I’m convinced there are two types of people in the world: those who use the walk to the bathroom to clean up on their way, and those who don’t.
Personally, I fall under the first category. When I walk around my house, I am always aware of things that need to be put in their place. So when I’m walking to the bathroom, I’ll pick up a toy or rogue shoe on my way and put it in its place. My kids are the opposite: they will only pick up toys when it’s the designated time to pick up the house…certainly not on their way to the bathroom!
There is nothing wrong with either tendency, but if this bathroom-trip multi-tasking describes you, or if your efficiency reveals itself in other ways, I have good news! You can leverage your efficiency skills to land a job when returning to work after a career pause.
What Efficiency Looks Like At Home
As a career coach who has helped hundreds of moms return to paid work after taking time off to focus on their family, I’ve come to realize that most moms don’t see the incredible skills they are building at home as valuable anywhere outside of their own four walls. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
As our trip to the bathroom example demonstrates, you are always looking for ways to do things as quickly as possible, with the least amount of effort. If you have to go to the store to shop or pick up your curbside grocery order, you will also stop by the library to return books, drop off a box of kids clothes at the thrift store for donation, and make a hands-free phone call while enroute to schedule your next oil change. You’ll find the quickest, most efficient route to make all of your stops. You can get more done in an hour of running errands than most people can do with two.
Efficiency is also the name of the game when it comes to budget. When you have multiple mouths to feed, you’ll find a way to stretch each dollar to buy the highest quality, healthy food for the cheapest possible amount. You’ll get creative with what you have, taking the pantry challenge to a whole new level by using up those random ingredients before they expire.
Efficiency at home also means motivating everyone in the family to chip in and do their part. When everyone is pitching in with cleaning, cooking, cleaning up, laundry, putting their own stuff away - your home runs much more efficiently and doesn’t put all of the burden on one person. Sharing responsibility is an important part of managing an efficient home.
These are just a few ways that moms are sharpening their efficiency skills at home during a career break. And efficiency is a much sought after professional skill that will catch the eye of hiring managers when you are ready to return to work.
How To Showcase Efficiency During A Job Interview
The job hunt can be daunting for moms who have taken a career break to care for their children. Whether your break was just a few months, a year, or a dozen years, you still have a lot to offer in the workplace. When it comes to standing out among a sea of applicants, positioning the skills you’ve learned and honed at home is an easy way to build your confidence. Here are a few tips for showcasing household efficiency as a professional asset a hiring manager can’t say no to.
You are efficient with your time. When it comes to getting stuff done, you look for every opportunity to get it done as quickly as possible, without sacrificing quality. The example above of hitting all of your errands in an hour, finding the shortest route and taking advantage of the driving “down time” to get yet another item checked off is a great one to share during an interview!
You are always looking for ways to maximize a budget. Sales, negotiation, and lower seasonal prices are just a few angles you consider when it’s time to make a purchase, big or small. You are also creative when it comes to timing purchases to be efficient with the actual ordering process as well. A household budget complete with utilities, healthcare costs, extracurricular fees, food, clothing, and much more is an easy parallel to a team or project budget.
You are a great team connector. You can look at a team of people (AKA family!) and see everyone’s strengths in a unique way. You rally the troops to do what they do best to efficiently get to the end goal. Your after-dinner clean up routine can be a great example of how you ensure everyone pitches in so that one person doesn’t do all the work inefficiently.
Careers That Value Efficiency
There are many positions that value and look for efficient employees to join their teams. Here is a quick list of a few jobs to consider if you leverage your efficiency skills when returning to paid work:
Project Manager
Operations Manager
Office Manager
Online Business Manager
Business or Management Consultant
Supply Chain Manager
Business Auditor
Pay special attention to job postings that mention this skill specifically, then make sure to prominently highlight this in your resume, cover letter, and during the interview.
Other Transferable Mom Skills To Leverage When Returning To Work
When preparing your resume, cover letter, and interview talking points, consider other mom skills such as leadership, saying no, 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.
Build Confidence In Your Skills With A Career Coach
Knowing that your mom skills are transferable to the workplace is just the start of landing you a job after a career pause. If you need help building your confidence, putting together a job search strategy, or practicing for the interview, Parents Pivot is here to help. We offer one-on-one personal career coaching as well as group coaching to meet you exactly where you are to meet your goals. Learn more about how Parents Pivot can be your one stop shop for everything you need to return to paid work!
