WE'VE GOT THIS

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...

There are five core members of our blog group and while we talk about what's current in both the business casual and more formal wardrobe sense we haven't jumped at the chance to write about it.  Why is that? Do we shy away from the topic because  fashion can be perceived as  a "women's topic" or are we hesitant to give advice on a topic about which so many people have something to say. If we talk about our wardrobe are we somehow less professional? Are we afraid of getting it wrong? Regardless of the answer, we may not be willing to write about it but we are talking about it. More often than not we all face the usual questions: What do I wear today? What do I wear to a casual lunch? Networking morning coffee? A first, second or third interview? Meeting a recruiter? On the first day of a new job?  Negotiating salary? The answers on what to wear can be found using the same skills you are using to search, network or work.  Research, compare notes with colleagu...

So a new year is upon us. For many, its a time of resolutions and new beginnings. To be honest, I don't make a new year's resolution. I haven't made them in years. I find the idea of making a pledge to do something that I really have no commitment to doing and then feeling less than enough when I don't do it, pointless. But I do like the idea of taking a step back and reflecting upon inward-looking questions like: How am I doing? What does the best version of me look like?  What do I struggle with? Instead of a resolution, each year I pick a word out of a bag of words. I then reflect upon and look for ways to work on what the word represents throughout the year. My word for 2018 is EXPLORATION . There are so many interesting possibilities with this word.  I do hope one of them is going somewhere new and fun!   🙂 So in the spirit of new beginnings, now is a great time to take a step back and consider how the job search and/or re-entry process is going.  Ask your...

It's nearing year end and the holidays are around the corner -in the back of your mind is the nagging question -what should I be doing to move my job search forward? Keep it simple as there are many competing demands this time of year. Family, friend, neighborhood and work parties all present opportunities to talk about your job search and the work you might be doing to refresh your skills.  It's a great time to try the new short elevator pitch you have been thinking about.  Or talk to a friend of friend about the steps you have taken to be ready to be back at work. Alison Doyle at thebalance.com shares some holiday networking tips here . Follow and subscribe to online blogs, twitter feeds, Linkedin and Facebook groups to learn more about industries,  jobs, executives and companies. Information helps you be ready for that one opportunity you are looking for.  Better yet,  Click here  to subscribe to our blog. We know you have worked at getting you...

Are you wondering if your technology skills are up to date? While out of the workforce we have used technology at home or in our volunteer and part-time roles. Many of us have learned to use the software and apps our children are using to communicate. How do we ensure our technology skills are up to date and even if they are up to date do we know how to use the software used by our new or potential employer. With two young adults in our house I have learned to use google calendar to share our schedules, email, text, snapchat, share stories on instagram, tweet, use Messenger & Facebook; I can even have an emoji only conversation.  If you haven't tried this technology don't be fearful of it. Download the apps, put your settings on private (for now?) and give it a try! But how does this translate to the office? Think about the software you have used before, are those skills up-to-date? Have you heard about Tableau or cloud based programs such as Slack, Asana and Trello. A...

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...

I was talking with some fellow women returners, well not really talking more like corresponding. We were messaging each other. Frustration with the lack of progress in finding a job was one of our topics. Something we certainly can all relate to. It got me thinking about a previous post  Never Give Up! How to Keep a Positive Attitude . It's so hard to remain optimistic when you have spent months, maybe even years, trying to re-enter the paid workforce in a position comparable to where you were when you left. Frustration takes hold and your self-confidence plummets. Your inner roommate fills your mind with self-doubt and unhelpfull thoughts that what you are doing is a waste of time.   Look, there is no easy recipe to staying optimistic when your streak of rejection stretches into months or even years. No amount of "keep your chin up" from well meaning family and friends is going to make you feel better. You need to change your thought patterns. This isn't about ...