Best Career Options for New Moms

A dilemma that is faced by most expecting mothers today is whether to continue or give up work altogether after pregnancy. With the emergence of nuclear families, and with no grandparents or nannies to look after the precious little ones, it is upto the parents and particularly the mother, to find a fine balance between her duties at work and at home.
However, pregnancy should not be viewed as a disruption or as an interruption in the advancement of your careers. There are myriad options available at your disposal that you can consider in the initial period after childbirth, that will give you enough time and energy to nurture both your health and the well-being of your child.

1. Discuss with your employer for future options

Before you apply for maternity leave, it would be a wise decision to talk to your employer about the possibilities of you returning to work post pregnancy. The first few months after birth are generally the toughest and will take some time before you get used to your new routine. Do not assume or promise your employer that you will be able to work full 8 hour shifts immediately after you resume work. Discuss realistic options instead – working for fewer hours, working from home instead of commuting to office, working in a limited role for some time, working in groups rather than on your own and so on.

2. Teaching jobs

Engaging in teaching related work is a wise option for mothers, especially new moms. Teaching at the school level would mean you would be occupied in the mornings but will have the rest of the day to yourself. In India, teachers also enjoy month-long holidays in summer and breaks during festivals and special occasions – a luxury not available in any other profession. Moreover, if your child is a toddler or a school-going kid, you can have the exact same routine as him/her. If you are looking for something even lighter, you can consider becoming a substitute teacher as well.

3. Explore work from home options

Are you interested in working but wish to avoid travelling to an office or a new location every day? Then exploring work from home options are your safest bet. With the advent of the internet and smartphones at our disposal, it is possible to conduct any kind of work from any part of the world today. You can tutor kids, manage a business, develop content for media, handle projects, meet deadlines – all from the comfort of your home. This also means more time with your little one and a relaxed stress-free working environment. Your good health is as important as your baby’s well-being, and working from home will provide the adequate amount of time required for exercise and rest.

4. Become an entrepreneur

Starting a small business of one’s own is another suitable option that new moms can explore. Owning a business would mean that you are your own boss, you decide the nature of your work and your work timings, too. No longer are you expected to take orders from a senior or function according to the rules of the firm. More and more women are taking to entrepreneurship based on the skills and resources at their disposal. Apart from the creative freedom to function on your own, it also brings with it the sense of prestige that comes from being a proud business owner. So whether it’s jewellery designing, interior decoration or wedding planning, becoming an entrepreneur is a viable career option that many mothers can and should consider.

Related Article: Top 10 Business Ideas for Working Parents

5. Freelance jobs

So you’re a new mom with erratic sleeping hours and enough to keep your hands full to take up any full-time work at the moment. How about working as a freelancer instead, to keep you connected to your career while at the same time earning a reasonable amount of money as well? Freelancing can provide the right kind of balance between both your professional and private lives. Moreover, the demand for freelancers has increased in recent times as it suits employers as well to provide payment on the basis of individual services provided. Freelance writers, photographers, journalists, fashion designers are sought after and if you are a new mother, you may do well to take up one of these options.

6. Work for a startup

We live in an era of startup companies, most of which are characterised by an informal working environment, flexible work hours, casual dress codes, fewer number of employees. They lack the serious formal atmosphere that you may find at a big multinational firm and are not bound by the rigid rules either. Such a relaxed and chilled out working space would be an ideal place for interested mothers to renew their careers in. Flipkart, Snapdeal, Healthkart, Ola, Shopclues are some of the well known startups in India, and there are tremendous possibilities for growth for anyone looking to venture into this industry.

7. Work as a consultant

Do you have years of professional experience or possess in-depth knowledge in your field of work? If yes, working as a consultant on your subject could be another lucrative option that new mothers like you can consider. As a consultant you would be required to provide expert advice and counselling to your clients in your area of expertise, be it management, medicine, law, education, finance, art or science. Such work, again, can be carried out from home or from an office that is located closer to home, and would provide the stress-free environment that is most conducive to new moms, as well as more time to bond with your newborn.

8. Volunteer work

Working with or volunteering for an NGO is another option that you as a mother with precious little time on your hands can take up. A large number of NGOs have cropped up all over the country, which carry out meaningful work in cities, as well as in small towns and villages, and these organisations are always on the lookout for extra helping hands. Volunteering at orphanages, carrying out relief work in disaster affected areas, teaching underprivileged children, conducting tree planting drives, caring for stray animals are some of the activities one can engage in at such organisations. Moreover, this kind of work not only keeps you occupied, but also brings with it the satisfaction of contributing positively towards making the world a better place.

9. Acquire a skill

It is not necessary that you get back to work immediately after childbirth. Your new role as a mother is challenging enough and many women choose to use this time to study, complete a course or acquire a new skill, instead of heading back to a hectic corporate environment straightaway. It is therefore a good idea to take a year off and acquire a degree/diploma in a new discipline, learn a new language, educate yourself on the new technologies available or increase your understanding of a particular subject. This would also mean more time for nursing, caring, cuddling with your little one, and not missing out on the precious moments as they utter their first words or take their first footsteps.

The world today is filled with working mothers who can manage both their careers and take care of their families sufficiently well, and this is something that should be applauded. Be it former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto who was the first head of government to give birth while in office, or American businesswoman Marissa Mayer who went onto become the CEO of Yahoo after becoming a mother, or closer home, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Olympic medalist Mary Kom who have had successful careers in their respective fields after childbirth. Therefore, it is not a choice between one or the other. Instead, with the right approach, it is possible to share both the joys of motherhood as well as enjoy the benefits of a successful career, all at the same time.