Second Career women are an untapped talent pool of experienced, recharged, mature women who bring a whole new set of life skills to their job.
“Are you sure you can do this?”
“Wow, you must have your hands full!”
Questions and remarks like these and more hinder the entry of second-career women into the workplace.
It has been established enough that women take career breaks due to the 3M’s (Marriage, Maternity, and Mobility). Those “years off” are not a hallmark of their incompetence. However, organizations still have ambivalent feelings about bringing on board second-career women. And this is one of the critical reasons for the gender gap and lack of diversity in workplaces.
How can hiring second-career women enhance gender diversity?
Second Career women are an untapped talent pool of experienced, recharged, mature women who bring a whole new set of life skills to their job. They have strong educational credentials, significant work experience, a high energy level, and unbeatable enthusiasm to make a career comeback.
Superior business performance
Second Career women have experienced ideas, valued viewpoints, and market insights. These better problem-solving, and strategic decision-making, ultimately lead to superior performance at the business unit level. The vast industry knowledge and perspectives they bring to the table will allow the company to serve an increasingly diverse audience and increase the chances of aligning with customer needs leading to business success. So, if this niche pool is recruited, trained, and nurtured, they have the potential to rise to CXO roles in the industry.
Attract and retain talented women
Gender diversity helps companies attract and retain talented women.
Creating an environment that supports the growth and prosperity of female talent, especially second-career women, means letting women have a say in designing the company culture. It champions putting them in positions where they can make impactful decisions, thereby attracting and retaining more women in the workforce.
Adapting to VUCA environment
Resilience helps individuals thrive during life’s unexpected challenges. It guides them in bouncing back stronger than ever. And women in career breaks are a testimony to resilience. They are adept at handling the fast-paced, ever-changing, disruptive VUCA world. They usher in vision, mindset, clarity, and agility, which are the key ingredients of a successful business.
Gender diversity drives organizational culture and business. And to foster genuinely impactful gender diversity, hiring Second Career women is the way forward.
