Keep Your Skills Sharp
The idea that we finish learning when we leave school or university just doesn’t hold up anymore. To stay employable, we need to be constantly topping up our knowledge. This doesn’t have to mean signing up for a massive commitment like a master’s degree. Short online courses or micro-credentials are brilliant for fitting into the gaps in your day, perhaps when the kids are finally asleep or during a lunch break.
Whether you decide to get to grips with a new piece of software, learn the basics of data analysis, or simply improve your public speaking, these small efforts accumulate. Employers love to see adaptability. When you show that you are taking charge of your own development, it sends a strong message about your commitment.
Find Value in Every Role
It is easy to downplay the skills we pick up away from our desks. Parenting is essentially a crash course in crisis management and high-stakes negotiation. But other roles we take on add huge value to our professional toolkit as well. Consider foster carers, for instance. Those who have researched how to become foster parents know that the process itself builds incredible levels of patience, emotional intelligence, and the ability to advocate for others within complex systems. These are exactly the sort of human-centric skills that computers can’t replicate.
When you recognise the worth of your unpaid work or community involvement, you can present a much more impressive picture to an employer. These experiences matter, so don’t be shy about including them on your CV.
Build Connections Naturally
Networking often sounds like a chore involving awkward small talk and business cards. In reality, staying connected can be much more relaxed. It happens just as easily at the playground or a local coffee morning as it does at a conference. The aim is simply to stay on people’s radar.
Engage with what is happening in your industry, share an interesting article now and then, or just drop a quick message to an old workmate to see how they are getting on. Keeping these relationships warm means that when you are looking for a new challenge, you aren’t starting from scratch.
Making Flexibility Work for You
The shift towards hybrid and remote working has been a game-changer for parents. When you are looking at your next career move, put flexibility at the top of your list. It gives you the breathing room to handle the unpredictability of family life without dropping the ball at work. By showing you can be productive on your own schedule, you build trust and prove that you can manage your workload effectively.
Stay Ready
Future-proofing isn’t about predicting exactly what will happen; it is about being ready for anything. By appreciating the skills you learn in every part of your life and staying curious, you are building a career that is robust enough to last. You can absolutely be a present parent and have a fulfilling job. It just takes a little bit of planning and a belief in your own value.
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