by Barbara Sher or
Finding Your Perfect Work
by Paul and Sarah Edwards, attending a career workshop sponsored by your local
YWCA or community college or getting some private sessions with a
qualified career counselor.Are you a Mom who thinks about returning to the workplace, but your plans stop short because you keep hearing little Gremlins on your shoulder saying things like:
“My skills are so outdated”
“I’ve been away from the workplace for so long that nobody will want to hire me”
“Everybody will be younger than me!”
As much as you would like to go back to work, you just can’t seem to get past those negative thoughts.
Let’s face it – looking for a job is not much fun. Even for seasoned executives with glowing resumes, the job search can be an intimidating task. As a Mom who's taken some time away from the workplace, your job search anxiety can be magnified by the problems of outdated skills, gaps in your resume and that ever-present need to balance work and family.
In addition, many Moms who’ve taken time away from the workplace often don’t know what they want to do professionally. Their old jobs no longer fit their lifestyle needs; yet they are unclear as to what types of new options are available.
It’s no wonder that the task of re-entering the workplace can seem like an insurmountable hurdle!
But there is good news: millions of Moms have successfully transitioned from the home back into the workplace, and you can too. Here are some strategies to help boost your confidence as you undertake this most exciting (albeit daunting) project:
As Yogi Berra once said, “If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.” Particularly when you’re a Mom who has structured your schedule around home and family, it’s too easy to drift from excuse to excuse as to why you can’t go back to work. But, once you commit to establishing a clear-cut career goal you’ll find it easier to develop an action plan for success. This in turn will boost your confidence and your rate of success.
Your goal should include a realistic target date for securing a job, as well as an identified industry and job function role. An example of a solid goal might be: “I would like to pursue a career as an accountant in the software industry by next September.”
If you don’t know what your
goal is, or if you’re having difficulty making up your mind, consider getting
some assistance by either reading a great career book, such as
Wishcraft
Once you have a clear goal in
mind, begin a fact-finding mission to help you separate the “myths” and
“realities” of your situation. If you are feeling that your skills are
outdated, talk to people in your industry to determine the steps you need to
take to bring your expertise back up to an acceptable level. An excellent
resource on the “how-to’s” of conducting informational interviews is
Networking
If you are worried about age discrimination in the workplace, speak with friends who are actively employed to get their perception of this issue. Addressing your concerns upfront will enable you to focus on the steps you need to take to improve your marketability in the workplace.
When your children will begin the crazy college admission process, you’ll be devoting hours to helping them identify suitable schools, touring campuses and writing college entrance essays.
Don’t you deserve the same level of care and attention?
Build time into your schedule for tasks that will boost your self-esteem and alleviate the job search jitters as you embark on this new journey. These investments of time and money will pay big dividends in building a more confident and marketable you:
· Read industry trade journals to enhance your knowledge of what’s happening in the marketplace today.
· Reconnect with your old associates from work. Schedule lunch dates, rap sessions on the phone, or even e-mail discussions, so you can find out what's happening in the field you left, and who are the folks making waves who might be able to help you.
· Enroll in courses that build your skills and increase your circle of networking contacts.
· If you’re looking a bit dated, treat yourself to a great new interview outfit or a makeover. Commit to losing those extra “mommy” pounds that are keeping you from feeling great about yourself. Looks may be superficial, but there’s no denying that when you feel good about yourself, your confidence shines through.
Remember when you and your friends discussed wedding plans? Or, how you spent endless hours strategizing with your best friend about ways to handle your toddler’s terrible two’s? Sharing your thoughts with others gives you much needed support in times of transition. As a Mom contemplating a return to the workplace, don’t try to tackle this transition without getting support. Enroll in a career workshop targeted to Moms re-entering the workplace. Invest in a few sessions of career counseling.
Last, but certainly not least in importance, be patient. Job search takes time under the best of circumstances, so be realistic in your expectations. Keep a sense of humor, stay committed, and step-by-step, you’ll reach your goal.