Working Mom 3.0: 3 Find the right job

Feb 21, 2012 7:03 AM by Stephanie Taylor Christensen

Posted in Living / Career and Time Management / Career Advice

In this issue of Working Mom 3.0, writer and stay-at-home working mom Stephanie Taylor Christensen reveals key questions that can uncover the right stay-at-home job for you.

Finding and evaluating full-time job opportunities is fairly easy. There's a clear description of the role, salary, benefits and hours you're expected to work. The job search process for a work-at-home mom is a stark contrast, loaded with ambiguity, and complexity. Many advertised work-at-home mom jobs are scams, and consistent opportunities can be hard to unearth. Even the legitimate flexible roles aren't always what they seem. In my early work-at-home mom days, I tried working part-time, and remotely, for my then-employer. The money was decent, and I appreciated their willingness to work with my new life, but I quickly realized that though the pay was part-time, the job itself was a full-time responsibility (and then some). After much stress, I learned a hard lesson: Not all "flexible" jobs are as advertised, and not every work-at-home job is a good fit.

How do you determine what work-at-home job opportunities will work for your needs? Here are three starter questions that can help to narrow and evaluate the options.

What is my objective?

If you're in search of a job simply to make a little extra cash, create your own work-at-home job offering services that will cost you little to nothing to provide, don't require driving and are low-stress. (Walking neighborhood dogs or taking in another child to care for part-time are good options to explore for this objective.) If your desire is to continue your profession or build a business, focus on opportunities that boost your exposure, reputation, connections and provide a mental challenge. Once you establish why it is that you're working, you can narrow your focus to opportunities that deliver what you want.

What is my availability?

Be realistic about how much work you really can, and want, to take on — in addition to the full-time task of raising children. When my son was younger, I had more time to work during naps. Now that he's more active and sleeping less, I've had to adjust my schedule and workload to reflect how many hours I can realistically devote to work. There is nothing wrong with saying "no" to projects, but if you bite off more than you can actually deliver, you'll burn bridges — and burn yourself out.

What would I do if it paid nothing?

"Pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you."

Maya Angelou famously said: "Pursue the things you love doing, and then do them so well that people can't take their eyes off you." No matter what your objective, it's important to do a job you love when you're a stay-at-home working mom. The balancing act isn't easy, and no amount of money will keep your eyes open when you've been pulling all-nighters with a teething baby and have a job to complete within that afternoon nap. But passion is a powerful fuel. Find a job that is true to what you really enjoy and you'll find the key to blending work and family.

Working Mom 3.0

The modern woman is redefining what it means to have a successful career. Rather than feeling torn between climbing the corporate ladder and having a happy family life, many women are choosing to merge the two and transition careers from a traditional role to a more flexible one. Working Mom 3.0 is reinventing the definition of "working mom," as office hours are held at home and revolve around nap times.

This column begins by chronicling the experiences of Stephanie Taylor Christensen, a former marketing professional turned self-employed stay-at-home mom, writer and yoga instructor, as she strives to redefine "having it all" on her own time and terms.

More tips for working moms

Working Mom 3.0: Eliminate distractions
Working Mom 3.0: No regrets
Working Mom 3.0: Prevent career burnout

Tags: career career opportunities jobs working mom 3.0 working moms

The opinions expressed in this article are of the author and the author alone. They do not reflect the opinions of SheKnows, LLC or any of its affiliates and they have not been reviewed by an expert in a related field or any member of the SheKnows editorial staff for accuracy, balance or objectivity. Content and other information presented on the Site are not a substitute for professional advice, counseling, diagnosis, or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical or mental health advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read on SheKnows. SheKnows does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.

Comments

Comments on "Working Mom 3.0: 3 Find the right job"

I like asking yourself the question if you would do it if it paid nothing. That's a huge indicator as to whether or not you're actually doing what you love.

I've found a few freelance writing jobs on craigslist. There are tons of jobs out there to work from home, but you have to be willing to put in the hours to find one, that's often the most tricky part.

I really liked the part of this article that talks about if you would do it for free. That's such a good point. If it's something you love, you most likely will be successful because you will look forward to it. If you're doing something you hate, chances are you won't succeed and it won't be fun for you to stay home with kids while working.