Fear. That is the one loaded word that restrains us from reaching our potential success. Although women have made themselves well known in the business community, there are still many who are struggling to make their way up the rungs of the corporate ladder. Day after day we see new advanced tips and tricks for being successful but never know how to incorporate them into our daily lives. It is time to start new with the bare basics of networking. You may have heard the term networking without truly understanding the power it possesses. Together, we can achieve a prosperous future in the working world and break the fear that confines us.

Let’s begin with a topic everyone can relate to: getting into the workforce. More importantly, let’s redirect our focus to the coveted, Stay-at-Home Moms. As women, we continuously applaud the Stay-at-Home Moms and the numerous tasks they achieve. So what happens when she is ready to enter or re-enter the workforce? She will become fearful. Fear will slowly encompass her with questions about the employment search. Whether it is the first time she is entering the workforce or she is returning, networking is the first place to start.

To start the networking process of joining the working world, we will look at two major concerns most Stay-at-Home Moms have: “How do I find the job I want?” and “Will my light resume hinder my chances of employment?”

So how does she find the job she wants? As simple as it sounds, she must start by listing what she is interested in doing. This is the first step of the networking process. Next is telling her current network of people in written form that she is looking for employment. The more specific the field in which she is looking to be hired, the better. Her network of people should include everyone she has a relationship with, i.e., the other soccer moms, the children’s coaches, members of a religious group, friends, previous employers and family. By reaching out, she has activated the research stage of networking. By utilizing this network of people, she will receive feedback and information that she never knew she had access to. Always remember that knowledge is a key ingredient to the success of networking.

At this point she may have multiple employment offers or information about employment. However, concerns about her resume still weigh on her shoulders. No Stay-at-Home Mom should ever underestimate the skills that they possess. When she applies her daily responsibilities to the working environment, her skill set shines and is more valuable than she realizes. If she was in charge of running the carpool schedule, it shows she has the ability to take a leadership role in a group setting. Does she sit on the Parent Teacher Association or hold any other volunteering positions within the community?

If so, she is a qualified candidate to adapt to personalities and work well with others. What is even more intriguing is her community involvement and her willingness to shed sweat to help others as a volunteer. Most Stay-at-Home Moms write out the bills and do the grocery shopping. If she does, then she can definitely understand a company’s biggest mission: budgeting. After adding all this together, throw the children and their activities into the mix. To accomplish everything she wants to in 24 hours, she has to have project and time management skills. The ability to stick to a time schedule and delegate other duties is an irreplaceable trait employers are constantly looking for. That so called “light” resume now has more worth, and so does she.

Returning to the first few basics of networking allows us to reassess ourselves and our value. By now this once Stayat- Home Mom has boosted herself to a higher level of confidence and is ready to go in front of her future employer. Waiting for an interview is not the answer. Shocked? Don’t be. Remember, she is still in the initial research stage of networking, but this time she will target her future employer. From the moment she determines where she wants to work, she will make a valiant effort to take part in every open-to-public occasion the company has to offer up until and after her interview. This will allow her to meet and build relationships with the current staff or volunteers. As she continues to build these relationships, she constantly and consciously adds to her network of people. Her network of people grows significantly every instant, allowing her to thrive and build success.

When the Stay-at-Home Mom executes these initial guidelines, the barbed wire of fear starts to unravel, allowing her to step up onto the first rung of the corporate ladder. “Only the first rung?” we may be asking ourselves, but don’t be fooled. Networking does not end here. It has only just begun.

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GALE PAIGE

Gale Paige is known by many as the “Networking Queen.” She trains and coaches individuals as well as sales teams on Networking and Business Development. She believes networking is a part of everyone’s life and that, with the right steps, it can excel everyone’s success.