Why You Should Hire a Mom
When I returned to my career after being a full-time mom for several years, I had no idea what I’d walk back into, if anything. I’d kept active by doing some business on the side, yet it was difficult to envision how my value would be perceived by a future employer. Any hope was dashed when I had my first interview. The phone rang, I was drenched with sweat from a power cleaning session, and with mop in hand I answered the phone.
The hiring manager on the other end of the line caught me completely off guard. I babbled as my mouth tried to catch up with my brain while he asked about my past experience, what made me tick and how I thought I could benefit his company. I hung up—still with the mop in hand—thinking, If that were me on the other end, I wouldn’t hire me. Fortunately I was wrong, and he did hire me. He said that although I lacked a certain amount of experience, my tenacity and creativity were something he believed were worth taking a chance on. I got lucky. And in the end, so did his company.
I often share this story with other moms looking to return to the work force who may believe their qualifications are of dwindling value to the corporate world. I advise them to look deeper, just as that hiring manager looked at me. There are distinct traits mothers bring to the work force. Yes, I am generalizing, as there are many men and women who fit this mold and plenty of parents who don’t. But in honor of Mother’s Day this week, I extol the special breed of moms who make great employees—and why.
She thinks differently. When she became a mom, the world became a much bigger place. She thinks about how everything affects—or might one day affect—her children in the world that surrounds them. For example: Bud Light took a hit recently with an advertising slogan that claimed its beer was the perfect way to remove “no” from your vocabulary. While some young ad execs may have congratulated themselves on their ingenious creativity, a mom’s mind would have instinctively known how dangerous the implications were.
She has strong instincts. A primal-like instinct was born inside of her when she became a mother, not only for protection but also for connection. The radar that goes off when something’s just not right and the supernatural ability to look into her children’s eyes and know exactly what they’re thinking are powerful weapons at the negotiating table. Her innate ability to listen and read nonverbal cues can make all the difference in winning over both her colleagues and your business prospects.
She is resourceful. If she can transform a box of macaroni into a musical instrument and then to dinner in mere minutes, imagine what she can do for your business with a great piece of content. She knows how to turn nothing into something, and she doesn’t give up easily. While others may be blocked by the many obstacles that prevent a project’s completion, she lives by the motto “Where there’s a will, there’s a way.”
She is a master multitasker. A stressful day at the office can seem like a breeze compared to the whirlwind of motherhood. As you watch her give her all to her career, you may never see that she’s also coordinating a multitude of other tasks involving children, schools, home, meals, chores, pets and countless other responsibilities. This ability to keep calm and carry on is invaluable in the workplace. She can keep her cool as expectations rise, deadlines tighten and goals skyrocket.
She is dependable. To appreciate this trait, employers must shift their thinking away from the traditional definition of dependability too often equated with the knowledge that an employee is chained to her desk from 8 to 5. Smarter employers know that being able to depend on superior work being completed—beyond expectations and always on time—is far more valuable. If she needs a couple of hours off to tend to her sick child, you will get far more than a couple of hours in return, though it might be produced during unconventional hours.
If you’re fortunate enough to find one of these moms during your recruitment, snatch her up. And remember that any flexibility you can offer her for those unexpected doctor appointments or school visits will return exponential value to your company.
Kristi Grigsby is the mom of two teenage daughters and VP of marketing for CSI globalVCard. Her career spans both marketing and finance across multiple industries. Kristi earned her MBA in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from DePaul University in Chicago. Connect with her on Twitter or LinkedIn.