Stay at Home Moms and Losing Workforce Marketability

Does Business Really Care?

I've been a stay at home/work at home mom for 8 years now. If  I was re-entering the job market today I'm not sure what I would be eligible for. I have a bachelors degree, but does anyone care? I have run my own home daycare, but again does anyone care? If I were to go and look for a job today, would the wage I could earn be enough to even pay daycare expenses? What is a girl to do? I could go back to school and add a Masters Degree to that Bachelors degree... But still would anyone care? In this tough economy, re-entering the job market is hard to navigate. Employers are looking for highly qualified, experienced employees. Those who have been out of the workforce for very long are going to have a tough time getting noticed. The resume stay at home mom is able to create lacks enough recent relevant experience to be noticed.

Are You Relevant? 

In a recent MSNBC article about how stay at home moms can improve their chances when they go back to the workforce, they say "Don't expect the job market to respect, validate or reward your decision to stay home with children." and they also say, "Part-time and flex-time jobs unfortunately remain elusive for anyone at any stage in their careers.".  Couple that with the growing unemployment rate, and it's easy to see how many jobs out there will be snapped up by those with recent relevant experience, regardless of how impressive your resume was before leaving the workforce. In other words, staying home made you lose your workforce marketability.

Those who have only been out of the work force for 2-3 year have a better chance at getting a job than those who have been out for closer to 10 years. The economy isn't your grandmothers economy. Back in the day, a one income houshold was enough to support the family. Though womens equal rights gave us many great things , the one thing it took away form us was a true ability to choose. The market became dependent on a two income family decades ago, those who try to stay at home are swimming against a very powerful current.

What Is The Answer?
So what is the answer? Many moms are looking to make an income from home on line. But even that can be tough. The key to making an income online is the ability to use the internet in a smart and successful way. Most people who try to make money online fail. Why? Because they lack the know-how to make it work for them. Do you know how to successfully navigate the in's and out's of the internet? It's not like an add in your local newspaper. It isn't as simple as putting up a website and raking in the money. Do you understand keyword marketing and how that effects your overall success? Do you know how to utilize social media for your benefit, without being a spammer? Do you know how to effectively use pay per click without breaking the bank? These, and countless other methods, are what someone who is serious about building a business online needs to know. This is the way business is done these days. The little guy is in the mix with the big guy. Big corporations spend millions of dollars every year trying to master the internet, especially social media. If you don't understand how that effects anything, just scroll to the bottom of this blog and click the Socialnomics video produced by Eric Qualmann. It will open your eyes to the reality of how business has changed.

What Do You Want To Do About It?
Here is my question to you. Are you serious about building a business? Think of  why you want to work from home. Is it more money, more time, or to be with your kids? Focus on that. Now ask yourself if that goal is worth spending the time to learn how to use the internet to maximize your business success. If  making your goals a reality is worth the effort it will take to be successful, then find the training, find the mentoring, learn how to use it, and work hard to make your business successful. Don't waste life hoping your big break will come, make it happen.

If you need training, click on my link "Improve my home business success" and hear how we can help.