Return to Work

Just about all professionals are concerned with work-life balance. Not so many spend as much time thinking about their work-life view. Deb Martin (a freelance writer and editor originally from Westchester County, New York) and her partner Jim Richards (a photographer and technology consultant who spent years knocking around the Rocky Mountains), think first about…

If the last time you wrote a resume was when the elder Bush was in office, I know it can be hard to find the words to describe your long time out of the workforce. Whether they’re on hiatus for one year or 10, returning professional women have an especially hard time  making volunteer work sound…

In answer to the frequent question, “Does my volunteer work count on a resume,” I always tell women yes, yes, yes!  Now Linkedin has made it even easier to showcase this experience. First of all, you’re on Linkedin, right?  Even if you’re not being paid for your work now, some day soon that may change.  Linkedin…

One of my daughter’s teachers once told me that students would no longer be doing their big science projects at home.  With a hint of sarcasm in her voice she said, “in the past parents built some very impressive machines.” We’ve all heard the term “helicopter parents”, and I would be lying if I said…

A few social butterflies in my circles know everyone there is to know, but many more women have a nice circle of friends and acquaintances and that’s that. The non-social butterfly camp of job seekers often tells me that they’ve run out of networking contacts.  They do the obvious—contact their inner circle of friends, family…

When employers ask you for references, it’s the moment that could make or break your chances for a job.  Especially if you choose a reference who gives you a lukewarm review. The first thing to know is that employers prefer to speak directly to a person rather than read a letter that glows brighter than…

When you’re not sure if you want to return to work, you’re thinking a lot about how work will affect your life—and your family—today.  This is a bit of luxurious thinking because a current comfortable financial situation could easily change in the future. I’m not looking to be the purveyor of doom—only reality.  We’ve all…

Last week I had the good fortune to visit my daughter who has the good fortune of studying in Milan for a semester.  As she talked about the need to “blend in” with a new culture, I was reminded of parallels in the work world. For generations there has been the problem of the “ugly American”…

One of the things that I want to do with this blog is give “case studies” of job searches women have underway, and provide advice and direction.  So here goes… E.D. of Pennsylvania wrote this to me:“I’m re-entering the corporate setting after being out for 11 years. I ‘ve spent the time running my own business…

One of the hardest things for women to learn—in or beyond the school years—is the difference between skills and attributes.  When you’re looking for a summer job, an internship or a real job after graduation, it’s important that you focus on skills. If I could teach you only one lesson through this blog it would be…