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Re-entering corporate
I am a former marketing and advertising executive and was killing it. I had children and was able to stay home with them for a period of time and during that time kept up with local boards, (school and Education Fund) and started my own business. I must now return to the workforce and I am finding it challenging. I am an exceptional worker with great ideas and experience but it was already a challenge to get informational interviews before COVID-19 and now even more so. Any ideas on networking groups to join to get more exposure? Who ever "gets me" is going to be happy they did, I just have to get in!
Good Morning, I am also Gen X and had to change my plan due to simultaneous elder & child caregiving. Around that I worked in a consulting capacity as much as I could. When I was able to return to work FT, the level of age bias I suffered was astounding. I am very networked with all former colleagues and friends, but nothing has happened yet. And I'm up to date with skills and technology! Now with the COVID-19 situation, I'm afraid it will be even MORE difficult to find an appropriate role. Just venting...
Ah Lucia, Yes, the timing of everything is so insane. I imagine you are a strong woman and so am I and I hope we get some opportunities in light of what is going on. Keep at it!
@KPhillips you may want to check out the Women in Product Slack group at: http://womeninproduct.slack.com/ and they also post their jobs at bit.ly/wip-jobs - I can also add you to the slack group if you don't get added in, you can DM me your email
User deleted comment on 05/13/20 at 3:43PM UTC
User deleted comment on 05/13/20 at 3:37PM UTC
Thank you Anne. Yes, I have reached out so many, many colleagues, there are some problems with my returning to the same thing I was doing before that are too long to go into here but basically, the field has changed from an analog platform to a digital one and most people want a "plug and play" person to hit the ground running. It is also a 'younger person field" so I am almost taking all those skills and reinventing myself in how to apply them to a typical Project Management scenario. That is where I shine, Project Management, budgeting and client relations.
Thanks for the info regarding the refresher courses online, I agree, It will stand out in bullets on my resume. I am working this week on redoing my resume because I feel the format of my current one can be improved with bullets.
I believe I have reflected my time out of 'workforce' as I used that time on school boards, and grant writing on a volunteer basis. I then started my own business from the ground up.
Thank you for your insight!
I was out of the workforce for 12+ years before I returned to work in 2008, I get it! A few quick points:
* Are you networking with former managers, colleagues and clients? Reach out on LinkedIn or directly and let them know you're ready and energized.
* Are you willing to take a job that is below your experience to get your foot in the door? If so, let people know.
* I agree with the idea above and would add nonprofit work.
* Search for resume/return-to-work programs.
In terms of your skills, take free refresher courses online. It demonstrates renewed interest and shows that you're eager to learn. (https://www.thewriteresumes.com/news-notes/2020/3/22/free-online-courses)
And finally, have you reflected your time out of the job market well on your resume? If employers are confused by the time gap, it's hard to get to the next step.
Best of luck!
Since you don't mention what tactics you were using to network and to get informational interviews, but you are probably doing the basics (networking with peers and asking them if they want to do a virtual coffee just to get to know each other, writing a blog and posting that blog on your own site, on LinkedIn and here on FGB)
Another option for you, in today's economy, is to offer your services for free to a small set of companies (say, woman-led startups or woman-lead small businesses). You don't have to work full-time for free but you could do some small project-based work which would give you current work experience, increase your network, and perhaps open some employment jobs. I am a member of a couple of Woman Founder groups on Facebook that I'm happy to make your introduction to. If you want to pursue offering your services to startups let me know
Hi Barb, I wanted to follow up on your offer to make my introduction to the Woman Founder groups you referenced above. I would like to offer my services. Thank you!
Thank you Barb for your response and helpful tips. Yes, I have been networking like crazy. I have not posted anything in blog format for job searching though. Yes, I'd love to do some part time service offerings to get some current experience and increase my network. Thank you for this and let me know how you would want to proceed.