Jobs and Moms

Mom Returning to Work? Turn your Volunteer Work into Career Gold

A friend of mine has a notepad on her refrigerator that reads, "Stop Me Before I Volunteer Again!" Sound familiar? I am sure this is a common problem for many of you, especially during the first few months of the fall. Unfortunately, volunteering can sometimes be a double-edged sword for back-to-work moms. You'd like to be a good community citizen and you want to help out, but volunteering can turn into a time drain that prevents you from concentrating on job-search related activities. 

To help avoid the trap of either volunteering or concentrating on your back-to-work job search, I'd like to suggest that you instead consider doing "targeted volunteering" and instead of waiting for people to approach you about volunteer jobs you don't really want to do (i.e., chairing the bake sale committee), you proactively seek out challenging assignments with organizations that really interest you. You'll be happier; they'll benefit from your hard work; and in the process, you'll gain new skills, contacts and experiences to help bolster your resume when you're ready to return to work. Whether you're thinking of starting your own business or contemplating a return to the office, here are four ways to turn into a "career-smart" volunteer: 

1. Chair a committee for a professional association: One of my clients did this when she was trying to break into the field of training and development and within two years she was elected president of her local chapter of the American Society for Training and Development. She then used the contacts and skills gained from her volunteer experience as a springboard into her new business as a public speaking coach and trainer. 

2. Accept volunteer assignments with organizations that are aligned with your career interests: Thinking about becoming a teacher? Volunteer at your child's school and learn more about the day-to-day challenges of being a teacher. Interested in grant-writing? Seek out opportunities to write a grant for a local community agency. Find organizations where you can test out new skills and build up your resume.

3. Consider serving as president of your group: While it is always helpful to serve on the board, serving as president will bring you a special level of status and notice. As president of a volunteer organization you'll have opportunities to polish your management, public-speaking and long-range planning skills. This is a smart way to add relevant leadership skills to your resume without the pressures associated with a "real" full-time job. 

4. Join a non-profit board: Volunteer to serve on the board of directors of a high-profile organization. The people you'll meet will help broaden your sphere of knowledge and influence and you'll enhance your management skills at the same time.

Enjoy these tips? Take a look at our exclusive Back-to-Work Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms, a course designed specifically for professional moms returning to work!!

Mom Returning to Work? How to Write Your Resume

Of all the steps in the job search process, putting together a resume seems to be the toughest obstacle for most return-to-work-moms. Writing resumes is a tough task for most people, but for stay-at-home-moms there are three nagging questions that make this task particularly difficult: 

1. How do I structure my resume so that my absence from the workplace is not the first thing employers will notice? 
2. How do I integrate volunteer experience into the resume so that the resume accurately reflects the skills I have gained while being a stay-at- home mom? 
3. How do I account for the time spent away from the workplace? 

Sound like familiar concerns? If so, read on… 

1. How do I structure my resume so that my absence from the workplace is not the first thing employers will notice? The vast majority of employers, and almost all recruiters, will tell you that they prefer to see resumes that are formatted in the traditional reverse chronological style (starting with your most recent position first). Unfortunately, this preference creates a real dilemma for women who have been out of the workplace for an extended period of time and don’t want “Homemaker” to be the first entry a potential employer reads. Consequently, if you have been out of work for at least a year, consider changing the format of your resume from a chronological style to a “hybrid” or “combination” format that blends the best of a chronological resume with the benefits of a functional resume. Basically, a combination resume starts off with a skills summary, followed by a section that highlights skill clusters, and concludes with a chronological section at the bottom of the resume that includes specifics about education, places of employment, job titles and dates of employment. Because combination resumes are accomplishment oriented, they are a great way to showcase your capabilities without drawing attention to the gaps in your work history. The skill clusters provide you with a structure that highlights your most relevant skills and accomplishments to the employer, while drawing emphasis away from dates and gaps in your work history. 

2. How do I integrate volunteer experience into the resume so that the resume accurately reflects the skills I have gained while being a stay-at-home mom? Volunteering may have provided you with credentials and accomplishments that are highly relevant to your career goals. Fortunately, by utilizing a combination resume, you can seamlessly weave your most relevant volunteer experience into the skill clusters area. For example, if one of your skill cluster areas is “sales”, you could include information about how you collected $10,000 from local merchants as part of a fund raising drive to benefit local literacy programs. If you want a position in corporate training, and one of your skill clusters is “public speaking”, you should include specifics about your experience as president of your local Toastmasters group. Remember, skills learned while volunteering are equally valuable as skills gained for paid employment. There is no need to distinguish between paid and unpaid work related skills on a resume. 

3. How do I account on the resume for the time spent away from the workplace?  A combination resume has room for both a skills section and a "work history" section that will show a brief chronological work history. This is the area where you will include a line about what you have been doing while you’ve been home. For example: 

 

• 1994-present Full time homemaker, PTA president, community volunteer 

 

While this particular entry is not going to win you any jobs, it will provide an easy-to-understand explanation of the gap on your resume. Hopefully, by the time the employer reads down to this line, she/he will be so impressed with your skills and accomplishments, that the employment gap will be interpreted as just a minor distraction.

Enjoy this article?  We've got tons more tips in The Back-to-Work-Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms

P.S. One of my favorite resources for back-to-work resumes is the book, Expert Resumes for People Returning to Work by Louise Kursmark and Wendy Enelow.

Mom Returning to Work? Put Your Fears to Rest

Are you a mom who thinks about returning to the workplace, but your plans stop short because of that little nagging voice in your head that says, “Who is going to want to hire me?” As a career consultant who has helped lots of moms get back to work, and as the author of the Back-to-Work-Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms, I can assure you that there are plenty of employers who are very interested in speaking with you. Moms bring a level of maturity, work experience and stability that many employers find lacking in younger workers. As Hans Morris, chief financial officer of Citigroup Corporate and Investment Bank in New York stated in a NY Times article on February 12, 2006, “We’ve had women who were real leaders and demonstrated an ability to get things done but who have dropped out. It’s not that it would be nice to have them – it’s that we need them.” If you’re thinking about stepping back into the professional workplace, here are some strategies to help boost your confidence as you start down this road: 

Clarify your goals: As Yogi Berra once said, “If you don't know where you are going, you might wind up someplace else.” Once you are able to clarify your career goals you’ll find it easier to develop an action plan for success. Your goal should include a realistic target date for securing a job, as well as a specific industry and job function role. If you’re having difficulty deciding on a definitive job target, consider getting some assistance by either reading a great career book (such as Wishcraft 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. 

Separate fact from fiction: After 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 how to best improve your marketability. If you’re worried about age discrimination in the workplace, speak with friends who are actively employed to get their perspective on this issue. Identifying your concerns, and then taking proactive steps to address them, will enable you to focus on the steps needed to ensure an easier transition back to work. 

Focus on "Project Me:" Moms are great at doing for others. We bake the cupcakes, write out the party invitations and at the point that our children start the college search, we devoteg hours to helping them identify suitable schools, tour campuses and write college entrance essays. Doesn’t your future deserve that same level of care and attention? Build time into your schedule for the research, networking and administrative tasks needed for a successful job search. 

Don’t go it alone: Remember the excitement you felt when you and your friends discussed wedding plans? 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. If you can’t find a workshop in your area, talk to other moms and start a mini-support group on your own. 

Last, but certainly not least, 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.

Enjoy these tips? Take a look at our exclusive Back-to-Work Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms, a course designed exclusively for professional moms returning to work!!

Mom Returning to Work? Tips for a Winning Job Interview

Job interviews are stressful enough, but they can be especially nerve-wracking for moms returning to work. If you’re a return-to-work-mom who has been worrying how you’re going to answer questions like “What have you been doing for the past eight years?” it’s time to stop the jitters and start getting prepared! Here are the three “mommy-track” questions you should be ready to answer: 

1. Why did you take time away from the workplace? Oh man, I love this question! I mean, really. Seriously, must we explain this?  Annoying or not, when asked about your decision to stay home with your children, it is critical to respond with an answer that is upbeat, positive, and does not contain even a hint, whiff or drop of sarcasm. Explain that you enjoyed the time at home and emphasize that you have gained valuable skills during this time period. Then deftly (and quickly) steer the focus of the discussion back to the job and your interest in the company. Whatever you do, don’t apologize for your decision or make excuses about why you didn’t return to work earlier. 

RATIONALE: If you feel good about the choice you made, the interviewer will appreciate your comfort and conviction. Employers want to hire people with positive attitudes who demonstrate confidence in their choices. 

2. Are you concerned about your skills being outdated? Although the interviewer will probably not use these exact words, it is what she/he is likely thinking, so be prepared for a question that addresses the rusty skill issue. Use this line of questioning as an opportunity to demonstrate that you’ve done your homework and clearly understand the employer’s needs. For example you could say, “One of the reasons I was attracted to this position was because I understand you need somebody with strong fund raising skills. I was able to develop impressive fund-raising skills as the chairperson of the YWCA auction. Last year the auction Iraised $100,000 which was 25% greater than goal. Could you elaborate more on your specific fund raising goals for the coming year?” If you really don’t have the specific skill needed for the job, but it is one that you could quickly acquire, use an example from a previous job to demonstrate that you have a proven ability to quickly learn new skills. 

RATIONALE: It can be difficult for employers to get an accurate feel for the value of your “home-based” skills just by looking at your resume. By discussing specific initiatives you’ve taken to improve your skills, whether through volunteer work, courses or contract work, you help convey the impression that your skills are both relevant and up-to-date. 

3. Have you made arrangements for the care of your children? Although this is technically an illegal question and you would be entirely within your rights to refuse an answer, deflect the question skillfully by responding, “That will not be a problem. I have excellent coverage in place. Now, tell me more about...” 

RATIONALE: Fair or not, many employers worry that your children will interfere with your job responsibilities. Providing a direct answer responds to the interviewer’s concern without giving any more information than he/she legitimately needs to know.  

Finally, don’t forget that the interview is a two-way conversation. Use it as an opportunity to evaluate the company and don’t be afraid to ask questions of the interviewer. Even if you’re ultimately not interested in the position offered, work hard at creating a winning impression, since you never know when the employer might have a more suitable position open in the future.

Looking for more tips for moms returning to work?  Check out our Back-to-Work Toolkit.

After the Divorce: Tips for Moms Returning to Work

Looking for a job is tough enough. Looking for a job after you’ve taken a few years away from the workplace is even more difficult. So just imagine how overwhelming it can be to look for a job after you’ve been home full-time and you’re reeling from the effects of a recent divorce: emotionally, financially and physically drained. Yet, as tough as this may be, it is reality for thousands of women each year. If you find yourself suddenly thrust into this position, here are some suggestions for easing the stress: 

Get Support – The emotional and logistical issues involved in securing employment following a divorce can be overwhelming. Don’t try to go down this road alone. Ask for help. Friends and family can be an indispensable form of support and resources, but don’t hesitate to secure help from “outside” sources as well. Sometimes therapy may be in order or you might benefit from joining a divorce support group, where you can learn from others who have a firsthand understanding of the issues you face. For assistance with the specifics of the job search, enlist the aid of a qualified career counselor or a local job support group. 

Invest in Job Training – One of the best ways to calm your anxiety about the job search is to improve your technology and job-related skills. In addition to the degreed programs sponsored by colleges and universities, investigate some of the less expensive options offered through on-line courses, adult education programs, industry specific workshops and business school training courses. 

Consider Temping – Even if you’ve only been out of the workplace for a few years, you may be surprised by the changes that have taken place in today’s office environment. Temping can help ease the transition into the workplace of the 21st century, by allowing you to test out new equipment and practices within a relatively risk-free environment. Temping can also be an excellent way to secure permanent employment, so approach your temp assignment with a serious and professional attitude. You never know who you might impress along the way. 

Attend Professional Meetings – Whether it’s the local Chamber of Commerce, the US Small Business Administration or a local branch of a professional association, there are dozens of professional meetings being held in your city every week. Most of these organizations welcome newcomers (typically for a small fee) and their meetings are an excellent place to network and learn about recent industry trends. Check the business section of your local Sunday paper for meeting listings or consult your local phone book for organizations of interest. 

Finally, as tough as it may be, be sure to separate the personal from the professional when interviewing. Your feelings of anger and insecurity are understandable, but the fact remains that potential employers really don’t want to hear about how unfair life has treated you lately. Instead, focus on impressing the potential employer by emphasizing the contributions you can make to the future success of the organization.

Mom Returning to Work? Easy Networking Tips for Stay at Home Moms

One of the most common complaints I hear from stay-at-home moms regarding the job search is that they don't have a strong enough professional network. While that may very well be true, your "mommy" network might be a more valuable job search tool than you realize. Your social friends know lots of people and you just never know when a social conversation might lead to professional opportunities. You could sit next to someone at a meeting and learn she is employed by a company you're just dying to work for or a conversation on your deck could lead you to discover that your neighbor's company has a need for a person just like yourself. Those "chance" meetings can make an enormous difference in your job search. But unfortunately as busy moms, we often don't leave enough room in our days for serendipity to grace our lives. We are so busy taking care of our day-to-day responsibilities -- using lunch hours to run errands and evenings to do laundry -- that we don't allow enough time for those "lucky" conversations to take place. Of course, by definition, you can't plan for serendipity. But if you make a conscious effort, you can create more space for serendipity to cross your path.  Here are four easy ways to generate networking opportunities from your everyday routine (beyond simply posting on Facebook):  

1. At least once every few days, make it a point to introduce yourself to someone new. Talk to the person next to you on the treadmill, strike up a conversation with the receptionist at the dentist's office or introduce yourself to the new person at the PTA meeting. You never know what fruitful connections will result from your initiative. 
2. Once a week, go to a meeting, class, lecture or event outside of your "normal" routine. 
3. Once a month, pick up the phone and make a date to meet someone new for lunch. 
4. Once a year, make a point to reconnect with long lost friends. Start an e-mail chain letter to catch up with your old cronies from high school or college. Write a brief description of what you've been up to recently, pass it on to a friend, and have them send it to someone else from your class.  This is a fun way to reconnect with old buddies while effortlessly expanding your network of contacts. 

Just making a few small, but consistent, changes can have a major impact on your life over time.  Keep in mind the words of Kenneth Hildebrand: 

"Someone receives a promotion, gets an important assignment, makes a major discovery, or moves into the president's office. "He's lucky," an envious person remarks. "He gets the breaks; they're always in his favor." In reality, luck or the breaks of life had little or nothing to do with it. So-called "luck" usually is found at the exact point where preparation meets opportunity. For a time, an individual may get ahead by "pull," but eventually someone with push will displace him. Success is not due to a fortuitous concourse of stars at our birth, but to a steady trail of sparks from the grindstone of hard work each day."

Enjoy these tips? Take a look at our exclusive Back-to-Work Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms, a course designed exclusively for professional moms returning to work!!

Moms Returning to Work: 5 Tips for Success

It takes planning, patience and perseverance to make the back-to-work transition happen, but the end results were well worth the effort. Here are five of my favorite ways to power-up your back-to-work search.  For more ideas, be sure to check-out The Back-to-Work-Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms.

1.  Create a back-to-work support group:When you think back to your other major life transitions – college graduation, marriage, the birth of a baby – you’ll realize that those transitions were aided by having a support team of family, friends and related professionals around you.  Being involved with a support team will provide you with much-needed accountability, emotional support and structure.

2.  Get involved with a professional association: This is a great way to meet people of influence within your industry while updating your knowledge of current trends and issues. Attending association meetings/workshops can also be a useful way to network and learn of job openings before they get advertised to the general public.

3.  Apply for jobs you actually want: As obvious as this sounds, I've seen too many moms assume they are going to be rejected for jobs simply because they have been stay-at-home moms. Don't let assumptions ground you even before you start the search! As the Lotto commercial says, “You gotta be in it to win it.” If you only apply for low level jobs, you will only get low level offers. The way you position yourself in the marketplace will be critical to the way you are perceived and compensated. Apply for jobs that you believe you can do, prepare a convincing presentation and then go after those jobs with confidence and conviction.

4.  Include significant volunteer experiences on your resume: One of the best ways to strengthen a back-to-work resume is to skillfully weave work-related volunteer accomplishments into the experience section of your resume. Unpaid work experience, particularly if it involved leadership, sales, or technical expertise, can help to negate the impact of the employment gap on your resume. Did you chair a major fundraiser? Serve as a board member? Improve the efficiency or profitability of a non-profit? Highlight and quantify the results of your contributions on the resume. Remember, just because you didn’t get paid for your efforts, it doesn’t mean the experience is any less valuable than paid work.

5.  Leverage your network for success: Moms are “Networking Queens” when it comes to finding the best resources for their children -- now it’s time to apply that same moxie to your benefit! While old-fashioned face-to-face networking is still the most effective technique, technology has made it easier then ever to stay in the loop, reconnect, and make valuable new contacts. Thanks to the explosion of blogs, websites, and networking services, you can get and stay connected online 24/7. If you haven't already done so, be sure to establish a profile on LinkedIn.com to power-up your network.

6 Tips for On-Ramp Moms Returning to Work

Are you a mom who has been thinking about returning to work? Here are some quick tips on everything from the back to work resume to the "comeback" interview (excerpted from The Back to Work Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms):

1) Clear your calendar to make time for the search: Ideally, you should plan on spending at least fifteen hours each week on job-search activities connected with your back to work search. If you already have that amount of time available in your schedule, that's great. But if not, you’ll need to “create” that time by eliminating your non-essential time drains. By non-essential time drains, I mean all those volunteer commitments, social obligations and household chores that can be reduced or outsourced with a little bit of advance planning (and perhaps some arm twisting).

2) Create a hybrid or combination resume: The vast majority of employers, and almost all recruiters, will tell you that they prefer to see resumes formatted in the traditional reverse chronological style (this is the resume format you used in the past when applying for jobs). Unfortunately, this preference creates a real dilemma for women who have been out of the workplace for an extended period of time and don’t want “Homemaker” to be the first entry a potential employer reads. To address this conflict, if you have been out of work for at least a year consider changing the format of your resume from a chronological style to a “hybrid” or “combination” format that blends the best of a chronological resume with the benefits of a functional resume. Because combination resumes are accomplishment oriented, instead of date-centric, they provide a framework for showcasing your capabilities without drawing attention to the gaps in your work history. 

3) Enlist a success team: In the business world, savvy companies depend upon guidance from their Board of Directors. As the CEO of your job search, you too can benefit from the input of a few trusted advisors. Who might serve on your success team?

• Colleagues and clients from your “former” life.
• People you’ve met as a result of your volunteer duties
• Contacts you make by attending industry association meetings or conferences.
• People you’ve met through “former life” networks (perhaps college, graduate school or sorority networks).

Think about specific areas where you need assistance and then ask for help.  While you may feel like you’re imposing on others, most people are all too willing to help. Be specific when explaining how a person might assist you and of course always remember to express thanks for their time and guidance.

4) Dress for success: When interviewing, a good rule of thumb is to dress for the job you aspire to, not just the job you are interviewing for. However, tune into cues. If everyone in the office wears jeans, don't wear a navy skirt suit; instead opt for a pantsuit or wear tailored pants and a cardigan set. Please leave the "soccer mom" accessories at home. Headbands, tote bags and necklaces with dangling baby charms detract from the sophisticated look you need to convey in the interview.

5) Be proud of your decision to stay home with your children: When asked about your decision to stay home with your children, be upbeat and positive. Use phrases like “I elected” or “I chose” to emphasize that your decision to stay home was planned and deliberate, not just a default position. Explain that you feel fortunate to have been able to be home with your children while they were young; emphasize that you have gained valuable skills during this time period; and then quickly steer the focus of the discussion back to your interest in the job. Whatever you do, never apologize for your decision to stay home or make excuses about why you didn’t return to work earlier.

6) Believe in yourself: Keep the gap in perspective! If you do your homework and learn to clearly articulate your strengths and unique qualifications, that confidence will serve you very well during this process. Being able to negotiate from a position of value, instead of from a place of need, will help you secure the best job possible.