, send an e-mail or give them a call on a regular basis. Knowing what is happening in the workplace will help you when the time comes to return to work.
    
The benefits of volunteering
You don't have to be in the paid workforce to be building your resume and your skills. Finding the right volunteer opportunity can help you keep your skills relevant whilst giving something back to the community. There are many opportunities to volunteer: take the time to match your skills to the volunteer position to maximize the benefit to yourself. When you step out into the paid workforce, the time spent volunteering can help fill the gap in your resume that represents your time at home with the kids. Present your volunteer work in terms that employers will understand and respect: you managed a project, or contributed to a team endeavour.

Commit to your professional development
Whether you take the time to read industry journals, newsletters, attend workshops or keep up to date with workplace changes online, your commitment to professional development will show employers that you are serious about wanting that job. We all know life gets very busy when you are the mother of small children, but putting aside an hour every few weeks to do some reading will pay off when you are sitting in an interview. If you need a licence or some form of certification to keep working in the field, make sure you keep it up to date. It's easy to use the money on something else, but you never know when an opportunity might present itself and that credential will come in handy. You may even take the opportunity to enroll in some additional study or training to build upon your existing skills.

Don't underestimate yourself - your life skills are valuable
Step back and look at yourself objectively: throughout your life, you have developed skills that have enabled you to manage your life at work, at home, and in the community. These skills are a valuable asset in the job market. You can capitalize on these skills by having them recognised by formal qualifications. A process called recognised prior learning looks at your life skills and acknowledges their inherent value as enough to meet the requirements of a qualification without having to complete any further formal study. This will save you money and years of study. The list of available qualifications reflects the vast range of skills that are used in any workplace. Obtaining a qualification can be a great way of showing an employer that you have skills that are valuable in the workplace.


Be proud of what you have achieved and be confident in what you will achieve!
Your time at home with your children is something to be proud of  - dedicating your time and energy to your children is an investment that will reap rewards for your family. Be proud of your role as a mother! Take this pride and use it to build your confidence in what you can achieve in the workplace. You are a valuable asset to your family and you will be a valuable asset to an employer. Stand tall and smile when you walk through the door - you are the best woman for the job!