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A Perfectly Imperfect Re-entry Tale

You GOT the job! After what seems like an eternity of looking you are ready to start your new job. You have that feeling you get on a roller coaster as you head for the first drop, nervous but excited. There is a vision in your head of a parade heralding your triumphant return to the working world. Surely everyone is as happy and excited for you to be there as you are, right? In reality, it's more subtle. Kander and Ebb beautifully describes it in the song A Quiet Thing . The song begins with the lyrics," When it all comes true just the way you planned, its funny the bells don't ring. It's a quiet thing.", that capture how it really feels. Wait...what? Try it's more like Murphy's Law. On my first day back to work, I was prepared. I had mapped out my commuting route. I got up early to make sure I could get the kids off to school and leave for work with plenty of time to spare. I had a killer outfit picked out. I was ready to take on the world. Well i...

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The Dreaded Question...What Do You Want To Do?

You have decided to return to the workforce and are checking off the boxes for the many to-do items like resume, references, networking, elevator pitch, technology skill refreshing, social media presence, etc. You are getting better at telling people you are looking for a job. Then comes the dreaded question, "What do you want to do?" Maybe you are one of the lucky ones with a specialized background in law or accounting, for example, and you want to return to that arena. Although there is still work to do, at least the focus is narrow. On the other hand, if you are like so many others without a specialized background or clear path, the "what do you want to do" question is often followed by a long pause. You have the elevator pitch on your skills, background, and the type of position you are looking for. BUT, can you really answer that question honestly? Perhaps now is the time to pause and reflect on what it is you really want to do for your career. If you...