1. Pharmaceutical Sales Representative
There's no question that pharmaceutical sales representatives work hard. But if you work for a company like GlaxoSmithKline, you'll enjoy the company's official Flexible Working Policy, which includes including home working, part-time working, annualized hours and term-time working (which allows working parents to take unpaid leaves of absence during school holidays) - while still having a prestigious career.
Also, GSK knows how to reward valued employees with work-life balance perks, including on- or near-site child care and pay-for-performance incentives (for which there's no cap).
2. Teacher
Those who can do also teach. And many of those folks have children. Teaching is a notoriously family-friendly vocation; some professionals even work in the same district in which they reside, meaning their kids are nearby (or even down the hall) every day.
Teaching professionals, from elementary school teachers to college instructors, enjoy child-friendly working schedules, generous vacation time (including having your summers off) and opportunities to earn extra income through tutoring or by teaching additional classes and coaching.
Like nursing, a teacher shortage looms large with some folks speculating a need for two million more teachers in the next nine years.
3. Freelance Writer
Do you have the write stuff? If so, a career as writer may be right for you.
Writing can allow working mothers a great deal of flexibility in your schedule. Also, working from home is often a given.
Some very famous working mothers are writers, including Jacquelyn G. Mitchard, author of The Deep End of the Ocean (and mother to seven children!), and Harry Potter's "mom," J.K. Rowling.
Most professional writers will have some kind of help with childcare during working hours, but since you may be able to set those hours yourself, your spouse may be all the help you need.
4. Registered Nurse
No one is more popular, professionally speaking, than registered nurses. In high demand from hospitals and teaching institutions alike, RNs are now attracting impressive salaries, signing bonuses ranging from $500 to upwards of $15,000 and opportunities to earn overtime.
But most importantly, today's nurses are enjoying newfound flexibility in scheduling as hospitals try to attract top talent. And many hospitals offer on-site childcare and generous benefits plans.
These caring professionals can also enjoy unprecedented flexibility as home care, per diem or travel nurses.
5. Part-Time or Temporary Professional
Parenting is a full-time job in and of itself so many moms are interested in working outside the home on a part-time or temporary basis.
Accountemps, Adecco, OfficeTeam and Robert Half each offer an array of professional-level temporary assignments that allow a mom to keep her skills fresh and her resume current without the commitment of a full-time position.
For those mothers interested in a more permanent-yet-part-time opportunity, AFLAC, the number one provider of guaranteed-renewable insurance in the U.S., is a fabulous fit. As an AFLAC agent, you're given proven training in a classroom and in the field. You make your own schedule. You don't ever have to travel or work nights or weekends. You can work from your home office. And you can earn six figures or more. Still not sold? AFLAC also offers competitive commissions, awards, incentives, and contests (win a trip to Hawaii as well as opportunities to advance into management.
