Parents consistently and reliably outperform non-parents at work, according to research issued by the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis on how parenthood affects productivity. So, if you’re one of the career-minded moms or dads who’s ready to return to work, go for it. In this article, we’ll look at the perfect five tips to kick-start your career after a break.

Address the Gap on Your Resume

Your time at home is now very obvious as it represents a gap in your resume. Even though it might seem evident that you have been at home caring for your children, you will still need a strategy to discuss it during interviews. Too many parents refuse to accept the gap in their resumes and end up unprepared when it comes to discussing this during interviews.

Be honest about it rather than leaving it up to employers to figure out why you’ve been out of work for so long. I suggest you address it first as there is nothing to be ashamed of.

Acknowledge Your New Skills

Managers may be concerned that your skills are no longer relevant. Being a stay-at-home parent improves your problem-solving abilities, multi-tasking abilities and time management like no other job.

Look at the qualities that employers are looking for as a reference point. Be strategic about showcasing the one that you already have and learning the one that you don’t. You have a variety of alternatives, including joining a course to learn a particular skill or online seminars.

Don’t Rush For Full-Time Positions.

You may not want to rush and apply for full-time jobs. I suggest you apply for both full-time and part-time jobs since part-time positions are frequently open to negotiating flexible hours. Start by presenting your abilities and expertise and show them that you are the ideal candidate for the job. You’ll be in a much better position to negotiate flexibility after that.

Try Different Job Hunting Approaches

You will need to go back to job hunting. Don’t rely heavily on the internet to find work. Many of the best jobs are never posted online, so use alternative tactics like networking. Most positions are filled by candidates who hear about them via friends, former coworkers and previous bosses.

Try to attend the maximum number of job fairs, since, while some employment or recruiting fairs are more targeted, a fair number of them are open to multiple fields. A list of the companies represented at the fair will be included in the advertising materials. Make sure you stay updated on when the nearest one to you will be held.

If ever you are having a hard time finding a job, you can try to contact headhunters and recruitment firms that can assist you with your job search.

Invest Time In Building Skills And Confidence

Most people report some form of self-confidence drop when entering the job market after taking a step away. As defined by psychologist Albert Bandura, self-efficacy is a person’s faith in their capacity to succeed in a given scenario. If you have poor self-efficacy about returning to work, you will be less confident and it will be more challenging to reach your objectives. Role models, guided practice, and a shift in your mental state can help to increase self-efficacy.

As a final point…

Getting back to work after being at home to take care of your child is unlike any other change. It’s a complex physical and psychological transition. First and foremost, avoid being too emotional and being too hard on yourself, you are not a bad parent because you choose to go back to work. Many people contemplate resigning when they return from parental leave as they are too hard on themselves.

Which of the above tips do you think is the most useful? Let us know in the comments below.