There are many career options for professional stay-at-home parents. You can work as an independent contractor or run a home based business. Here are a few job options for you to consider:
Career Counselor
A career counselor offers advice, guidance and training (sometimes) to individuals who need help figuring out their career options or need help changing careers. Your primary job is to assess the skills of your client, and guide them towards finding employment that will match those skills. You can provide career counselling over the phone, and you may decide in some cases to provide face-to-face counseling. The education required to become a career counselor is a degree in counseling or psychology (or other related mental health degree). If you want to work as an independent contractor, you'll need to prove your experience in career development and counseling.
Lawyer
With technology and creativity, working as a lawyer is a great career option for a professional stay-at-home parent. You can advise clients on the telephone or by email, and conduct most of your research and writing online. You can send letters, contracts and other legal documents through the mail and never have to see your client. This is not a good option for someone who wants be a litigator because you'll be obligated to appear in court often, and spend many of your days away from home. The education required is a Juris Doctor degree, and you need to pass a bar exam and become licensed in your state.
Online Teacher
There are many career options online for teachers, ranging from K-12 teachers and tutors to university professors. Some companies, such as eSylvan, hire independent contractors to tutor students in math or reading. They provide the tools necessary to facilitate communications between the teacher and student such as a digital pen and tablet and a headset. Other companies such as The University of Phoenix hire professionals to teach college students over the internet. To become a teacher, you need to prove your education and experience in the particular course of study they're hiring for. If you prefer, you can launch your own online teaching business and offer courses or tutoring through your website or blog. The education required varies depending on what you're teaching. In some cases, you'll need a Bachelor's Degree in Art or Science, and in other cases, your experience in an industry may outweigh the need for any formal education.
Writer
The job options for stay-at-home parents who write are numerous. You can become a freelance writer and write only for online publications. You can write as a freelance journalist if you have a journalism background. You can offer proofreading and editing services to business owners. You can write for print publications, such as magazines and newsletters. You can also market yourself as a copywriter. When it comes to writing, your education is not considered as much as your writing experience. You're mostly likely to be asked for links or clips of your published works than you are your educational background. With that said, those who do want to know about your education are likely to hire individuals with English or Journalism degrees.
Once you decide which career option to pursue, decide whether you want to start your own business or work as a contractor. The demands and monetary rewards are very different depending on which you choose.
