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A few weeks ago, I was invited to participate in a “mom blogger conference call” with Anthony Edwards, one of the actors in the upcoming film, Motherhood. Edwards shared his views on being a father and working professional, as well as his role in the movie. In response to a question about how he balances a demanding work life alongside marriage and raising four children he said something to the effect, “If you love what you do, it’s not a big deal.” I pretty much tuned out of the call after that statement because I was consumed with the simple wisdom of his words.
Edwards’ response to the work-life balance question is especially meaningful today as I take steps to re-enter the “traditional” workforce and search for a full-time job. After being in business for myself for more than six years and enjoying a very flexible work-life, I’ve received mixed responses to my decision. My dad, a 22-year Air Force veteran and long-time government employee, almost sounded relieved and immediately suggested I get a “good, secure job with the government.” Some of my stay-at-home mom friends looked at me with concern saying, “Gosh, I’m sorry that you have to go back to work.” And a large collection of working mom friends lamented, “Oh. Good luck. The market is tough. And it’ll be hard with the kids.”
Of course, I also have a cadre of uber-supportive, positive people who are cheering for my successful and happy return to work, but the general consensus is that work is something a mother is bred to dislike and not enjoy – work is a means to a bitter end. I don’t agree.
Maybe I’m overly optimistic and have a saccharin Pollyanna attitude, but I truly believe that I can and will find my “love what you do” job despite news that unemployment is high and employers are pickier than ever. Well, I am too. I have no intention of leaping into the corporate abyss just to be miserable. It wouldn’t be good for me or my family. It wouldn’t be good for my future employer either.
So, as I navigate my way back into a corner office (or at least a nicely appointed cubicle), I’m working a plan to land the “love what you do” job Edwards described. There are a number of strategies I’m employing, but here are the three that kicked off my job search process:
- Be clear about why you’re working. Moms work for many reasons – money, self-worth, fulfillment, contribution, challenge, etc. To achieve the perspective Edwards described and shift from a “have to work” to a “want to work” point of view, you’ve got to be clear about your reasons for working AND be satisfied with them. For some, financial motivation is enough to fuel a passion for work. Money is important to me, but of higher priority is the challenge of my work and the vision of making a meaningful contribution to something bigger than myself.
- Be clear about what you offer. One of the early lessons I learned as a business owner was that marketing and selling my value to prospects and clients was my #1 priority. The same is true as I shift my focus from client prospecting to job searching. I have a vast array of experience that is as broad as it is unique, but to land the job I want, I have to be clear about how that background can serve a prospective employer. That means re-crafting my “elevator pitch” and positioning myself in a way that is distinct and compelling.
- Be clear about who you want to work for. As a business owner, I’m big on the power of target marketing. My sales and marketing efforts were far more effective when I narrowed my prospects to specific characteristics, rather than spreading myself thin trying to be “perfect” for every client. Likewise in the job search. Although I’m qualified for a number of open jobs, I’ve submitted my interest to a select group of employers where I believe my personality, interests and background would be a good fit. The challenging part about this approach is being lost in a sea of applicants who use the (very desperate) spaghetti-on-the-wall approach to job hunting: throw your resume at as many employers as possible, then sit back and see what sticks. That’s when your professional network can help push you to the surface.
Even if you’re not actively engaged in a job search like me, these ideas can help in your current work situation so that you can have what Edwards described – a career you love. My hope is that we find it because at the end of the day, it’ll make us better moms and working professionals.
Here’s to our collective pursuit of work happiness!
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Terrific post!! I missed that call, but met him last week at the premier. And he was just as sweet and genuine as he seemed.
Cool Jill. It’s always nice to know that a celebrity is the same in person as their “PR persona.” Having lived in LA for a while, I’ve experienced more incongruity between the persona a celebrity puts on in public compared to who they are in real life.
Thanks for sharing this. I am not in the job seeking market, but interestingly I have just recently decided to go to graduate school, get my masters degree in professional counseling, and then pursue a career change of sorts after working for 20 years in business administration. Here’s the catch though, I L>O>V>E my job, I really do. I just think it’s time for me to reach for the stars so to speak and broaden my horizons, my income potential horizons. But don’t let that make me sound like I am greedy/money hungry. I have truly found the value of every penny as a long-time single mom… I just want to be able to afford a big bright future for my kiddos as they get older and pursue their life-time goals… so I hope I am not jumping ship with this idea… but I know I am definitely stepping out of the boat!
I love it Katherine! Congrats on your decision to return to school. There is something about going back for a grad degree that is so much more fulfilling (at least it was for me). My undergrad degree was kind of a mandatory thing assigned by my parents, “Everyone must have a degree.” I’m grateful for that, but at 17 it was hard for me to know the direction I wanted my career to take. By the time I entered a grad program, I was clear and passionate about my studies. This made a HUGE difference, esp since I was fitting it between a full-time job, a toddler and one on the way! Good luck!