How to maintain a successful career as a working parent
Posted by Tamara Toothill | Posted 08/09/2022
Working from home started gaining popularity a few years prior to the pandemic, and for many people, working from home has now become a way of life. And for those who have someone to care for, working from home provides them with flexibility and the convenience to do so, without having to take time away from work.
In this series, we asked parents within Sanderson Government & Defence about the challenges they face, how they maintain a successful career, what organisations can do to help working parents, and what is the support like for parents within Sanderson G&D.
If you are a working parent, ensuring that your work-life balance is right can be challenging. The need to manage pressing work commitments alongside the demands of your family, can leave many parents frustrated and guilty. Below are some answers from parents within G&D when asked the question,
How do you maintain a successful career as a working parent?
"Balance and organisation are key! Maintaining a steady work life balance is really important. I work flexible hours currently which means that I start early, but also means I get to finish a little earlier so I can pick my daughter up from nursery. When I’m at work I am work Mollie, and my days are pretty packed, and during the days I’m thinking about my career development, the development of my team and how I’m going to reach my career goals, but once I get home I’m mum Mollie, and my evenings and weekends are dedicated to spending quality time with my daughter." – Mollie Chamberlain
"For me it’s about routine, modern life is busy and having a routine helps me mange my family and work commitments. Making sure your're up in the morning and organised, helping the family get ready, and be with them before you head to work. The same applies to the evening, support the bedtime routine and this then leaves time to plan for the next day and have some downtime at the end of the day.
"We also use a planner (this is on the fridge) and details the key things that are happening during the month, school, events, activities, etc. The whole family can see this, and it provides a degree of stability and clarity over movements. In my experience children like to have a routine and know what they’re doing and when. They also like to know when their parents are about." – Stuart Adams
"It’s really hard as I am a single full-time mum, juggling childcare, school runs and all the things you have to remember such as PE days, forest school days, trips, homework, packing lunch boxes etc, and be a super star at work, it’s a lot! The only way I manage to do it is by being organised and I live by my calendar!" – Michelle Wright
"I’m still quite new to having a career and being a parent but I like to keep the two roles separate, so while I’m at work I’m completely focused on work and while I’m at home looking after my son that is my main focus. I really enjoy coming to work and forgetting about being a mum for a bit and just focusing on work." Genny Tuffery
"As a member of the Management Team at Sanderson G&D as well as a parent to a demanding 7- and 4-year-old, it could be perceived as an immensely challenging juggling act.
"However, the flexibility given by the business gives me the platform to be able to fulfil both my roles successfully. I never feel any pressure or complication if a personal situation arises that requires immediate attention.
"In addition, there is never pressure to step away from any parental responsibilities outside of core work hours to fulfil a business ask. This is testament to how we have progressed and developed as an organisation over the past 10 years." – Charlie Lambert
"Finding a balance is really tricky but I think the most important thing is being 100% present in either setting. So at work making every hour count to achieve your goal and equally making sure that when you’re home you are being present within that setting so you then don’t get the mum guilt when at work." – Sophie Stowell
"Organisation, and really maintaining work-life balance. It goes without saying that managing the ‘school run’ with work and everything else in between, organisation is most paramount. With a never-ending inbox, extensive stakeholder management experience from an 8-year-old to homework and the bedtime routine is important, not to mention candidates and clients updated managing the full recruitment lifecycle." – Lewis Snell
If you missed the first part of this series, 'The honesty blog of a working mum', check it out here.