Shannon Sandoval
Never completely opt out.
That’s one of the most common pieces of advice that women who left the workforce give to other females thinking about doing the same. Shannon Sandoval, a mother of four and teacher at Bradley University, says moms should always keep one “foot in the door,” even when they are not working full time.
Sandoval left work in 2001 after the birth of her first son. Her husband had secured a high paying job that had a salary equivalent to what the two of them had been making at their old jobs. This afforded Sandoval the security to stay at home with her son, and her three other children that followed, up until 2016.
Even though Sandoval took many years off from a regular, full-time position, she said she never allowed herself to have a gap on her resume, which she believes is important for all women to be sure to do.
Over the years, Sandoval dipped her hands in everything from freelance reporting for her local newspaper, marketing for the nearby hospital, running an insurance agency and assisting as the speech coach for her town’s high school. The most recent title she has added to her resume is that of a University professor. The busy mother did all she could to remain “opted in” at all times in some capacity or another.
The task of going back to work on a more regular schedule as a teacher though, proved to be more daunting for Sandoval than she had thought, despite her years of many jobs.
“My youngest child started Kindergarten last year and I always assumed I would return to work in some way once she did, but I did find myself entering a kind of “crisis” mode as the day approached. I felt a lot of pressure to get back to contributing financially to our family,” Sandoval explained.
Finding a job that allowed Sandoval to bring home additional funds while also letting her care for her family is where the challenge arose.
“What I did not anticipate was how closely tied my availability is to my family’s schedules and expectations. Returning to work 9–5 really wasn’t going to work within the structure of our family now, and so that is why I say I was in a bit of “crisis” mode — struggling to find an identity I suppose,” Sandoval said.
The journalist discovered other difficulties as she started her part time role at the University. Finding professional clothes to wear, reminding herself that she has set hours where she was needed and learning to divide her time between her teaching and parenting duties were all adjustments that had to be made.
As with many other women, Sandoval also admits that realizing her worth as an employee was another aspect that she struggled with after being a stay at home mom for so long.
“I think that years of ‘working’ with no ‘pay’ have a weird kind of psychological effect on you,” Sandoval said. “If I were in a job interview and a potential employer asked me about a starting salary, I would have no idea what to say. Does my life experience make me more valuable? Or do those years “off” mean I should expect to start at a lower rate?”
Sandoval’s journey from working as a full time employee, to focusing on her children and trying to always have at least one foot in the professional world, to opting back in part time taught her many things.
“The importance of getting your education and making a plan, the importance of going with the flow when plans change, and the importance of continuing to grow and push yourself in all facets of your life,” are all things the dedicated mother feels she has realized through her professional path. “And maybe,” she continues, “most importantly, change is a constant part of life and you never go wrong in life when you follow your heart.”
OptIn helps women seeking to get back to into the workforce with counseling, coaching, and connections.
Visit optinbackin.com for info or email hello@optbackin.com
