career change
Hi All,
I am looking to get back into the workforce. I came from a professional background in purchasing and quality control. I left my job in 2000 to start a family. Now that my daughter is in kindergarten I am looking to get back to work part time mother's hours. I recently received my medical transcriptionist diploma and will be taking a medical billing/coding correspondence course within a few weeks.
I'm having trouble shifting gears and selling myself and my assets to potential employers. I am highly efficient, meticulously detail-oriented. I am a very harder worker. I thrive in a fast paced environment and can get the job done without supervision. I love filing, data entry, document control. What are some good tips I can use to sell myself. I am not interested in being the boss anymore. I just want to utilize my skills and still be able to be a mom. I think it is hard for employers to believe that I want to take such a step backward, but I really just love being behind the scenes and getting all those loose ends tied up.
I love the idea of transcription and billing/coding. I can potentially work from home, but how do I prove myself first.... I have no problem with entry level, but first I need the entry.
Donna
I don't have any guidance for you - only wanted to chime in and say you're not alone! I am in a similar situation. I left the workforce to care for my family and was lucky enough to work from home for the same company for the past 11 years - in a different position than what I was previous doing. I too am looking to re-enter the workforce as the hours are just not enough now that my children are in school full time BUT I would also like to maintain the flexibility of being there for them during the after school/vacation hours as they are still young. My issue is that I don't really know what I want to do...I too don't care about being the boss and have similar traits as yourself...I find it difficult to sell myself as well...I was good at what I did but I don't know if I want to go back to that...but what else can I do? Where do we begin??
Can anyone shed light on this for us?
Stepping "backwards" is a surprisingly hard sell for anyone. Employer's scratch their head and either wonder what's wrong with you or worry that 10 weeks after taking the more junior job, you are going to be banging on their door looking for more.
They also need to know why. And it needs to be about more than your family restricitions on time.
So, in any change, one critical thing to do is anticipate objections and address up front, before asked.
* You were successful in your previous roles and you have references eager to step up and talk about you
* You invested your energies in your family for a period of time, but now, with your kids at a certain point, you feel ready to get back and want to start contributing
* You discovered that what you REALLY love and excel at is _________________
* And that's why you are interested in this role. You would bring a bunch of proven experience. You have a passion for tying up those loose ends, etc. _________ plus really positive team and interpersonal and communication skills
Do you see where I am going with this? Take the objections off the table and make it about why you want to do this.
Also, I don't have any specific names to offer, but I know I have seen a few well written blogs from Moms trying to re-enter the workforce.
Ian Christie
Career Changers Coach