Susie Almaneih lists and explains 7 Ways Mothering Cultivates your Career Skillset

1. 7 WAY S M O T H E R I N G C U LT I VAT E S Y O U R C A R E E R S K I L L S E T
C R E AT E D B Y S U S I E A L M A N E I H

2. What valuable career attributes come out of the parenthood
experience? Which are important to include on a resume?

3. 1. Superior time management skills
Having children inherently causes you to be more strategic with limited time because babies
are happier on a schedule. Moms get used to maximizing naptime, and procrastination is
something new moms quickly outgrow. Quick, concerted bursts of productivity support more
efficient output, and parents recognize that time is a precious commodity, so they become
better at plotting out concentrated chunks of time to get their work done.

4. 2. Increased ingenuity
Having a baby is identity changing; it’s a real confidence booster to give birth to a whole
new human, and motherhood is entrepreneurial by nature. You have to get crafty as a
parent, and it’s almost a reflex to look around and see how you can do something better,
solve a problem, or make a daily task more convenient. Mothers have patented and
improved upon many inventions, launching a whole new level of ease in modern life.

5. 3. Multitasking master
Moms need to be able to multitask, stay organized, and attend to the demands of many people
at once. These are crucial skills for employees in almost any line of work. Performing multiple
tasks like supervising your children, paying bills, and organizing and maintaining your household
are all mom skills that help develop the ability to prioritize and juggle multiple responsibilities. In a
recent study, 59% of employers state that moms excel at this invaluable skill.

6. 4. Managerial skills put to work
When you’re negotiating with your three-year-old over using the potty, it may not feel like you’re
earning a graduate degree. But “early parenting is the perfect boot camp for learning how to
manage employees,” says Shari Storm, author of Motherhood Is the New MBA. Moms learn fast
to effectively allocate tasks, and permanently be on their feet with strong decision-making skills.

7. 5. Strength in Sympathy
Having children teaches you the important art of sympathy, a skill that’s priceless in the workplace. As
mothers, we have plenty of practice helping our children navigate their feelings, and while our
vocabulary for the workplace is obviously more sophisticated, the same principles apply. Actively
listening and trying to anticipate employee needs helps them feel supported and effective. Being a
good boss doesn’t mean getting lost in others’ emotions, it just means making space for their
experience so they can process and move on.

8. 6. Team motivation
As a parent, you excel in the role of personal motivator to your child’s aspirations.
Encouraging their progress and using feedback and positive reinforcement are great tools
not just at home, but also with your co-workers. Be careful to never sound condescending to a
colleague, but remember that enthusiasm can maximize their abilities.

9. 7. Last but not least – patience
About 67% of 2,138 employers in a recent CareerBuilder poll named “patience” as
the number one trait that makes parents attractive as job candidates. Every
mother needs to continually develop patience in teaching and training her
children, and once you’ve worked on that skill at home, it’s a whole lot easier in the
workplace.