4 ways becoming a mum can help your career
It’s often misunderstood as a long, relaxing holiday, but maternity leave is no walk in the park. Childbirth by itself is a revelation, but throw in fatigue and sleepless nights and you quickly realise that taking care of a little human is probably the most challenging thing you will ever do.
Many women wonder how they will cope once they’re back at work – and why not? According to a recent study by Monster Philippines, 27% women respondents ‘somewhat agree’ that having a child affects their career goals and opportunities and 17% of these women have been questioned on their plans for having a baby during an interview. To top that, 37% revealed that they currently don’t have any options to work from home.
Luckily working mums are discovering it’s not all gloom and doom. In fact, many find that caring for a baby has helped their careers, whether it means prioritising certain tasks over others, learning to manage time better, or simply saying NO to unnecessary things.
Find out how being a mum can help you achieve career success:
You can take on anything - And by that we mean everything. First there’s the physically demanding job of childbirth, then there’s this wee bub who relies on you for milk, nappy changes and other life sustaining essentials. And unlike a civilized and consistent work environment, babies don’t come with instruction manuals or rules.
Dealing with the demands of a newborn can help you deal with pressure at work, as well as plan and foresee for potential problems.
You’re more efficient – Working a full-time job and ensuring quality time with baby forces women to work more efficiently. This means meticulous planning both at home and in the office, but it also means having lunch at your desk, taking fewer breaks and cutting down on water cooler conversations.
New priorities – Because you’ve got bigger things going on in your life, office politics and gossip take a backseat. Equally though, you learn to say no to demanding bosses and unnecessary tasks. Having said that, being a mom also stimulates your empathy hormones, which means you’re more likely to help and mentor colleagues.
Negotiating skills – Having a newborn was tough and challenging, but wait until your baby starts talking and you’re spending most of your time maneuvering demands for new toys and treats!
Whether it’s negotiating a deal, pay rise or promotion, putting these new skills to use at the office has surprising benefits for mums.
This Mother’s Day Monster Philippines launches #SheMakesItWork, a campaign to support mums returning to work, and to encourage employers to consider more family-friendly work arrangements. Watch the full video below.
You can also see the infographic for a full breakdown of the survey findings conducted across Southeast Asia.