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Little Boss, Big Boss Part 1

Little Boss, Big Boss Part 1

You’ve been an essential carer for the past year, and now your ‘little boss’ is displaying signs of independence. As a result you find yourself thinking about returning to work. It’s been a long time since you had a ‘big boss’, and you haven’t interviewed in years.

‘All’ you have been doing for the past year is; cooking, feeding, changing, bathing, cleaning, attending playgroup, mothers group and other support groups. And if you have older children you’ve been; dropping off, picking up, watching and checking homework, coaching sport teams, doing reading groups, canteen duty, renovating rooms or planning birthday parties and holidays. It really hasn’t left much time for honing your business skills.

Well first things first, you need to determine your reasons for returning to the workforce. For many women today it is financial and it’s no surprise; with petrol prices, mortgage increases, childcare fees, school expenses, and oh yes! The family have to eat too. Then there are those mums who return to work for self preservation – they mentally need the stimulation. If you’re like me, both apply.

Once you know your reasons, write them down and discuss them with your partner. Together you need to determine how the kids will be cared for and whether paying childcare costs will be justified by the wage you will be able to earn. In Australia today you hear the expression ‘work lifestyle balance’. This is another consideration for you and your partner to discuss. Are you prepared to work 9 to 5 Monday to Friday, weekends, evenings, or will 4 hours per day 3 days per week be all you are prepared to work. Add these points to your list so you don’t forget them.

There is one more consideration – what are you going to do when your child is sick and you are due to be at work. Talking about all of these issues and having them clear in your mind will help when you get to the negotiation stage of a job interview.

Of course there is the division of labour at home to consider but that might just be an article all of its own.

In part two we will look at how to select the type of work that suits you and your family.

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