According to the Census Bureau, almost a third of employed women are mothers.1 Going back to work after giving birth can be tough. But, it’s also a chance to grow. Rachel Dunphy, who works at Franklin University and is a mother too, shares great advice. She says working moms are good at managing life’s challenges. Rachel suggests thinking about your career goals and making a plan to reach them. This article will highlight 5 great jobs for new moms. It includes info on benefits, what you need to study, and how much you could earn.
Key Takeaways
- Working mothers make up a significant portion of the workforce, accounting for nearly one-third (32%) of all employed women.
- Flexible and family-friendly careers like nursing, teaching, web development, human resources, and copywriting can be great options for new moms.
- These careers offer benefits such as flexible schedules, remote work opportunities, and competitive salaries.
- Moms should prioritize their long-term career goals and seek out mom-friendly workplaces with supportive policies and perks.
- Balancing motherhood and career requires a plan, but working moms are skilled at rising to the challenge.
The Challenges of Working Motherhood
Being a working mom makes life busy. I have to juggle my work and my kids. However, I always find ways to meet these challenges.2 According to Rachel Dunphy, a working mother, it’s key for me to carve out time for myself. And to keep chasing my dreams, whether that involves work or studying more.
Balancing Career and Family Responsibilities
It’s like a tightrope walk, balancing work and being a mom. A big chunk, 60%, of working moms find it hard to balance work and home life.3 75% feel guilty about not being with their children enough.3 Then, 55% find it hard emotionally to manage both. Despite this, moms are tough. They tackle these issues with strength and ingenuity.
The Importance of Flexible Work Arrangements
Having flexible work like working from home or having a flexible schedule is a game-changer for many moms.3 80% of working mothers say it helps them balance work with family life better.3 For 40%, finding good and affordable childcare is a hurdle. So, remote work helps solve this. Companies that support moms in this way benefit too. It keeps their working parents happy and productive.
Nursing: A Rewarding Career for Multitasking Moms
Nursing suits moms perfectly because it needs caregivers who can do many things at once. Both nursing and motherhood stand out since they require listening, problem-solving, and working in a team. Plus, nurse moms enjoy flexible schedules, working only 3 days a week. They can also add more shifts or change schedules as they want. This field is in high demand, with a 7% job growth expected by 2029.4 Nurses make a median annual salary of $73,300.4
Job Perks for Nurse Moms
5 47% of working mothers find breastfeeding challenging when they return to work. Shockingly, over 50% stop breastfeeding after returning to work.5 But, companies like Work & Mother have made 10 nursing-friendly locations. These places ensure moms can breastfeed comfortably at work, which helps retain them in the workforce and lowers turnover.5
Education and Credentials Required
For nursing, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) degree is a plus. In the U.S., family nurse practitioners (FNPs) make around $157,894 a year. North Carolina shines in its nurse training programs. The FNP certificate program after earning a master’s provides advanced clinical skills and fits a busy life. Online learning platforms also help nurses improve their skills without leaving home, offering various degrees and certificate programs.6
6 Nursing groups offer online webinars and virtual conferences for nurse development. Using SMART goals helps set up your career advancement wisely.6 It’s important for nurse moms to have a strong support network. This includes family, friends, coworkers, and mentors. It helps in achieving professional growth while balancing home and work.6
Teaching: Inspiring the Next Generation on a Family-Friendly Schedule
Teaching is an excellent choice for moms who wish to inspire young learners. It comes with a schedule that fits their children’s school hours. This job is both rewarding and challenging.7 Perks include working the same hours as your kids and having summers off. There are also benefits like pensions, thanks to unions.7 The field is growing steadily, up by 4%. For kindergarten and elementary teachers, the median salary is $59,420 a year.7
Benefits of a Teaching Career for Moms
Teaching jobs offer schedules that match their children’s school hours. This allows moms to be there for school activities. They also get to enjoy summer breaks with their kids.7 Union benefits, including pensions, are a big plus for mothers working in this field.7
Educational Requirements for Teachers
Becoming a teacher requires a bachelor’s degree and a teaching preparation program. You also need to pass a licensure exam.7 The program will cover teaching methods, how to manage a classroom, and assessing students.7 With the right education and qualifications, moms can find a rewarding teaching career. It provides the flexibility and benefits they need to balance work and family.7
Web Development: A Flexible and Tech-Savvy Career Path
Web development offers tech-savvy moms a great way to work flexibly with big chances for growth.1 It lets developers work how they want, whether full-time, part-time, freelancing, or running their own venture. Most tasks can be handled from home, making it easier for moms to take care of their kids.1 The career is stable, with an 8% growth expected in 10 years.1 The average salary is $73,760 yearly.
Remote Work Opportunities for Web Developers
Being able to work from anywhere is a major plus for web developers, especially moms. This option, becoming more popular, lets them work at home. It helps balance work with family life. They’re able to set their own work schedules, fitting in with their childcare duties.8
Education and Training for Web Developers
A bachelor’s in computer science is a solid start for web development.1 It equips developers with tech skills and important soft skills like solving problems and good communication. The industry always changes, so it’s important to keep learning to keep up with new tech and methods.
Human Resources: Empathetic Problem-Solving for Working Moms
Human resources is a perfect choice for moms who love talking, are outgoing, and need a stable job. In this field, you might find yourself hiring, interviewing, and taking care of benefits for employees. You could also work to solve issues between workers and their bosses. A job in HR usually means you won’t work overtime, weekends, or holidays, which is great for moms.
The Predictable Schedule of an HR Career
The things you learn in HR, like how to understand others, fix problems, and work with a team, are very much like what moms do at home.9 This field is growing by 7% and earns around $61,920 a year.10
Qualifications for Human Resource Specialists
To do well in HR, getting a bachelor’s in human resources management is a good idea. The stable hours, high demand for your skills, and good pay make it a smart pick for moms. It helps them juggle work and family smoothly.
Jobs for New Moms: Copywriting and Freelancing Flexibility
For moms wanting creative freedom, copywriting is a top choice. It allows them to work at home or on their terms.11 As one of the most in-demand freelance jobs, it gives moms control over their schedules. They cover various tasks, like creating ads or writing blogs, which keeps work exciting.11 Many copywriting jobs now let moms work remotely, full-time or part-time, from their home.
The Variety of Copywriting Assignments
Being a copywriter means working on different projects every day.11 You might write catchy ad slogans, helpful blog posts, or content for websites and marketing videos. This diversity ensures work remains interesting and satisfying.11 On average, copywriters make around $63,200 a year, offering both good pay and the chance for flexibility and creativity for moms entering this field.
Educational Background for Copywriters
A bachelor’s degree in marketing, communications, or similar fields can greatly help a copywriter.11 These majors are designed to teach creative and persuasive writing, key for copywriting. Hands-on learning from internships or freelancing is also critical. It sharpens a writer’s skills and attracts jobs.11 With the right education, skills, and love for words, moms can do well in the lively and adaptable copywriting scene.
Seeking Mom-Friendly Employee Benefits
Moms looking to return to work should aim for jobs with family-friendly perks. These benefits help manage career and family life. Flexible schedules and the option to work from home are key.12
Flexible Schedules and Remote Work Options
Having enough paid time off is vital. It includes sick leave, personal days, and vacation days.12 Quality and affordable healthcare, along with vision and dental care, are also big pluses for moms.12
Healthcare, PTO, and Childcare Perks
Some employers provide childcare benefits. This might mean on-site daycare or help with childcare costs.12 These perks, along with flexible schedules and work from home options, really help working moms. Such support is crucial for parents to succeed in their jobs and family life.
Tips for Moms Re-Entering the Workforce
Going back to work after a baby can be daunting, but planning is key. Think about where you want your career to go. This might involve working part-time, moving to full-time, or getting more education.13
Planning for Long-Term Career Goals
Create a solid plan by looking into jobs and companies that fit your dreams. Focus on boosting your own skills too. People with a bachelor’s degree make a lot more over their career than those with just a high school diploma.14
Prioritizing Education and Skill Development
It’s tough, but don’t feel bad about aiming for your career goals. Getting more education and skills gives you better job choices. You could find tech jobs or work from home roles.
Being strategic can help you land a job that fits your family and career vision. With a good plan and positive thinking, going back to work can truly change your life.
Success Stories: Moms Thriving in Family-Friendly Careers
Many moms succeeding in flexible careers have found their way. They had to juggle being a mom with a demanding job. But, they made it work, finding happiness and success in fields like nursing and web development.
Take Sarah, for example. She’s a senior executive, a mom of four, and a shining example. Sarah helped make her workplace more family-friendly, understanding the struggles of moms like her. She introduced flexible hours and remote work to support fellow working moms.
Then there’s Emily’s story. After starting a job with long hours, Emily felt torn between work and family. The stress led to depression and a strain on her family life. She didn’t feel supported at work.
Both Sarah and Emily’s experiences show how work stress can affect the whole family. They highlight the need for workplaces to understand and help working mothers excelling in family-friendly jobs.
Luckily, many moms succeeding in flexible careers have found jobs that fit their lives. According to Indeed, 83% of working moms feel the push to return to work, but only 17% find supportive workplaces.
Fields like software development and analysis offer remote jobs that fit with family life. There are plenty of writing and editing jobs too that allow for working from home.16 For those preferring part-time, job sharing is an option that’s becoming more popular.
Companies with a family-friendly culture often have signs of it around the office. Things like family photos, childcare on-site, and lactation rooms are common.16 Websites like In Her Sight and Fairygodboss help moms find job reviews with a focus on family-friendliness.
Success for moms in these roles comes with the right attitude and setting clear goals. By focusing on their growth and learning, and finding jobs that support their family life, many moms have done very well.
Conclusion
Going back to work after a baby seems tough, but many jobs now help moms manage work and family life well.17 By the middle of 2022, nearly 70% of women with a college education stayed in the workforce.17 This is higher than men and has gone up since 2019, showing more women are working now.17 Jobs like nursing, teaching, and web development offer good hours and benefits for moms.
Moms can succeed by focusing on learning new things and growing their skills.18 If their mothers worked too, daughters are more likely to have jobs, research says.18 Plus, daughters of working moms earn almost $2,000 more a year on average.18 Being both a mom and working sets a great role model for children, helping future generations of moms.
FAQ
What are some rewarding career options for new moms?
How can moms find jobs with the right work-life balance?
What are the educational requirements for some of these mom-friendly careers?
How can moms plan for a successful return to work after having a baby?
Are there any inspiring success stories of moms thriving in these flexible careers?
Source Links
- https://www.franklin.edu/blog/best-jobs-for-moms
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2023/04/07/overcoming-the-challenges-of-being-a-working-mom/
- https://www.sunshinepreschools.com/blog/common-challenges-faced-by-working-mothers
- https://www.concorde.edu/blog/being-mother-working-health-care
- https://www.benefitnews.com/news/work-and-mother-is-supporting-working-moms-by-building-nursing-suites
- https://richmondmom.com/how-mom-nurses-can-keep-up-with-professional-development/
- http://someonesmum.co.uk/2016/03/09/teaching-a-family-unfriendly-profession/
- https://www.atlasschool.com/blog/atlas-achievers-spotlight-on-tech-savvy-moms
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/working-moms-get-done-rita-mitjans
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/balancing-act-motherhood-how-remote-work-became-my-value-quinones-yqv2e
- https://www.flexjobs.com/blog/post/freelance-writing-job-lets-new-mom-work-from-home/
- https://www.heymama.co/blog/companies-that-seriously-support-working-moms
- https://www.topresume.com/career-advice/11-tips-a-mothers-guide-to-getting-back-into-the-workforce
- https://climbhire.co/career-development/best-jobs-for-moms-returning-to-work/
- https://www.betterup.com/blog/mom-going-back-to-work-after-10-years
- https://cheekyscientist.com/took-break-to-have-kids-and-hurt-my-resume/
- https://time.com/6251465/return-to-office-working-moms-pandemic/
- https://hbswk.hbs.edu/item/kids-of-working-moms-grow-into-happy-adults
Aine Austria is a content creator, freelancer, entrepreneur, essential oils educator, nacho lover, and mom to an adorable daughter. She helps aspiring mom bloggers and entrepreneurs launch their blog, alongside other money-making opportunities. Aine believes that everyone has a story to tell and that their experiences and talents can be shared with the world.
Aine’s passion for writing and sharing her knowledge with others started at a young age. Growing up, she always loved to read books, write stories, and express herself through words. She strongly believes that moms can still pursue their dreams and passions while raising a family, and she aims to inspire other moms to do the same through her work.
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