6 Inspiring Career Changes for Moms: From Corporate to Classroom and Beyond

For many moms, joining the workforce after a stint at home—parenting full-time—is fraught with anxiety. However, finding a job you love and enjoy waking up to alleviates most of this anxiety. If you’re considering switching from “mom” to “mom and (insert job title)”, here are six inspiring career changes that might interest you.

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Educator

If you enjoy working with children, a role as a classroom teacher could be fulfilling. Teaching is a straightforward career to venture into if you already have a degree in education. If you don’t have a bachelor’s or master’s in education, consider looking into teacher certification programs that prepare you to earn your teaching license.

Alternative teaching certification allows you to qualify as an educator without going through a four-year degree program specializing in education. And the best part about this option is that it’s open to candidates from all career backgrounds. As long as you have an undergraduate degree in any field, you should be able to find a certification program that’s right for you.

Project Management

Do you have exceptional organization, problem-solving, and people skills? Consider a career in project management. Additional skills that will make you a notable project manager include:

• Time management
• Business analysis
• Analytical thinking
• Critical thinking
• Decision making
• Excellent Communication

Not every company requires its project managers to have a degree in project management. Some require a bachelor’s degree in any business-related field. Others will hire individuals who have a degree in any field, while others do not insist on a degree.

Having a project management certification helps. It’s the single qualification most hiring managers consider since it shows you have the skills to plan and execute a project. Getting certified by the Project Management Institute will help you qualify for project management jobs.

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You can decide to work as a generalist, taking on projects across different industries. Or you can choose to work as a specialist, focusing on a given sector. Both demand a similar skill set, although some industries may have additional requirements.

Depending on your parenting responsibilities, you may need to be picky about the projects you work on. Projects with flexible deadlines would be better if your kids are still young. As your children grow and develop a sense of independence, you should be able to tackle projects with tighter deadlines and a greater demand for adaptability.

Talent Acquisition

Perhaps you have an innate ability to spot people’s strengths and vulnerabilities. In this case, consider working in talent acquisition. It’s a role that requires you to identify talent gaps in organizations and find qualifying talent to fill them.

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Beyond having unmatched people skills, this role also requires you to have a solid understanding of: /span>

• The law and labor regulations
• Recruitment metrics
• Recruitment tools
• Job candidate screening
• The interview process
• The networking process

You can work in-house with a specific company as part of their human resource personnel. Or you can go it alone and operate as a private recruiter running your own recruitment agency.

Fintech

Global management consulting firm McKinsey reports that, between 2022 and 2028, fintech revenue will likely grow three times faster than the overall banking sector revenue. That can only mean one thing: There is a massive opportunity in fintech, and now is the best time for working moms to join the field.

You already have a head start in the field if you have a background in:

• Finance or Accounting
• Technology
• DevOps
• Data Analytics
• App Development
• AI or Machine Learning
• UX/UI Design
• Cybersecurity
• Risk and Compliance

Or have worked as a:

• Product Manager
• Business Development Manager
• Business Operations Manager

To get started in the field, research the latest fintech trends. Remember, this is a rapidly changing industry, with new technologies emerging often. That means you must be ready to adapt and change with the times.

Acquire the necessary fintech skills, both management and technical, and join networking events for fintech professionals. Then, identify your preferred areas of specialization, pinpoint companies that hire in these areas, and focus on those during your job search.

Careers in Tech

Technology is another field with seemingly endless career opportunities. Moms with technology skills and degrees should have a smooth time joining (or rejoining) the tech work arena. ;

However, if you do not have a background in technology, do not worry. It’s possible to get into the sector with no tech experience and work your way up. An increasing number of tech companies do not require a degree or related tech specialization.

Mostly, this requires you to start at entry level. But you’ll learn as you go, so it’s a win-win. Upgrade your skills by:

• Taking tech classes
• Participating in open-source projects
• Volunteering at a tech company
• Shadowing a tech professional
• Taking on freelance tech projects

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Consultancy

If you have the qualifications and experience, why not become a consultant in your area of expertise? Consultancy allows you to enjoy the best of both worlds as a professional and mother. You get to:

• Choose who to work with
• Set your hours
• Book as many or as few clients as you like
• Work part-time or full-time
• Work 100% remotely

Conclusion

It’s possible to thrive in a career without compromising your role as a mom. These six career options offer you the flexibility to work in an office or remotely, grow professionally, and develop as an individual.