Having a child is an exciting time for any new parents, but it also comes with a lot of decisions. Around 43% of women decide to leave their jobs for a period of time, beyond maternity leave, in order to look after their child. A lot of women also find that they do not want to return to the same career they left after welcoming their child into the world. Luckily for women across the United States, there are many options available when they want to return to work. Here are a few ways new moms can change their career after having children.

Get New Qualifications

Firstly, you need to work out how relevant the experience and qualifications you currently have are to your new chosen sector. If you find that you need different skills for your career change then it’s time to start studying again. Studying from home is perfect for moms and there are so many online courses around that you can choose from. You can study subjects such as healthcare law and science, psychology, English literature, or even engineering. Upon obtaining a degree in these subjects you can even move up to the next level and get a masters such as a masters in health law. Online learning is the ideal option for anybody looking for a career change.

Look for Entry Level Positions

You’re going to have to accept that it’s time to start from the bottom of the pile again. Look for entry level jobs to get you back into employment again. Often these jobs are great for easing you back in and still giving you plenty of time to spend with your children.

Networking

A key to making your career change a successful one is to get all of the contacts that you need in the new sector that you are entering. Whether you’ve managed to gain employment or not, you should start attending networking events for people working within the industry. This will give you the opportunity to gain some valuable contacts who could either help you get a job or help you gain a promotion when the time is right. Networking is also great for making new friends who might be in the same position as you.

Consider Taking a Lower Level Job Within the Sector You’re Experienced In

If you still love the sector of work that you were previously in, then there’s no need to leave that for a career change. Simply take a step down the ladder and work at a level within the industry that you’re comfortable with. This should give you plenty of spare time with your children and won’t leave you with lots of stress.

Mums returning to work often lack in confidence and so anything you can do to boost your confidence is only going to benefit your career change. To make sure that the change is successful you need to do your research and be sure that the job you’re going into is going to interest you.

*This is a collaborative post.