TUESDAY TIPS: March 25, 2014: Stay-at-home but still on the career-track!
In our hyper-connected world, a world highly conflicted regarding to the value of raising children versus the pressure to have a white-hot career, parents leaving, or even just considering leaving the office to raise their kids full-time, have a difficult choice: be great hands-on parents, or end up in the corner office? I think that stay-at-home moms and dads are set up to fail; judged harshly and punished for spending either too much or too little, time with their children…but I still believe that these same parents have options. Stay-at-home parents still have the option to invest in their careers, even as they may not be sure what exactly those careers will be, or could be, as the years pass. Let’s face it, we talk a great deal of pretty hyperbole about “children being the future,” but spend 5 minutes on social media, and you’ll find Facebook pages such as “STFU Parents,” and a lingering (class) resentment against parents who have the wherewithal to focus on their children.I’m not a fan of other people making you feel bad for your choices, but I am a fan of people doing what is best for themselves and their families, so here’s some ideas on how you can have your cupcake and eat it, too.
Nowadays, constantly connected as we are, moms and dads have the ability to demonstrate a continued interest and relevance to their fields. I personally advise clients to attend, whenever possible, trade conferences, industry shows, and all manner of networking events before they plan to start job-hunting. And by “before,” I mean years before. Why wait? Create a Twitter account, for example, today–using your first name and last name for the “handle”– and start following your former boss and company and colleagues. In between posting approximately 45,678 photos of your kid being precious, I suspect you can find the time to tweet to another adult.
Because whenever you decide you’re ready to return, you want to have strong connections with people who have continued working, and in order to maintain strong connections, you must demonstrate a shared, mutual interest as well as the value of your experience. That word “value” sounds foul and demeaning, I know, but such is the business world. If you’ve ignored your former colleagues for 12 years, it’s unlikely that they’re going to bend over backwards to help you reintegrate into a rapidly evolving business environment.
Subscribe to industry magazines, and websites; even regularly commenting on an industry Facebook page, or tweeting back to a popular Twitter account, keeps you on people’s radars, and broadens your networking horizons. (Happens all the time. I promise.) If the kids are a little older, consider working part-time, consulting or even mentoring college or grad school alumni who want to break into the field. A great thing to do is to volunteer your time and passion to industry trade associations. Getting on a popular board, and mentoring up-and-coming younger people within your industry is a fantastic way to keep your hand in, and have your name remain in front of the next generation and your colleagues. Crucially of course, it demonstrates your commitment and passion in your industry.
If nothing else, keep your LinkedIn profile up-to-date with a current (and professional) photo, and use your status updates to talk about the industry-specific books and articles you’re reading–or even better… writing!–the events you’re attending, and generally, all the viable knowledge you still have to offer your community. (Before you give me that look, yes you, with all your experience, you could probably write for some website. Websites need contents. Your brain is full of content. Email me and we’ll discuss it. #ButI’mRight)
If you’ve determined you don’t want to return to your previous industry, it still never hurts to present to the world as a sharp, committed professional. Want some more tips? Of course you do! Just because you’re a great mom or dad, doesn’t mean you can’t also have a great career! Become a fan of my business Facebook page, “Carlotaworldwide Creativity Yenta,” and shoot me an email at carlotazee@gmail.com!