This post shares why LinkedIn added stay-at-home mom, stay-at-home dad and parent titles to its platform. Plus, how to stay relevant while away from your career.
“Is this really worth it?” A question most women with children ask themselves at some point in their career. This question is always followed by "Should I leave my full-time job and pivot my career to become a stay-at-home mom?".
The answer to these questions plays a huge role in why women step away from their careers to raise their children or to cancel out the cost of daycare.
But unfortunately in 2020, the pandemic forced millions of families to face this hard question due to the shutdown of schools from the pandemic. Forcing not only moms but dads too, to decide which parent will have to stay at home.
Career gaps like these (planned or unintended) were not being addressed properly on the largest professional platform, LinkedIn.
Find out what LinkedIn did to help stay-at-home moms, dads and parents address this time in their careers. And why it is important to maintain and keep your LinkedIn Profile up to date no matter your circumstances.
What You will Learn in this Post:
What Did LinkedIn Do To Help?
In April 2021, LinkedIn added work-at-home mom, work-at-home dad, and work-at-home parent titles to their list of roles. This update also allowed for the option to choose "freelance" as the type of work without having to select a company.
This effort to add the new titles legitimizes a person’s choice to prioritize family responsibilities while enabling them to incorporate the role on their profile. People can openly share their career gap, allowing for a discussion about their experience rather than having to explain their choice.
With LinkedIn adding titles like stay at home, sabbatical leave, and family leave as options for people to update their profile, normalizes a career gap.
Why Did LinkedIn Add Stay-at-Home Titles?
I wish I could report that the team at LinkedIn had an epiphany that they were not providing an option for people to select a proper title that reflects their professional journey.
The cause for action was in response to a Medium Article written by Heather Bolen, an-ex Starbucks Corporate Employee who decided to leave her job to raise her children. She wrote how frustrated she was by not having a legitimate title to reflect her decision to step away from her professional career.
LinkedIn not only felt the pressure from Bolen's article but also responding to the workforce shift of moms and dads having to stay at home during the pandemic.
Should You Use the Stay-at-Home Titles?
Yes, you should make use of LinkedIn’s decision to add these titles to their platform.
You will no longer have to create made-up titles like “Family COO” to your profile. You have legitimate title options recognized by the largest professional network- with over 700 Million users.
You have the recognition and accepted verbiage that places value on the work you do, inside and outside the home.
Stay Active- Don't Update and Run
No one can predict how we will feel in the future and what our needs and wants will be.
At the moment you made this big decision to step away from a professional career, but you may need or want to return to the workforce.
Nearly 37% of women surveyed in a LinkedIn working parent poll returned to work because of financial reasons or the pressure to stay relevant in their line of work.
Your best situation upon returning to your career is by having a thriving network of connections you can lean into.
Here are 3 ways to stay on top of mind and remain marketable:
1. Commit to spending time on the platform- Make it a weekly habit to hop on the platform 2-3 times a week for 20-25 minutes.
2.Comment and engage in conversations- There are so many different types of posts and conversations on LinkedIn and not all are related to work. There are more posts based on the different life moments and events than talking about career advancement and placement.
LinkedIn is no longer just a job board for job seekers. It has become a platform with professionals looking to connect and share conversations.
3. Continue to Share your expertise- Maintaining your personal brand should be the focus. Leverage your background and experience by creating posts, or carousel slides about the field or industry you worked in. Or keep it general by creating content on subjects that would add value to anyone like time management, productivity, goal setting, or work-life balance.
You chose to be there for your family. You don’t have to lose out on opportunities when you are ready to return to a professional role, again.
I hope this post explains the benefits of updating your LinkedIn profile with the stay at home titles and the importance of staying active on the platform.
We want to hear from you! Do you plan to use the new titles? How do you stay active on LinkedIn? Share below.
