Being at home with your baby is undeniably precious, but let’s be honest—it doesn’t exactly pay the bills. If both parents aren’t working stable, full-time jobs, that blissful year can quickly turn into a financial tightrope walk, filled with stress about where the next paycheck is coming from.
With my current contract wrapping up, I’ve been on a job hunt, leaning into my last few months of parental leave. I’ve had a few nibbles here and there, but last week, I struck gold: an interview at a place I genuinely wanted to work!
I dedicated hours to preparing. I gathered a portfolio showcasing my accomplishments, reached out to my references to ensure they were ready to back me up, and even treated myself to a fresh haircut the night before. I splurged on a new skirt, shined my high heels until they sparkled, and pampered my tired mom hands. I even dry-cleaned my blazer and stashed a clean blouse in my handbag—just in case the baby decided to make a surprise appearance on my attire. I was pumped and ready to impress!
However, I quickly realized I had underestimated the phenomenon known as “Mommy brain.” So, to all the moms gearing up to re-enter the workforce, here are some lessons I learned a bit too late for my first interview:
- Leave the Baby at Home. I didn’t actually bring my little one to the interview (thank goodness), but the thought crossed my mind more than once. I had struggled to find a babysitter, and for a second, I pondered if my baby could just snooze quietly in the corner of the interview room. What was I thinking?!
- Be Punctual. While my babysitter was on point, I found myself procrastinating. Was there enough milk? Did I write down the emergency numbers correctly? By the time I finally left the house, I was late—something I’d never done before!
- Keep Baby Talk to a Minimum. While motherhood is a joyous journey, an interview is not the time to gush about it. Focus on your professional talents instead of your parenting stories. If you land the job, there will be plenty of opportunities to share family photos or talk about your kids down the line.
- Drop the Baby Speak. After a year of communicating in toddler talk, I realized I needed to practice speaking to adults again. I stumbled over my words and struggled to recall my professional vocabulary. A few reads through my resume or some industry articles would have done wonders for my confidence.
- Your Memory Might Fail You. This was a major wake-up call. Halfway through the interview, I found myself blanking on key details about my previous roles, programs I managed, and even the names of past colleagues. I ended up sharing only vaguely relevant—and slightly emotional—stories. What would have really helped? A short checklist to jog my memory!
In the end, I didn’t get the job, but at least I got my period. Thanks, universe! If you’re looking for more tips on starting a family or home insemination, check out this helpful resource on pregnancy and home insemination.
To wrap it up, the journey into motherhood can be overwhelming, especially when re-entering the workforce. But with some preparation and a little humor, you can navigate this transition with confidence. For more insights on this topic, you can explore information on at-home insemination kits from trusted sources like Make a Mom and learn about infertility resources at Womens Health.