Research by recruitment and career management company Isero.com has found that the skills women have gained during the raising of a family are directly transferable to the workplace.

During the formulation of their latest recruitment tool Talking CV! Isero spoke to many companies to find out what workplace skills they looked for at interview, and found that time management, budget management, organisation, multi-tasking, troubleshooting and negotiation all ranked high in the list of priorities.

The findings should put paid to the concerns of many women who wish to return to work, but are tentative, often fearing that companies won’t wish to hire them following their decision to take a break from the working world.

Isero’s managing director, Stewart Keiller, explained: “At this time of year, when children have gone back to school, a lot of women will be thinking about returning to the workplace and worrying about their prospects.

“But if they think carefully about their role over the past several years, they will soon identify the transferable skills that can make all the difference on their CV. Hammering suppliers down on prices will seem like nothing after bargaining with a three-year-old over dessert and bedtime.”

Mr Keiller added that the recruitment process was about more than just specific skills or experiences, and that individuals with the right character and attitude would also add value to their business.

He said: “Women returners have developed many of the personal qualities that employers value, and this makes them highly employable.” (CL)