What applying for jobs looks like as a SAHM in 2023

Dear Readers, Hint: It's not what you think. You may have read in an earlier blog that I felt inspired to take a new path with my career. Even though my brain may have been ready, my heart just wasn't in the 9-5 hustle anymore.

When my maternity leave period had ended, I felt I needed to dive right back into something similar that I had done previously (i.e., for-profit financial services sector). Since becoming a mother, I experienced a professional shift in the type of work I was drawn to. If I was being honest with myself, I felt drawn to mission-driven work that was more local to my community. This was also a big shift as my last company was 1,000 miles away. After much introspection, I set a goal that I would focus my energy on finding part-time employment in a nonprofit setting in one these five job categories:

· Child wellbeing

· Mentoring

· Literacy

· Animal welfare

· Environmental advocacy and conservation Fast forward to early June when I received an email response from the Executive Director of the local humane society. She had seen my resume and wanted to talk about currents needs they had in my areas of expertise (marketing/media/communications). In my introduction I was fully transparent about my availability and SAHM status with Evangeline. Her response - please bring her to the coffee shop with you! She wanted to hear my story, learn my connection to animals and meet my muse. Really? Bring my baby to the job discussion?! Off I went to the coffee shop, resume and baby in tow. This was certainly a first. The director and I had a great conversation about my project successes, personal and academic accomplishments and had an immediate connection. She noted my work ethic, which I knew I've always had. I just had to bring it to life for her. It was clear that she loves babies and asked to hold and entertain Evangeline during our chat. The conversation went so well that I, correction we were invited back to the shelter to meet another member of the leadership team and get a tour of the facility. Soon after, we came to an agreement, and I enthusiastically accepted a part-time, remote position as a digital Content Creator for the humane society! In her first email to me she said she knew hard it can be to be a SAH parent and go through the job application process. She's not wrong. It isn't easy to balance both the selfish (and often spontaneous) needs of an infant with the professional environment and attire needed for video interviews and time and focus needed for resume and interview prep.

As a mother of two, she understands my position and demonstrated empathy and general kindness toward this animal-loving total stranger. Based on my experience going through the job application process in 2023, this is a contradiction to many companies. This includes those corporations who proudly market themselves with designations of being a flexible workplace, are accommodating to different lifestyles and "family first." Does the last one include SAH parents? I also found it ironic in a society that prides itself on supporting the "family unit" - at least that's what the politicians say in their campaigns. As a marketer who has been a part of many corporate branding discussions, this may hit me a bit different. To close out this chapter, I met my first professional goal as a SAHM. Thanks in part to my eight-month-old daughter, Evangeline. I landed a job in my field at a local nonprofit in animal welfare. Just because we become parents does not mean all our talents, expertise and work ethic disappears. I will be forever grateful that this Executive Director understood this.