Comments on: Making a return to work comeback http://www.integratedmother.com/blog/return-to-work/ Making sense of the work-life juggle Sun, 14 Mar 2010 07:47:16 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Michele Dortch http://www.integratedmother.com/blog/return-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-11759 Michele Dortch Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:59:27 +0000 http://www.integratedmother.com/blog/?p=2662#comment-11759 Thanks for adding your insights to this discussion Majella. I definitely agree. Even in an up market, networking is a necessary element of an effective job search and trust me, my network is a huge asset right now! :) Thanks for adding your insights to this discussion Majella. I definitely agree. Even in an up market, networking is a necessary element of an effective job search and trust me, my network is a huge asset right now! :)

]]> By: Majella Wilkins http://www.integratedmother.com/blog/return-to-work/comment-page-1/#comment-11741 Majella Wilkins Thu, 15 Oct 2009 08:43:26 +0000 http://www.integratedmother.com/blog/?p=2662#comment-11741 Well done on your brief but clear set of guidelines for women returners. This fits so well with how we are working with our women returner community in the UK. Looking for a new job is a job in itself and you need to get into the right frame of mind, have a clear goal and approach your return to work project with the same motivation and energy as if you were in paid work. This can be a tall order when you have so many other demands on your time and maybe financial pressure to get a job quickly. In the current climate with fewer advertised jobs, networking should be a really key part of your return to work plan. Definitely approach this with an open mind and cast your net wide as you never know who it will put you in contact with. Many mums are nervous of networking for jobs as they think it is selling. Networking - if you are doing it right- isn't a hard, direct sell. In our experience mums actually have some natural networking ability and just need to use this skill to discover the unadvertised job opportunties that the herds aren't already chasing on jobs boards and the like. Keep open minded and you never know what might just come up which could be a stepping stone to something else - it is a journey after all. Well done on your brief but clear set of guidelines for women returners. This fits so well with how we are working with our women returner community in the UK. Looking for a new job is a job in itself and you need to get into the right frame of mind, have a clear goal and approach your return to work project with the same motivation and energy as if you were in paid work. This can be a tall order when you have so many other demands on your time and maybe financial pressure to get a job quickly.

In the current climate with fewer advertised jobs, networking should be a really key part of your return to work plan. Definitely approach this with an open mind and cast your net wide as you never know who it will put you in contact with. Many mums are nervous of networking for jobs as they think it is selling. Networking – if you are doing it right- isn’t a hard, direct sell. In our experience mums actually have some natural networking ability and just need to use this skill to discover the unadvertised job opportunties that the herds aren’t already chasing on jobs boards and the like.
Keep open minded and you never know what might just come up which could be a stepping stone to something else – it is a journey after all.

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