We’ve all seen the skills listed on job applications: problem-solving, time management, excellent communication, etc. These skills may come naturally, or may be developed taking meetings and managing projects. But what about the skills developed as a parent, managing a long car ride or nurturing your child’s emotional wellbeing?
Parent (7 years)
- Demonstrated exceptional patience by calmly addressing repeated bedtime disruptions while simultaneously maintaining composure while child finds 5th stuffed animal to snuggle with.
- Optimized logistics and efficiency by coordinating multiple drop-offs and pickups across conflicting schedules, ensuring no one was left behind.
- Displayed innovative problem-solving skills by creating a functional, last-minute Halloween costume using cardboard, markers, and an old blanket.
While laughable on a resume, the skills that parents acquire and build as they raise a child is no joke and should not be overlooked. Whether you’re a working parent, or an employee of parents, let’s appreciate the valuable skillsets that employees develop not because they are employees, but because they are parents.
Problem-Solving
Picky eater? Elsa also loves grilled chicken.
Ketchup spill before family pictures? The theme just turned to nature. Flowers and leaves provide great cover and make great accessories.
Nobody has the skill, creativity, and motivation to problem-solve an unexpected dilemma like a parent. It turns out the skillset it takes to get a picky eater to devour their meal may be the same one it takes to get a stubborn client to budge on an idea.
Time and Project Management
It’s Tuesday:
- Make three meals
- Manage extensive morning and evening routines
- Coordinate school functions, extracurriculars, appointments, and playdates
- Work 9-5
Parents can manage any project and meet any deadline. Why? They’re skilled in creating systems that help them complete tasks effectively and prioritize as needed. So whether it’s creating a schedule for school drop-off/ pick-up or creating a detailed project plan at work, they’ll get it done.
Perspective-Taking
Consider these familiar scenarios.
Keesha screamed and threw her book across the room when her dad said “no” to reading a second story.
Marco has worn his Spiderman costume to school every day this week and argues with his teachers to wear the mask in class.
Now here’s what a parent sees.
Keesha’s parents have been giving most of their attention to her sister, who’s been sick. She’s feeling the need for extra time and affection.
Marco just started at a new school and has a lot of anxiety. Spiderman is familiar; he makes Marco feel courageous and safe.
Children experience big feelings, and those big feelings can lead to big reactions. Parents are adept in looking past their own frustrations in these moments to consider the cause of their child’s emotions and meet their needs.
Every employer wants an employee who understands people. Whether it’s a difficult coworker or a disgruntled client, you can count on a parent to enter into the conversation with empathy and consideration.
Empowering Others
One of the overarching responsibilities of a parent is to equip their child to make strong choices and take responsibility. Likely, you can remember a time your parents had you help with the cooking or help assemble something, and the feeling of competence you felt. As a parent now, you realize those tasks would have been easier and quicker if done alone, but understand the value of empowering children.
Parents understand how to scaffold opportunities for growth, gently nudging their child outside of their comfort zone while providing help when needed. This is why parents make great leaders and managers; they know how to provide the right formula of support and autonomy to help their reports develop professionally.
Communication Skills
Parents are expert communicators. They can persuade their 4-year-old to eat their vegetables. They can advocate for their child’s accommodations to school faculty. They can negotiate that the princess dress can be worn to school but not the slippers. And they can execute conflict resolution between sibling disputes.
Whatever the need, a parent knows how to communicate effectively and clearly to get the job done. That’s the type of employee that’s going to thrive on a team and be successful with stakeholders.
Parents, rethink your resume.
Parenting won’t ever be perfect, and as parents, it can be easy to linger on where you fall short. But rest assured, you’re bringing a lot to the table.
Not convinced? Remember that resume example at the beginning – it’s your turn! Think about your parenting journey, all of the goals you accomplished, the challenges you overcame, and list them all out. Impressed? You should be.
Find out more about how Mightier can support you and your child here.
Employers, parenting skills are job skills.
Clearly, great parents make great employees. And what better way to retain your high-quality workers than by supporting the thing that matters to them most – family.
Find out more about how Mightier can be part of your company’s healthcare benefits here.
