When Is a Good Time to Get My Graduate Diploma as a Working Father or mother?
Having a family with young children and a full-time job is certainly enough to keep every waking hour busy. But what if you’re a working mom looking to take the next step in your career: pursue a post-graduate degree in nursing or a Master of Business Administration (MBA)? With a lot of work and parenting, it can be challenging, but here are some practical steps to help you move forward.
Plan changes
A critical aspect of making a major life change like returning to school is planning the emotional and practical aspects of the balance between motherhood and school work. Over the past year we have heard reports of people with “change fatigue” – the constant, fast-paced changes in life in a pandemic have taken an emotional toll. It is important to create the necessary space to allow this change in your life, to plan adjustments and priorities. If it helps, find another working mom to graduate or try to recruit a buddy or partner to take you through classes. Having an accountability plan like a friend or family member, who may or may not be in school, who can keep track of assignments and deadlines with you, can be especially valuable for working parents who usually already have a full plate. Adding another responsibility to the mix is a big adjustment, so make sure you are in good mental space to be successful.
Communicate your needs and receive help
We have learned over the course of the pandemic that women cannot do everything. And you don’t have to! Taking care of aging parents, young children, school or working life – or all of the above – may be feasible in the short term, but not sustainable in the long term. The solution? Structure, structure, structure. As with many ventures, you get what you put into it. It is crucial for working mothers to have their schedules very well organized when they return to school or graduate from college. Writing down each task on your visible and invisible to-do list in your planner – daycare pick-up, bath time, hours in the classroom, time to prepare for an exam or finish a reading – is one of the best ways to keep track of your responsibilities as a parent and as a student. Invest in an app or program that will allow you to juggle all of the balls in your court. If all of this is too much for you, much like parenting, find out what you need and share it with others who can help you, such as a partner or parent. Communicate your needs clearly to the person you trust and do not be afraid to use the resources of your university. Many accredited colleges and universities have put in place programs for working adult parents and have entire teams dedicated to student success, especially among adult learners and parents, like the University of Phoenix. Visit your college’s website and see what resources they offer working parents like you.
Look for practical solutions
What we noticed last year is the rapid development of opportunities for access to education. Courses and degrees have gone online and are easily accessible to many no matter where you are. There are several online graduate programs such as MBAs and advanced nursing programs that offer flexible scheduling. Consider taking classes while your children are in school if you work at unusual hours, or while they are sleeping if night classes seem like a viable option for your workload. Often, depending on the course and university, coursework can also be completed within a flexible time frame. It is important to select an accredited program and research whether it is right for you and your family at the time.
Bringing student commitments, work and family under one roof
Working parents should keep their duty to their families without apology. Instead of saying, “I’m sorry, I can’t come to work today because my child is sick,” say, “I’m going to be free today because my child is sick.” Period. No apology or further explanation required. The same goes for coursework – choose a school that understands these requirements and be transparent with teachers about your commitments. Trust us, as a working parent you can obtain a university degree.
Earning an MBA can be a big step in achieving your goals. Use this tool to help calculate how likely you are to be admitted to any program.
Ricklyn Woods, SPHR, SHRM-SCP is a recruiter and career coach.
