On this International Women's Day, we honour working mothers and raise awareness of the challenges they encounter while reentering the workforce after a sabbatical from their careers.
More than half (63%) of hiring managers acknowledge that barriers exist that make it difficult for mothers to advance in their jobs after a break, including rigid work schedules, stigmas associated with taking time off, and a lack of career growth. The study also shows that employers are keen to hire women who are reentering the workforce today and view this group as a significant talent pool with in-demand abilities.
How therefore can we close this gap and overcome this entry barrier? To start, we've compiled the best pointers and counsel for mothers going back to work using our latest research.
Enjoy your break.
According to our research, 49% of hiring managers say they would employ a working mother who had taken a career sabbatical because they know she will work hard, have good time management skills (37%), and be patient (30%).
Nearly 60% (58%) of hiring managers concur that parents should aggressively discuss the value of taking time off from work during the interview process and highlight any career gaps they may have had on their CV.
During an interview, take the initiative to bring up your career break and use the occasion to showcase the distinctive transferable skill you've developed for your new position as a mother. JobCurator's Interview Prep Tools may help you perfect your elevator pitch and become interview-ready, and JobCurators Learning offers courses on how to explain the gap on your resume to give you the confidence you need during this conversation.
Find a business that is ideal for you.
After a professional sabbatical, it's crucial to consider what kind of company culture will best suit your needs when searching for a new position. A non-flexible work schedule, according to more than 64% of women, is the main barrier keeping working mothers from advancing in their careers.
Use the interview period to ask the employer questions about the workplace culture when looking for a job or starting a new one. For example, do they have parent-focused employee resource groups? Do they permit flexible working hours? You can create a Job Filter on JobCurators if you're looking for a new job to see positions that meet your requirements, such as part-time or remote positions.
rely on your neighbourhood
It's crucial to rely on your community during the reentry process. According to our research, 28% of working mothers want their employer to offer working parent support groups. Building a strong network of supporters can be essential for moving up in your profession because they can provide everything from guidance on how to approach a boss about a promotion to help you locate sponsorship opportunities.
Using your network on JobCurators is a terrific way to find motivation, a mentor, or perhaps a lead to a new opportunity. With the help of JobCurators Groups, people can interact with others who share their interests while also exchanging knowledge and advice. Working Single Moms and Thrive: Professional Women's Group are two well-liked JobCurators Groups for professional women.
Remember that you're not alone as you make the journey from worker to mother to working mother. Join us in honouring mothers who successfully manage their children and jobs while reentering the workforce on March 8th, International Women's Day. With JobCurators International Working Mothers Day ("Kudos") and the hashtags #IWD2020 and #InItTogether, you can honour a working mother who has inspired you.
METHODOLOGY: A nationwide survey of 1,000 hiring managers and 3,000 working parents between the ages of 18 and 54 was conducted by the Census Bureau from February 13 to 20, 2020, in order to gather the data for this data-driven research.