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Tips for stay-at-home moms rejoining the workforce
By VIRGINIA JUSTICE
If you are like most
people, you likely under-
es mate your skills as they
relate to the world of work.
If you have never worked
outside the home or have
been out of the workforce
for a year or more, chances
are you will need to pre-
pare in advance for your
return to employment. Dis-
covering your skills is cri -
cal to employment, however, many
do not know the true expanse of
their skills set. A great place to
begin is at the Community Ac on
Program of East Central Oregon
(CAPECO).
CAPECO works with WorkSource
Oregon to provide job seekers the
support needed to get the job. They
off er many classes: Career Explora-
on and Iden fi ca on of Employ-
ment Skills, Crea ng an Eff ec ve
Resume and Cover Le er, Intro to
Computers, Job Interview Prepara-
on, and Pre-employment/work
readiness in conjunc on with the
WorkSource Center. You can get
more informa on online at www.
capeco-works.org/employment or
by calling 541-276-1926 or 800-
752-1139.
WorkSource posts job lis ngs
from employers in the area and
o en screens job candidates prior
to sending them out to interview.
WorkSource is your one-stop for
gaining employment; they off er
much more than just an applica-
on for unemployment benefi ts.
To fi nd centers across the state,
visit worksourceoregon.org/home/
worksourcecenters; there are three
in Uma lla County.
Most employers are willing to
train employees in the technical
skills needed for the posi ons they
have. They have a harder me fi nd-
ing employees who arrive on me,
have good work ethic, are consis-
tent and dependable team players
and do not make excuses.
Any parent returning to work
needs to develop a rou ne that
allows you to meet the needs of
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your child while remaining
a dependable employee.
This may mean ensuring
back-up child care in case
your regular child care is
unavailable. Most employ-
ers understand that chil-
dren get sick and accidents
happen. But too many such
instances will brand you as
an undependable em-
ployee. It is be er to plan
for such things in advance
than risk losing your job.
Many individuals look to the
Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
for protec on. You should be aware
that FMLA protec on only is avail-
able to employees a er 180 days
of employment with the same
employer and typically requires
documenta on from a doctor if the
dura on of a child’s illness goes
beyond fi ve days.
Your fi rst step in the job search is
to create a resume; almost all em-
ployers will request this from per-
spec ve employees. This one-page
document (more if you have con-
siderable experience) is your fi rst
chance to make a good impression.
Again, CAPECO and WorkSource
can help you accomplish this task.
If you are more self-directed, check
www.gcfl earnfree.org/resumewrit-
ing for guidance in crea ng the
resume that gets you no ced. Keep
it short and to the point and above
all be honest regarding your experi-
ence and skills. The same is true for
interviewing – honesty is the best
policy. Maybe you may lack some
technical skills but are a fast learner
and dependable; be open about
your lack of experience but show
you are willing to learn.
Interviewing is something most
job hunters dread, but truly not
Strategies
something to fear. Prepare for
interviews by learning what it is
employers are looking for. Again,
CAPECO and WorkSource are excel-
lent resources; their staff can assist
you in becoming comfortable talk-
ing about yourself through classes
and mock interviews. Like many
other things, interviewing is a skill
that can be mastered with prac ce.
As with the resume, honesty is the
best policy. Don’t oversell yourself,
admit if you are rusty in certain
skills but emphasize an eagerness
to learn.
Fortunately, there are many free
resources available to assist in your
transi on. You’ll fi nd a good one to
brush up on skills or learn new ones
at www.GCFLearnfree.org, a web-
site from the GoodWill Community
Founda on that off ers courses and
podcasts geared toward learning
and career development. This site
off ers self-paced training in prac -
cally everything from reading and
math skill improvement to technol-
ogy.
Honestly, the most diffi cult
part of returning to work for me
was learning to take breaks – as a
stay-at-home mom I was on duty
24/7/365 and o en even had
company while using the bathroom.
Good luck in your transi on to the
world of employment!
________
Pendleton resident Virginia JusƟ ce
is a former program manager for a
Career AcceleraƟ on and Support for
Employment (CASE) grant at Blue
Mountain Community College.