Exhausted by the thought of looking for work while caring for your family? Getting lost on online job boards? Unsure how to search for work in today’s job market? These five practical tips will help you make the best use of your time and take the guesswork out of getting started.
Accredited Career Coach Patricia Tiernan shares her 5 effective ways to kick start your job search.
#1. Network
Ask yourself — and the people you know — how they found work in the past. The answers might surprise you. Most people I speak to confirm what the research tells us: most jobs are found through people you know. Don’t underestimate the power of your own network.
Speak to other parents you’ve gotten to know, reach out to old friends, and catch up with former work colleagues. Tell them what kind of work you’re looking for and, where it feels right, ask if they know of any vacancies, have useful industry information, advice on getting into your chosen area, or can put you in touch with someone else who might help your search.
#2. Volunteer
Volunteering with a local charity or community group can be a real boost to your job search. It can potentially:
- Increase your network
- Help you sharpen or expand your skill set and knowledge
- Give you experience in a new area of work
- Add recent, relevant experience to your CV
- Give you a new referee
- Lead to paid employment in the future, including within the organisation you volunteer with
- Build your confidence
Search a national volunteer network to find opportunities that link to the type of paid work you want to move into.
Photography: Conor Healy Photography
#3. Up-Skill
As a Career Coach, I often hear parents describe how their confidence has taken a knock after time out of the paid workforce. Completing a short course can help rebuild that confidence — and can even open the door to a new area of work.
There are free and time-effective study options worth looking into, including government-funded upskilling programmes such as Springboard+, which offers courses across areas like ICT, healthcare, business and manufacturing. Course availability, entry requirements and funding change from year to year, so check the current listings directly before applying.
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#4. Social Media
Social media has become one of the most important tools in modern job searching. Many employers now advertise roles solely through LinkedIn, Twitter/X or Facebook, and recruiters regularly use these platforms to find and vet candidates. LinkedIn in particular is worth prioritising if you haven’t set up a profile yet — it’s where a large share of professional hiring activity now happens.
Before you start applying, take a look at your own social media profiles and make sure they’re employer-friendly.
Searching relevant hashtags related to job fairs and recruitment events in your area can also surface opportunities you won’t find on general job boards. Setting up alerts for companies you’re interested in working for is a simple way to hear about new vacancies as soon as they’re posted.
Recommended Reading: 4 Tips to Help You Identify Suitable Work as a Mum
#5. Targeted Recruitment Agencies
Many of the parents I work with describe outgrowing their current role but feeling unable to leave because they’d lose their flexible hours. Others worry that a new job will demand too much time and affect the quality time they have with their kids. While plenty of employers are still slow to offer flexitime, attitudes are gradually shifting.
Recruitment agencies that specialise in flexible and family-friendly roles — covering part-time work, ad hoc projects, maternity cover, sick leave, and work-from-home arrangements — can be a genuinely useful shortcut if this kind of work matters to you. It’s worth searching for agencies in your area that focus specifically on flexible placements.
Your job affects so many parts of your life, so remember: the short-term discomfort of a job search is worth the long-term gain. If you’re still not sure what the ideal job looks like for you, our related article below can help.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it usually take to find a job after time out of the workforce?
There’s no fixed timeline — it depends on your industry, location and how much time you can dedicate to the search. Building your network and updating your skills early tends to shorten the process.
Do I need to be on LinkedIn to find work?
It’s not essential, but many roles are now advertised there first, and recruiters actively search it for candidates. A simple, up-to-date profile can make a real difference.
Is volunteering worth it if I need paid work quickly?
Even a small amount of volunteering can help — it keeps your CV current, builds your confidence, and often leads to referrals or paid opportunities you wouldn’t otherwise hear about.
Related Articles
- Unsure if Now is the Right Time to Start a New Job?
- 4 Tips to Help You Identify Suitable Work as a Mum
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