Resumes

Resumes: Include volunteer work, project work, freelance work, or anything that shows that you are using skills that are valued in your industry or in the workplace.  Include information that can communicate that you have improved skills and stayed current on your industry.  Make sure that you are up to date on the technology required for your field.

Networking

A network is a network, even if you are not working outside the home. Remember to reach out to friends and contacts from many different sectors of your life:  former colleagues, school contacts, college or graduate school alumni groups, place of worship, extracurricular activities for yourself or children, sports teams, neighbors, even the local coffee shop. Learn from those who have made a transition and talk with others in the same stage. Consider strategic volunteering to develop or update your skills. Create a Linkedin profile and learn how to use it effectively.

Interviews

It is a great idea to practice interviewing if you have been out of the loop for a while. Remember to be positive about your experiences and your excitement about returning to work. Do not apologize for being away, but rather be confident about the timing of your decisions to focus on family and return to outside work.

Websites for Returning to the Workforce and Working Parents

The following are websites that focus on women returning to the workforce and working parents.  Resources are being developed, changed, and updated all the time.  Please consider this a starting place rather than a comprehensive list.

irelaunch.com
This site supports mid career professionals and the companies and organizations that want to hire them.  They offer programs, events, and content for individuals and employers. Also includes list of companies and colleges/universities that offer specific programs for women returning to the workforce.
 

reachire.com
reacHIRE provides women the support and clarity for an effective return to work journey. We offer free training with an emphasis on refreshing skills, renewing confidence and connecting women to our corporate partners actively seeking exceptional talent.

apresgroup.com
Apres is devoted to inspiring and advising women returning to the workforce as well as curating a job market tailored to them.
 

momcorps.com
A professional staffing firm specializing in flexible workplace solutions. Includes weekly job listings in multiple U.S. cities.

pathforward.org
A website focused on helping those who have taken time out for caregiving get back to work.  They work with companies to offer paid internships for mid-career professionals who have been out of the workforce for at least two years.

rebootaccel.com
Reboot, a career accelerator for women, is focused on helping women get updated on the latest office and job search technologies, connect with other like minded women, and gain the confidence to get back to work.

Books/Additional Resources

• Designing your Life, By Bill Burnett and Dave Evans
• Back on the Career Track, by Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin
• Off Ramps and On Ramps: Keeping Talented Women on the Road to Success, by Silvia Ann Hewitt
• Work+Life: Finding the Fit That’s Right for You, by Cali Williams Yost

Questions?
Email careereducation@wellesley.edu, call 781.283.2352, or make an appointment with an alumnae advisor today!