The 3 Job Search Mistakes So Many Moms Make (and How to Avoid Them)

Inside: Job search mistakes that can teach us how to reset and launch a successful job search as busy parents.

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Let’s talk about something we all do as parents and professionals: make mistakes.

We tell our kids all the time that mistakes are how we learn. And that is true! But you know what can be even better? Learning from other people’s mistakes so you can skip a little bit of the mess and still get the lesson.

So this week on When Mommy Grows Up, we’re talking about three common job search mistakes through the story of Claire, a mom who learned them the hard way, so you don’t have to.

🎧 Listen to the Podcast Episode Here

💻 Read the recap below.

Meet our Mid-Career Mom and Job Seeker, Claire

Claire is a 39-year-old project manager and mom of two in elementary school. After nearly a decade in the same company, Claire felt boxed in. Her work had gone stale, and she dreamed of something more meaningful and more flexible.

So Claire did what many of us do when we decide it’s time for a change:

She dove into her job search with enthusiasm, hope, and… a few misconceptions that led her straight into frustration.

Let’s walk through what happened and how she turned things around.

Job Search Mistake #1: The Resume Rush

When Claire decided she wanted a new job, she opened a blank Word document and went to town on her resume. New bullet points. New formatting. New fonts. Maybe this italic section is the key? No? How about a different template?

As a busy parent, Claire didn’t have all the time in the world to work on this job search, but she found that whatever time she DID have was being sucked up by resume editing.

Sound familiar?

But here’s the problem: Claire didn’t actually know what kind of role she was aiming for yet. So her resume became a catch-all. And instead of feeling confident, she felt scattered.

The Turning Point

In coaching, one of the first steps I take with parents is to hit pause on the resume entirely.

Instead, Claire and I worked on clarifying her career criteria:

• What type of work lights her up?
• What industries or missions align with her values?
• What work environment supports her family and her well-being?

Once she had a clear target role, rewriting her resume became shockingly easy!

Job Search Mistake #2: The Application Avalanche

Claire thought she just needed to “cast a wider net” in order to secure a new job. So she applied to 50+ jobs in three weeks. Some were interesting jobs, and some were pretty random.

And then the rejections rolled in.

One after another.

Each one chipped away a little more confidence. And the kicker? She wasn’t even sure she wanted half of those jobs. Were the day-to-day activities aligned with her interests? Was the culture family-friendly? She had no idea!

The Turning Point

With a clearly defined target, Claire shifted to focusing on 2–3 roles at a time that truly aligned with her values, strengths, and needs.

She tailored her resume and cover letter to each, she leaned into her network (more on that below) and suddenly things started moving.

No more burnout. No more panic-apply-and-pray.

Just thoughtful, strategic action.

Job Search Mistake #3: The Lone Ranger

At first, Claire thought she had to navigate her job search on her own. No coaching, no help.

The idea of networking also felt awkward to Claire.

(And honestly, I understand! The word networking sounds like we’re all supposed to show up in suits to trade business cards over little plates of cheese.)

So Claire started her job search alone, stuck to job boards, and kept her search private.

The Turning Point

First things first, Claire said YES to coaching. She hadn’t job searched in over a decade, so it was normal that she needed help.

Then, as we got started in coaching, I helped Claire reframe the scary idea of networking as connection.

She made a list of five people she already knew and liked — former coworkers, mentors, friends — and reached out just to catch up. Not to ask for a job. Not to “pitch herself.”

Just to connect.

And guess what?

One of those conversations led to a warm referral for a job that matched her newly clarified career direction.

From Job Search Mistakes to Job Search Results!

With clarity, focus, and support, Claire started landing interviews at organizations she was genuinely excited about. And perhaps the biggest shift:

She got her confidence back.

Your Takeaway

If you’re thinking about making a career move, here’s your roadmap:

1. Get clear before you update anything.
Define what you want, then write the resume.

2. Focus your search.
Thoughtful > scattershot. Quality > quantity.

3. Don’t go it alone.
Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, and networking isn’t asking for favors. We all need help as we’re learning something new, and networking can be as simple as reconnecting with humans you genuinely like.

Remember, you deserve a career that fits your life, not the other way around. And you don’t have to figure it out in a vacuum.

If you want to explore this further, you know where to find me. We’re figuring this out together!