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CAREER ADVICE Send Gifts to India!
Working Moms and Careers- Is “Supermom a Myth”
Former Miss India GA and Miss India America 1st runner up Vinita Thaper is Vice President of Metro Atlanta Financial Group. An Emory University graduate, she is also the director of the youth division of Gandhi Foundation of USA.
For resume touch ups or to create a resume contact
vinita925@hotmail.com
Working part-time can be a great option for many women because it allows woman to still be connected to their careers and still have family time.

I know while we women are in college we aspire to be doctors, lawyers, engineers and many other things, but how does having a family one day fit into our “life” path. It may be a long time before you even consider having a family. But if you are woman and plan to get married and have children one day, shouldn’t you consider a career that will fit into this plan?

Many women make it seem effortless, however many struggle to make ends meet. In all reality, you have 3 options: staying home 100% of the time by becoming a housewife, working part time and then working full-time. There are some more such as working from home, however we will stick to the basics for now. 

Working part-time can be a great option for many women because it allows woman to still be connected to their careers and still have family time. However, there are many setbacks which women need to be aware of when considering working part-time.

Women who work part-time compared to full-time make a substantially less salary. Also, in most companies, part time employees are not eligible for benefits which make up a good portion of the salary package. Their vacation time, if available to part time employees, is less than for full-time employees. It’s also quite hard to keep a career “afloat” by just working part time. Of course there are careers that work well for working mothers, such as a career as a Pharmacist. I know many women who are part time pharmacists who make an excellent salary despite being part time. 

Despite the sacrifices of either being a housewife or working part-time, the family time gained is priceless and one should have no regrets about working part-time. For the quality of life, women need to consider their options early on and plan their careers accordingly. 

Each family is different and each circumstance is different, therefore one has to do what works best for the family. Many women do not have the option to become a housewife because their family is dependent on the second salary. On the other hand, working full time and being a mom can be quite difficult, with the demand for extra hours and business trips. Do you really want to be away from your children and husband that much? Just something to think about. In summary, I don’t believe “Supermom” is a myth because every mom is super for the sacrifices she makes for her family.

Some things to think about if switching to part-time:

- Shop around for companies that offer part-time employee benefits and vacation time. Be sure to check out the benefit waiting periods also, they are sometimes longer for part-time employees.
- Join professional organizations that allow networking in your field so you can stay connected with other professionals
- Each family is different, so you must do what works well for you and your family.

Archives:

February 1st: HOW TO BE PRODUCTIVE WHEN OUT OF WORK

January 1st: PREPARE FOR THE UNEXPECTED

September 16th: YOU NEED TO EVALUATE YOUR JOB OFFER

October 16th: AVOID CAREER TRAPS

 

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