Maybe you\u2019ve just celebrated the birth or adoption of a child. Or, maybe you\u2019re tired of fighting through rush hour traffic to get home in time to see your kids 10 minutes before they go to bed. Whatever your reasons, you know you need to start a job search. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
However, job searching as a parent<\/strong> is different from job searching in your child-free days. You may have a gap in your resume from parenting, or you might be looking for a new career that can accommodate your schedule. And sadly, some employers still believe that being a parent makes you a less qualified candidate (but it doesn\u2019t). <\/p>\n\n\n\n So, how can you make sure you have a successful job search and land a role with a company that supports working parents<\/a>? Below are a few tips to follow to streamline your job hunt. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When starting a new job search as a parent<\/strong>, it can be tempting to immediately jump into updating your resume or creating a LinkedIn profile. But before you do any of that, there are several steps you need to take to make your job search a smooth one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You wouldn\u2019t get in the car and drive without a destination. It\u2019s the same with careers. You need to know what types of job you want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Do you want to work in customer service or sales? Do you want to teach English online? Maybe you\u2019re looking to make a career change and pivot into a job that\u2019s better for working parents<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also, consider your schedule and working arrangement. Do you need part-time<\/a> or full-time hours? Perhaps now that you\u2019re a parent, you\u2019re not looking to be in an office five days a week and would prefer a remote or hybrid job<\/a>?<\/p>\n\n\n\n More: <\/strong>How to Prepare for a Job Search<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n Most people make a common mistake when they start job hunting. They head to an online job board or the wanted ads and skim through thousands of job listings that aren\u2019t remotely related to whatever role they typed in. It\u2019s time-consuming and mentally exhausting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A more efficient job search starts by researching employers. Make a list of different companies you would like to work for. This will help you find employers that are the best fit for you, such as employers with policies and schedules that support working parents<\/strong>. Perhaps you\u2019d like to work for women-friendly companies<\/a> or ones that offer alternative schedule<\/a> jobs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Doing your research will help you have a more streamlined and efficient job search. Plus, by researching companies, you can ensure you\u2019re applying for jobs with legitimate employers and avoid job scams<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Sadly, even in our modern age, some employers are still prejudiced against parents returning to work. Rather than spend your limited time and energy trying to convince those employers that you\u2019re just as talented as any other employee (which you are), consider a returnship<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A returnship, also known as an adult internship<\/a>, can demonstrate your willingness to learn new skills, and it might be the perfect solution for parents looking to change careers<\/strong> without returning to school. It also allows you to build your resume and professional network for future job hunts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Now that you know what types of jobs and employers you\u2019re targeting, it\u2019ll be easier to focus your resume and LinkedIn on the roles you want. Here are a few tips to help you update your resume and LinkedIn for a new job search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re returning to work after any break, you must update your resume<\/a>. You\u2019ll need a resume header with your name, contact information, and a zip code or city (you don\u2019t need to include your home address unless you\u2019re mailing in an application). <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also need to include a strong resume summary<\/a> that highlights your qualifications and experience. Furthermore, you’ll want a section highlighting critical skills<\/a> relevant to the position you\u2019re applying for. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You no longer need to include references or the phrase \u201creferences available upon request\u201d in your resume. If a hiring manager wants references, they\u2019ll either include a spot to upload them in the application or ask you for them in the interview. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Explaining a career gap to an employer can seem intimidating. After all, we were all taught that career gaps look bad. But that was before a pandemic created an economic downturn and massive layoffs, and parents left the workforce because they couldn\u2019t find childcare<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The world has changed since then, and many employers understand career gaps happen for various reasons. To address a job gap or career break, add a career break section in your resume. Check out some example resumes<\/a> to see what this looks like in practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition, LinkedIn has also added career break<\/a> options for your LinkedIn profile. You can choose options like full-time parenting, caregiving, or career transition. You can also use this section to highlight skills you\u2019ve acquired during your break (because we all develop new skills outside the office too). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Did you know that 95% of recruiters use LinkedIn<\/a> to fill positions? Whether you love or hate social media, by ignoring this platform, you\u2019re missing out on valuable career opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A LinkedIn presence is essential to a modern job search, and creating an account is free. Here are a few best practices to get the most out of LinkedIn<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, you\u2019ve identified the role you want to work in and applied for positions. And you\u2019ve clinched the interview. Now is the time to sell yourself as the best person for the job. Before you sit down for that Zoom call or walk into the office, here are a few things to help you put your best foot forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You want to give a good first impression during the interview, so make sure you come prepared. Research the company ahead of time and review the job description. Also, if this is a Zoom interview, find a quiet space where you won\u2019t be interrupted. Make sure to charge your laptop and that you have a good internet connection. <\/p>\n\n\n\n While you can never be 100% sure of what question a hiring manager will ask, some questions come up more than others when interviewing for a new job. You\u2019ll want to practice these beforehand\u2014you don’t want to make your first attempt at answering them in front of the hiring manager.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are a few common interview questions<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t forget to bring a list of your own questions to the interview. After all, an interview isn\u2019t a one-way street! You also want to ensure the job and the company are a good fit<\/a> for you. Here are a few potential questions to ask:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jumping back into the workforce after any break is a challenge, especially for working parents. If you accidentally flub an interview or you\u2019re not hearing back right away, give yourself some grace and be patient. And if you need more help than a guide can provide, that\u2019s okay! Plenty of career coaching<\/a> and resume resources are available to help you land the right job. Always remember, you can do incredible things (and you already are).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Job searching as a parent can have its challenges. Here’s how to streamline your search, find the right opportunities, and land the best job for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":26784,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"old-site-template.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[78],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5487","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-job-search-advice"],"last_modified_at":"","edited_by":"Elly Stauffer","acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5487","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/91"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5487"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5487\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":27475,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5487\/revisions\/27475"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/26784"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.job-hunt.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Starting Your Job Search<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Get Clear on What Type of Job You Want<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Research Employers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Consider a Returnship<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Writing Resumes and LinkedIn Profiles<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Writing Your Resume<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Explaining Career Gaps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Setting Up Your LinkedIn<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Interviewing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Prepare<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Practice Common Interview Questions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ask Questions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Give Yourself Grace<\/h2>\n\n\n\n