careermums - access incredible talent

New to CareerMums?

Welcome to CareerMums - Australia's leading careers centre and jobs board for working parents and parents returning to work.

We offer career resources, access to felxible jobs, a free resume appraisal service, and an opportunity to communicate with other mumsvia our Facebook page. To make the most of the CareerMums service, please use the following guide for either Candidate or Advertiser.

In bookstores and online now: 'Career Mums'

No matter what your story, your reasons, your philosophy, chances are that if you're a mum, one day you'll find yourself saying a version of those words.  And then wondering how you'll make it happen. 

This book provides you with a practical game plan, designed to get you back into work and help you stay there.

Talking to your employer about the Paid Parental Leave Scheme

If you are eligible for the Paid Parental Leave Scheme, you should discuss your leave intentions with your employer.

Find out what your parental leave entitlements are and have the conversation before you go on parental leave. Even if your circumstances change, it is important to initiate the discussion about returning to work flexibly.

Returning to work - Kate Sykes on The Circle

Watch Kate Sykes from CareerMums talk about common challenges for women returning to work. She also offers advice and tips on how to translate non-paid work into 'work speak'.

Keep an eye out for 'Career Mums'  - a guide for mums returning to work - due out in bookstores in January 2012.

2011 List of Employers of Choice for Women

Women-friendly organisations with Equal Opportunity programs that recognise and advance their female workforce can brand and position themselves in the marketplace as an 'EOWA Employer of Choice for Women'. 

View the latest 98 organisations around Australia that have achieved EOWA Employer of Choice for Women status for 2011. Use this list when researching suitable employers you would like to approach for a job.

Find a flexible job

Finding flexible working conditions can still be a challenge. Some of our CareerMums have expressed frustration when dealing with recruitment firms who are not as excited about their potential in the job market when they say those 3 little words: “part time job”.

Don’t be discouraged. There are employers who want your skills and experience, and are more than happy to ‘think flexibly’.

Keep your skills current

During parental leave, many parents often experience a lack of self confidence when it comes to their career and the prospect of returning to work. It is so common, and happens simply because you are removed from the workplace for a period of time.

In order to make the transition back to work as smooth as possible, it’s important to maintain your skills while you’re on leave.

Returning to work and the challenges of childcare

It's quite simple really..... when a child starts going to childcare, he/she will most probably catch everything going around the centre.

To match this, you have work deadlines, limited sick days and unlimited guilt because you should be with your child but your pile of work is building up as well. How do you deal with this?

Flexible Work Options

Flexible work is often defined as part time work. Did you know that you can work full time and flexibly?

Find out what flexible working means and learn about work arrangements such as part time, flexible hours, compressed working week, work from home, job sharing, job splitting, purchasing leave, career break, gradual return to work and more.

Tips for dealing with recruiters

Like it or hate it, recruiters tend to be one of a few employment channels we pursue when looking for a new job.

CareerMums surveys have shown repeatedly that parents have not been impressed with recruiters, particularly post-child.

Find out why recruiters disregard you and what questions you can ask recruiters to stay in control.

Consider Contract Work

Working as a contractor can be a great way to re-engage with the workforce after becoming a parent, tendering a host of flexible work options such as where, when and how often you work. 

Kate Sykes spoke with Maria Montesano, author of Teleworking Mum, about her foray into the flexible work domain via contract work.