Financial tips for college graduates to keep in mind while job hunting
Here are 5 tips for new graduates to stay financially smart during their job search
Susan De Marco was nervous about returning to work when her third son went to kindergarten.
She spent 11 years as a stay-at-home mom, raising her sons while also doing odd jobs and volunteering from time to time. With a CPA, MBA, and an impressive pre-mom resume in hand, she applied for countless jobs. But “nobody even contacted me.”
“I started to get discouraged,” DeMarco said. “It takes so much time to raise a child and people seem to think you’ve forgotten… everything you’ve done is just forgotten.”
Then one of her applications prompted a callback. The New Jersey company Brand K Partners is a nonprofit accounting firm founded by Amy Carson, a mother of three.
Carson said the gaps in DeMarco’s resume “didn’t even calm me down.” De Marco’s experience as a mother was “a huge asset,” Carson said. She said she has also employed other housewives and all have been successful in their employment.
Carson said he hired people who could prove they found ways to fill their time productively, even if not through employment, such as “people with extensive volunteer experience or people who are passionately involved in their children’s schools.”
Within a few years, De Marco became Brand K’s partner, gave birth to another child, and took care of his mother after she suffered a stroke. In 2024, DeMarco was promoted to CEO after Carson resigned to pursue other careers.
Resumes are “one of the biggest barriers”
Stay-at-home moms and empty-nester parents often hit the same wall when looking for work: resume gaps.
Scott Schiff, a business strategist who tried unsuccessfully to help his father find a new job in his prime, says new AI-powered technology could weed out resumes with large gaps. Additionally, job posting platforms are overwhelming, difficult to navigate, and often targeted at people in their 20s. Schiff realized that there was a market of motivated workers desperately trying to find work without supporting tools.
He is currently working on Pivoters, a website designed for older professionals looking to start a new chapter.
“We’re trying to reduce any barriers,” Schiff said. “And one of the biggest barriers is building a resume. If you haven’t been in the workforce for 20 years… you’re like, ‘Oh my god, how do I start?’
What not to do
De Marco and Carson share three things not to do for stay-at-home parents considering returning to work.
- Don’t give up. “Everything happens for a reason,” DeMarco said, adding that timing is key. “Never regret taking time off to care for your family. The right opportunity will come at the right time.”
- Don’t compromise. “You want to find your next home,” DeMarco said. “Keep looking for the right person. Some organizations work with staff to provide flexibility in caring for family members.”
- Don’t doubt yourself. “Don’t shy away from opportunities that seem below your skill level,” says DeMarco. “Because I can prove myself.”
Job hunting tips
Focus on soft skills like empathy, problem solving, patience, and multitasking. On applications and interviews, parents should talk about juggling their child’s activities alongside volunteering at school and other responsibilities. Carson said management positions are ideal for parents because raising children is about managing a family.
Schiff reiterated similar dos and don’ts for empty nesters looking for work, and told them to let friends and family know you’re open to work, too.
“Be creative with the channels you’re viewing,” says Schiff.
Madeline Mitchell’s role covering women and the care economy for USA TODAY is supported by partnerships such as: extremely important and Journalism funding partners. Funders do not provide editorial input.
Contact Madeline at: memitchell@usatoday.com and @maddiemitch_ With X.
