A new opportunity for mom: Rocío's story

A few months ago, I interviewed Rocío during a recruitment process. What began as a work-related conversation ended up becoming a moment of genuine connection. Beyond the information relevant to the position, Rocío shared a story of effort, courage, and perseverance that deeply inspired me.

When I asked her about her personal life, Rocío paused briefly. She tried to focus on professional details, but soon confided that she is a single mother of three. During her youth, she earned a university degree and achieved professional success. It was in this environment that she met her ex-husband, with whom she shared several years of her life and started a family.

When she became pregnant, she knew she wanted to dedicate herself entirely to motherhood. Being a stay-at-home mom, as many of us know, carries a significant mental burden and considerable physical strain. However, a few months ago, she made one of the bravest decisions of her life: to separate from her husband due to abusive behavior and start over.

Determined to re-enter the workforce, Rocío began her job search. Months later, she still hadn't landed an opportunity. Although she attended interviews and sent out her resume constantly, she wasn't making any progress in the application process, which gradually eroded her motivation.

During our conversation, I mentioned that she certainly had the necessary skills. Perhaps she needed to update some knowledge, a result of her years away from the workforce, but her story spoke of someone resilient, committed, and capable. We all deserve a new opportunity to grow and rediscover our potential.

After several conversations with the client, where I highlighted Rocío's strengths and the benefits of choosing her, we finally achieved that "happy ending": Rocío was hired. Today, she has successfully completed her probationary period, and the client is completely satisfied with her performance.

Rocío's story isn't unique. It reflects the reality of many women who, after putting their careers on hold for motherhood, dream of getting back on track professionally. Therefore, my advice for those in this situation is: keep your records in order, with all your work experience properly filed; take advantage of online courses to stay up-to-date; and above all, don't lose your positive attitude and confidence. You'd be surprised how many people are rejected from the first contact simply for projecting a negative attitude. The key is to demonstrate that you are an asset to any company and that you are willing to learn whatever it takes.

As organizations, we also have a great responsibility. We must create more flexible and inclusive processes that allow mothers—and anyone in transition—a real opportunity to return to the workforce. Because behind every resume is a story, and often, those stories are what make the difference.

Jackie Velasquez

International Consulting

Aseinter.com

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