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Dear Ms. Reade:

Congratulations on taking that step back into the working world. Please don't sell yourself short--being home with your children is work in itself. You have probably been practicing many skills that can be transferred into the working environment. Managing a household includes preparing and managing a budget as well as coordinating multiple schedules. Parents of school-age children may be involved in school parent associations, coaching team sports or group/club activities, and numerous volunteer positions, like perhaps spearheading a fundraiser. All of these are resources that prove you can think on your feet, multi-task, follow through and fit right into a corporate environment or office team.

If you have prior experience in a particular field but haven't kept up in it, there are many continuing education programs and refresher courses available, many of them designed for parents who are returning to the workplace after a few years off. As more and more companies realize what a valuable resource its working moms are, many of them are becoming more accommodating to job candidates who are ready to re-enter the workforce.

Good luck,

Julia