Suggestions for Getting Your Career Back

It's hard to go back to work after 5 or more years of being at home with kids. But it's not impossible.

Here are some suggestions for getting your career back on track. Some of these preparations can be done even while you're at home.

* Develop specific, portable and more saleable skills, such as accounting, marketing or brand management.

* Identify the best part of your existing or previous position and explore new career options built around it. "The ideal is to develop a position that offers full-time hours and a schedule that meshes with raising your child."

* Start your own business. Many SAHMs prefer this route as it gives them flexibility their hours and occupation.

* Pick a hot occupation. But remember that "an ever-changing work-arena that sparks demand for certain skill sets can cool just as quickly and render entire occupational fields obsolete."

All these strategies won't eliminate the lasting price mothers pay in diminished income and advancement for choosing to stay at home but they may reduce those losses or lead to a new career.

[Source: Cape Argus]