HOUSTON—In this economy, a lot of stay-at-home mothers find themselves being forced to return to work. But finding something compatible with the full-time job of being a mother can be very difficult.
Five years ago, Heather Wright, had the same problem. Wright, a single mother of two in Humble, realized balancing a corporate job and family life was a juggling act she couldn’t continue.
“At one point I was making six figures at a job and I was doing a lot of commuting trying to get to daycare at 6 o’clock when a lot of them close,” Wright said.
Combining her passion for motorcycles and graphic design, founded Red Phoenix Marketing and Design and created a local biker magazine.
She’s the first to admit it wasn’t easy.
“It’s difficult financially sometimes,” said Wright.
But to her, the benefits of having a flexible job outweighed any costs.
“To be able to say I can do what I want, to go eat lunch with them at school, I don’t have to worry about losing my job over it,” she said.
But for many moms, starting their own business just isn’t an option.
A local company, Mom Corps Houston, is trying to help those mothers. Its mission is to help moms find flexible jobs in the corporate world.
Meera Naehr, the president, tells women to be up front with potential employers about the need for flexibility. She also says to think small.
“Smaller companies are really feeling cost pressures and so they are a lot more eager to hire very experienced people on a part-time basis because that’s all they can afford,” said Naehr.
Naehr also said moms can boost their resume by volunteering. Whether it’s for a large organization or a small, local group, Naehr said the experience can speak volumes about an applicant’s skills and interests.
As for Wright, she has advice for all mothers looking for work.
“Don’t be afraid to try something new,” she said.
Here are some more tips from Naehr for mom’s looking to find flexible jobs:
1. Be prepared: Show employers you are ready to work. Update your resume, have a modern wardrobe and be prepared to explain gaps in employment.
2. Address flexibility: Don’t be shy about being upfront about your must-have flexibility needs.
3. Redefine your success: Just because you left the job market at a certain level, you don’t need to return at the same level. Many lower-level jobs offer more flexibility and less stress.
4. Think small: Smaller companies tend to be more open to alternative staffing situations, and jump at the opportunity to save money by hiring someone with more experience to work part-time.
5. Tell your friends: You never know who within your own network might have the right connections to a dream job!
