Mom Returning to the Workforce

In 1990 I graduated with a B.S. in accounting, but I've never worked in the field. Instead, until 2000, I worked as operation officer/manager in various retail banks. Since then I've been a stay-at-home mom, but now I want to get back to work. Where can I find government job listings? What about work-from-home options? I don't want anything in sales or marketing, but I'd like to work around my kids' schedules.

For a list of Federal jobs, go to the USAJobs website. Jobs in bookkeeping or taxes might be an option for you. To be competitive in today's job market, you might need to take a course or two to brush up on newer bookkeeping and tax laws. Since flexibility is important to you, consider taking courses online. Courses in auditing or bookkeeping would be a good start.

Of course, not all jobs are available on a work-from-home basis. If you see a job that interests you and for which you're qualified (government or otherwise), apply and see what happens. If you're offered the job, you can inquire if working at least some hours from home would be possible.

Online research can help you find legitimate work-from-home opportunities, but be wary of anything that asks for money or seems too good to be true. It probably is--scams are commonplace in this popular arena. You could also call local hospitals, doctor's offices, and other businesses to inquire about jobs in bookkeeping, medical transcription, and billing/collections. These jobs can often be done from home. Even if they aren't hiring at the moment, some businesses will hold your resume in case something opens up in the future.