https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 19:22:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1832040 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 22:02:55 +0000 Cchoi4 1832040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>THANK YOU ladies! These comments have been most helpful and I will definitely be working on all the suggestions, including finding an appropriate suit!! Again, thank you for all the support, advice, and encouragement. This is why I love HB. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1831950 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 20:52:53 +0000 Mrs. Sketchbook 1831950@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No advice but good luck! I just started working PT after SAHM for two years. I am working at the place I worked before LO was born. But I'm also going back to school to get some certifications so my resume looks fresh again. I live on an area with a depressed economy though so I am trying to be more competitive. I am sure you will have fantastic luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1831781 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 19:05:11 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 1831781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Other posters already covered what I wanted to say, but I just wanted to add another nod for LinkUp.com to use as a job search engine. What it does is that it pulls in job postings directly from company websites into one portal, so it's really unique from monster, careerbuilder, and even LinkedIn in that sense. Good luck!! You can do this - you already have a leg up bc you've been keeping up with your network! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1831618 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 16:20:33 +0000 Mrs. Tiger 1831618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Agree with indeed.com, and any local sites (for example, in dc, Washington post jobs)</p> <p>Also buy a suit! ;) good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1831510 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 15:01:09 +0000 Bluebonnet 1831510@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Other posters have given great tips about resumes and ways to find a job. My only SAHM experience is maternity leave, but I've interviewed a few SAHMs trying to re-enter the workforce. </p> <p>Prepare as much as possible for interviews by researching the company, learning more about the position, understanding the industry, etc. Be confident and be prepared to articulate why you would be a good fit for the job. Be prepared to ask questions in the interview - it shows you've thought about the job and are interested in the position.</p> <p>Naturally, you'll need to explain the gap on your resume, but don't go into great detail about your kids. Explain why you are ready to go back to work at this time and show confidence in your decision. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1831352 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 13:56:06 +0000 Bookish 1831352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Cchoi4: Some above posters will probably have touched on some of this, but here's my advice:</p> <p>-Update your LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is also a great place to look for jobs, because they match the jobs to what you put on your profile. Lots of recruiters on there as well.<br /> -Update your paper resume. Paper resumes are still relevant, but you will probably just email PDFs of it to 99% of the places you apply for<br /> -Get your references together - make sure their contact information is correct</p> <p>As for other sites, Indeed.com seems to be pretty helpful. </p> <p>Network! Tell everyone you know that you are getting back into the workforce, and if you feel comfortable, ask them to pass along any positions they might find out about. </p> <p>Like others have said, just be honest about the break in your resume. You don't want to come off as misleading, but you also don't have to whip out pictures of your kids, ya know? And no, they are not supposed to ask you about your kids, but you can open the door to that topic if they ask about the employment gap.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1831152 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 12:26:47 +0000 AmandaB8 1831152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used Linkedin.com, Indeed.com, and Theladders.com for job searching. Most jobs will have you submit an online resume, but I always have a paper one on hand at the interview! </p> <p>Make sure your linkedin profile is up to date - the system reflects to recruiters when your profile is updated (and therefore starting the job search), so changes will get the pinging started! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1831027 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 11:46:56 +0000 Mrs. Coral 1831027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Try indeed.com and simplyhired.com. </p> <p>I wouldn't talk about your kids until a job offer is extended. Similar to how you wouldn't negotiate pay during an interview, don't discuss kids/scheduling until you have them on the hook. That's my opinion from the interviewing I have gone through and the people I have interviewed!</p> <p>Edit: Of course you will talk about your kids in the sense you were a SAHM, I forgot! But beyond that (needing to leave at a certain time each day to pick LO up from daycare,etc.) save that for later. </p> <p>And yes, paper resumes still rule! Bring several copies to any interviews and write some talking points/notes on one! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1830394 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 06:50:10 +0000 mediagirl 1830394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I like the website linkup.com for jobs. It isn't an ad fest like monster and it pulls relevant and up to date job postings from company websites. </p> <p>Glassdoor is a great website for looking at company reviews, salaries and other information. I use that a lot when considering sending in my resume to a company. </p> <p>Use your resources. That's the best way to get a job. Ask people you know if they like their company. Tell them you're looking. But before all of that, know what you want to get into so you can say specifically the type of job you want. </p> <p>Good luck!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1830391 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 06:48:55 +0000 Rubies 1830391@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have any advice but I wanted to send you encouragement! I imagine it to be quite scary but you created and birthed a baby...Nothing scarier and more life-changing than that! You can do it!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1830389 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 06:44:13 +0000 looch 1830389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I left my job around the same time as you, maybe a little later...but the biggest thing I did while I was off was to maintain my contacts. It is a lot easier now with Linkedin and Facebook, so I made it part of my daily routine to "stay on the face of the earth." </p> <p>I was absolutely asked about the gap in my resume and my answer was always honest, I took time off following the birth of my son because my husband and I both had demanding jobs and we had very limited options for childcare. I address it as sitution where I had a weakness and I showed what I did in the time I was off to keep my skills fresh. </p> <p>Good luck, you can do this! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1830345 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 05:18:08 +0000 TheReelDeal 1830345@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not in the same transition as you are (good luck!), but I do have a couple of tips for job searching. Linkedin is a great tool, and probably the best for job hunting these days over the job sites like Monster. Make sure your resume information on there is in tip top shape, have as many people as you can read over it for any typos. Also, if you can, and it's a little annoying, take a professional headshot and use that as your profile picture. It really steps up your game. Don't be afraid to put feelers out to any contacts you may have in the field you want to work in and ask them if their company is hiring, a lot of jobs are gotten because someone knew someone at the company. Lastly, brush up on interview questions, some places will do phone interviews first and while they seem relaxing they aren't, haha, and they will ask questions to weed you out, feel free to have prepared statements you can read from and use those same stories when you get your face-to-face interviews.</p> <p>I don't think you need to explain your absence too much beyond you chose to stay at home, and job hunting takes awhile even when you are currently employed so don't get discouraged if it seems like it's taking a long time. </p> <p>Hope all of that can help in some way! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1830316 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 02:09:01 +0000 Cherrybee 1830316@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm not in your position and I can't help with the job hunting stuff because I'm in another country but I wanted to say good luck! You can totally do this! And as for explaining your time out of the workforce, just be honest. Parenting is the perfect reason IMO. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1830306 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 01:28:31 +0000 sunny 1830306@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I took a break and recently went back to work, though it was only a 1 year break. I found that I could apply to a lot of jobs through LinkedIn and I had a lot of recruiters contact me through LinkedIn as well. </p> <p>During the screen with the recruiters, I did have questions related to my break in employment and I was just upfront about taking a break to be a SAHM. Most of the recruiters/hiring managers seemed supportive of that (well, nobody made any inappropriate strange comments to me!) and didn't really press me further about it, except to ask what my motivation was for returning to the workforce. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/dipping-my-foot-back-into-the-working-world#post-1830286 Fri, 22 Aug 2014 00:24:14 +0000 Cchoi4 1830286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm thinking about dipping my foot back into the working world after being a SAHM for the past 3.5 years. *gulp* I'm nervous!</p> <p>A little background: I have 9 years of work experience prior to having kids. I have computer skills applicable to the business world (Excel and Access) and will have some good references to rely on, although I left my last job back in late 2010. I still maintain contact with my previous Manager and one colleague. </p> <p>For anyone who has been in my position of going from SAHM (after a "semi long absence), how did you go about job hunting? What websites did you visit to look? Back in the day it was Careerbuilder and Monster. </p> <p>How did you explain your choice to stay home and were you upfront about the fact that you have kids? (I was under the impression that they are not supposed to ask you that question. I want to be honest about the fact that I do but you never know what the company will think about that.)</p> <p>This might sound like a stupid question but is everything on LinkedIn now or do people do paper resumes anymore? (The last interview I had to go on was back in 2005, since i was at that job for 5+ years!). I'm sure things have changed since then.</p> <p>I don't even think I own a suit anymore bc the last place allowed for business casual clothes! ha.</p> <p>Any advice, stories on your experience would help. </p>