Going back to work after a long gap is hard enough. Going back to work after 10 years while also managing a household, kids, and everything else life throws at you? That’s a different level entirely.
I’m in it right now. Actively job searching, applying daily, figuring it out in real time. So here’s what I’ve learned so far — not from a career coach, but from someone actually living it.
Don’t Limit Yourself to One Job Board
Yes, start with the obvious ones — Indeed, LinkedIn, ZipRecruiter. But don’t stop there. The job market has changed dramatically in the last 10 years and putting all your energy into one platform is one of the biggest mistakes returning moms make.
AI OR NO AI here is my opinion
A few things worth knowing:
- Monster — mostly irrelevant now, skip it
- Indeed — still useful but heavily flooded with staffing companies (more on that below)
- FlexJobs — good for remote and flexible work specifically, worth trying if your schedule needs to work around kids
- LinkedIn — underused by a lot of returning moms but increasingly where real hiring managers are actually looking
Be Honest About What Experience You Actually Have
This was a game changer for me. Instead of applying broadly to anything that seemed possible, I started targeting jobs that matched what I was actually doing at home.
Ten years of homeschooling? That’s directly relevant to education jobs, tutoring, daycare, and curriculum coordination roles. Ten years of managing a household budget, schedules, appointments, and four kids? That’s project management, administrative support, and coordination experience — it just wasn’t called that.
Think about what you were actually doing at home and find the job titles that match it. Daycare and early education especially — they hire quickly and the experience translates directly.
Watch Out for Staffing Company Postings
This is something nobody warns you about when you’re returning to the workforce after a long gap.
A huge percentage of job postings on sites like Indeed are not from actual employers — they’re from staffing agencies. Some are legitimate. Some are not. And unfortunately the platforms don’t always make it easy to tell the difference.
Before applying anywhere, do a quick search:
- Google the company name + “reviews” or “scam”
- Check if they have a real website with real contact information
- Look them up on LinkedIn to see if they have actual employees listed
Your personal information is valuable. Be careful where you’re sending your resume.
Gig Work — Know the Reality Before You Commit
A lot of returning moms consider gig work like Uber Eats or DoorDash as a flexible option while job searching. It can work — but do the math first.
In California especially, between gas prices, wear on your car, and the actual payout per order, the numbers don’t always add up the way you think they will. Wealthier neighborhoods tend to have better tips and higher order values, but if you have to commute to get there you’re eating into your earnings before you even start.
If you’re going to try gig work, calculate your actual hourly rate after all expenses before committing to it as a real income source.
Use AI Tools — Seriously
Ten years ago writing a resume meant staring at a blank Word document for hours. Now you have tools that can help you draft a resume, write a cover letter, and tailor your application to a specific job posting in minutes.
I use AI to help me write and organize my thoughts — including this article. English is my second language and writing takes me much longer than it takes someone who grew up speaking it. Using AI doesn’t mean the story isn’t mine or the experience isn’t real. It just means I’m using every tool available to me. You should too.
Use it for:
- Resume writing and formatting
- Cover letter drafts tailored to specific job postings
- Researching companies before interviews
- Preparing answers to common interview questions
Stay Open to Unexpected Opportunities
A job doesn’t have to be the only answer. While you’re searching, stay open to:
- Part time work to get your foot in the door while keeping flexibility
- Remote work which has expanded dramatically since the pandemic
- Small business opportunities if you have a skill or service you could offer
- Content creation — if you have real experience and a real story, that has value too
The point is this: don’t just go to Indeed and apply to ten jobs and wait. Diversify. Research. Be creative. Keep going even when it feels like nothing is moving.
Because something will move eventually. It has to.
Still in the middle of this job search myself. I’ll keep sharing what I find.
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