My sister was really lucky. After she had her daughters, she could afford to stay home for seven years, up until her youngest started kindergarten. Being a stay at-home mom was an experience she wouldn’t trade for the world, but when she was ready to return to work, she wasn’t sure how to break back in. I searched around and found a few apps that helped her navigate her return to the workforce. Hopefully, some of these can make a difference in your life as well.

Prepare to return

Before you fill out your first application, you’ll need an up-to-date resume. This can be kind of intimidating if you’ve been out of the workforce for a while. Thankfully, you won’t have to type your resume from scratch. Resume Builder (or Resume Builder Pro for $3.99 at Apple’s App Store), helps you create a professionally formatted resume from your phone. Just enter your information and the app takes care of the design and layout. Store the finished product on your phone to apply for jobs electronically or send it to your computer when you need to print copies.

Once resumes start bringing in job interviews, returning moms don’t have to worry about being out of practice when they use Interview Prep Questions. Designed to work like digital flash cards, this free Apple app helps you rehearse interview questions and view ideal answers to build confidence to face even the toughest interviewer.

Streamline your job search

Life with kids in the house can get so hectic that it’s hard enough to find time for a job search let alone pour through countless online job boards. JobMo works on iPad, iPhone and Android devices to find jobs from all the major employment sites — Monster, Indeed and more — and bring it to one place. Compare salaries, search jobs, learn about specific companies and send out applications from your mobile device. The app is free.

Find unadvertised jobs

You’ve probably heard that most jobs are never even advertised in public, which can really limit a returning mom’s chances of finding the right opportunity. But for $0.99, the HiddenJobs app reveals many of these opportunities by scanning media reports for announcements about companies that are expanding or otherwise in the news. The app says it has uncovered at least 4.6 million job leads since 2011.

Another app called LinkUp bases its approach off a robust search engine designed to sift through company job boards — filtering by keywords, location and individual employers. LinkUp works with iPhone, iPad and Android devices as well as desktop computers.

 Sometimes it’s who you know

Networking is one of the most effective ways to find a job, but if you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, you can feel disconnected. You probably know more people than you think, though. Start with LinkedIn and check out expert advice on using it to make professional connections more productive.

Another platform to consider is CareerSonar, a free app on a mobile web platform that connects with your LinkedIn and Facebook accounts to identify people in your networks associated with companies where you would like to work. It also groups and ranks open jobs by the strength of your contacts.

When you need a change

Maybe you hated your old job and aren’t thrilled about returning to the same field. An employment break is the perfect opportunity for a career change, and time spent as a stay-at-home mom develops all kinds of new skills and interests. If you’re not sure of your path, there are several personality and career tests online and in app stores that have questionnaires (for free) to help connect you to careers that suit your preferences and personality. If you need a more detailed analysis, there are also options for more extensive testing packages at affordable rates.

Using apps helped my sister ease back into the working world. She discovered a passion for art after years of kitchen table projects with the girls, and she ended up changing careers. Now, she loves her part-time job teaching art at a private nursery school. The apps alone weren’t the source of her success, but they certainly helped her — and they can help you, too — get a start in the right direction when returning to the workforce.

Posted on 7/8/14

Writer bio:

Alexandra Rice is a writer who loves talking about all things education. After living in the Mid-Atlantic, South and Midwest, she has finally settled down out West in San Francisco. When not thinking about education, Alexandra can be found at the beach, playing with one of the many dogs at her office, or searching for the perfect cup of coffee. Catch her on Twitter day or night at @Alexandra_Rice.

Company bio:

NerdWallet has been around since 2009, helping consumers make smart financial decisions. We cover the spectrum of consumer finance — banking, credit cards, education, health care, insurance, investments, mortgages, shopping, small business, travel — you name it. We’re Nerds who create great tools, crunch numbers, check the fine print and give consumers all the results — unfiltered and transparent.

NerdWallet has been featured by outlets such as CNBC, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Kiplinger, LifeHacker, The New York Times, Reuters, TIME magazine and The Wall Street Journal. Money Magazine has named NerdWallet the web’s Best Credit Card Site, and consumer advocates Clark Howard and Liz Weston have recommended NerdWallet’s products.

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