Refreshing Work-From-Home Career Alternatives for the Working Mom
Motherhood, as beautiful as it may seem, can get stressful for women who need to get back to work after maternity leave. It’s always a challenge for new mothers to manage the house, their infant, and their growing careers. Women – especially Indian women – are socially conditioned to believe that it is their responsibility alone to raise their children. Lack of facilities at the workplace like a crèche or flexible working hours, force many new mothers to quit their jobs altogether.
According to an study conducted by Genpact Centre for Women’s Leadership, 73% of new mothers in India alone, leave their jobs. It further observes that 50% of women in the workplace leave their jobs at the age of 30 to take care of their children. Just a mere 27% of these women get back to work after a break. Even among those who manage to return to work, nearly 48% drop out within four months of re-joining.
Many women in the workforce are reaching stellar heights in their careers and should not let motherhood stall their professional growth. Here are 11 fields you could consider as alternatives to a typical 9-5 day job.
Web Developer: If you’re a tech graduate or know how to code, this is a great work-from-home option for you. Companies are always on the lookout for web developers and if you already have experience in this field, your CV could stand out. Look for companies that have flexible work hours and more benefits for you. Companies are always looking to upgrade their websites to meet the demands of their ever evolving target groups. If this clicks for you, growth opportunities in this field are immense as technology is a field that is constantly evolving.
Blogging: Blogging is the best way to channelise your thoughts. Write about the things you love and things that people may connect with. For instance, you can write about the life of a working mom and build a community of like-minded women through your blog; if you’re a movie buff, start reviewing movies on your blog. The best part about blogging is that you can write about absolutely anything that inspires you. If you read a lot, write about book recommendations. Join blogging forums and communities to meet like-minded bloggers whom you can learn from. Look for publications that are always seeking good bloggers. Blogging can take you a long way in your career and you might even identify your true passions while blogging!
Social Media Influencer: According to statista.com, 3.6 billion people use social media today. This number is projected to hit 4.41 billion by 2025. Needless to say, social media is a gold mine. You could start a page that records your passion for baking/cooking, art, fitness, gardening, or just about anything you truly love. All you need is a smartphone with a great camera, fast internet, basic knowledge of photography and videography, and some editing skills. You can learn all of these right from the comfort of your home. You will only need to follow a strict schedule to post every single day and keep your page active. Soon, you may even have brands approaching you for promotions. Here are some interesting tips to get you going.
Golden Hack: If you have a blog, link it to your social media page and start a revolution.
Event Planner: If you are someone who is good at multi-tasking and has a creative streak, you should try your hand at planning events like weddings, birthdays, and other occasions. You’ll be surprised at how much you can do while just sitting at home. Event planning involves a lot of coordination, scheduling, and digital marketing skills as well. If you think you fit this part, you should definitely give it a shot.
Graphic designer: If you have an eye for design and everything visual, this might be where you belong. There are millions of new firms, communities, and brands entering the market in various industries, and everyone knows that good design is what reels in their customers and audiences.
A graphic designer plays an important role in projecting the brand image in a way that appeals to their audiences. Use your prior experience in this field and if you wish to upgrade your skills, there are many courses to choose from on Udemy, Coursera and other Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs).
Digital Marketing Strategist: Marketing campaigns are an important part of company building. If you’re an organiser, then you will be a natural at planning and execution of marketing strategies for your client’s products or services. With a good knowledge of marketing channels and platforms, a good network, and good social media skills, you’re good to begin. If you have prior experience as a digital marketing strategist, then you must definitely consider getting back into the field and work from home. Otherwise, if you’re a fast learner and have a knack for studying numbers and analytics, then you could take up formal courses online and look for jobs in this field or freelance with your own clients.
Consultant: Whether you have worked in technology, education, food, human resources, digital marketing, counselling, or any other field, you can use your expertise and become a consultant. From engineers and chefs to career counsellors, anyone can become a consultant. Working as a consultant has the perk of highly flexible working hours. You can work at your own pace, on your own terms, and once you get a hang of it, you could also increase your price and establish yourself in your field of expertise.
Ensure that you find work that suits your lifestyle; take it slow and easy, and don’t overwork yourself. The internet is a gold mine of opportunities and the best place to experiment. With some patience, creativity, and hard work, you are bound to flourish.
Also read: Household Chores, a God-given Curse for Women?
(Edited by Varsha Roysam)
