Tips For Professional Mothers Returning To Work - Tips 7 & 8

Tip #7 - Networking Revisited

I spoke about the importance of networking in tip #2 and wanted to revisit the topic again to go over some important points as well as highlight some logistics in being a successful networker.

As we head into another busy fall season, it is the perfect time to ensure you get involved in networking activities.  These can be anything - a formal event at a professional association or career fair, or informal socializing at a dinner party, even your dentist office.  The point is to be involved in activities that are not always related to your kids.  Making it a habit of letting people know that you are looking to get back into the workforce is great for a few reasons.  Firstly, it will solidify your decision to go back to work.  Once you start saying things out loud it is your first step to achieving the goal.  Second, most people will have some sort of advice or will offer to keep your intentions in mind.   Often people might hear about a vacancy soon after you talked and you are still at the top of their thoughts.  It doesn't mean that it will be your dream job, but just knowing that people are out there with an eye on opportunities helps with the process.  Third, you can get referrals to other people you can connect with.  How many times have you even heard yourself say to someone that you don't know of anything off hand, but that they should connect with your friend "Joe" who might have some ideas.

Networking is an ongoing process that requires review and follow up.  As with anything, you get out of it what you put into it.  Review the events you attended last year (whether  formal or informal) and list who you met.  Has there been any outcome of that connection?  This is a good time to ditch those events that were a waste of your time (which is a precious commodity) and switch to those with more promise.  When networking, a good tip is to write the date and event where you met someone on the back of their business card along with a note that will help you remember them.  When you follow up it could possibly provide you with an icebreaker to the conversation.  Speaking of follow up - keep in touch with the people you meet with whom you'd like to maintain a relationship.  This doesn't mean that you need to become best friends, but a follow up coffee or lunch a few weeks or a month later will solidify the brief conversation you had at the networking session. 

A general rule of thumb is that successful networking will provide a Return on Investment in about 4 - 6 months (sometimes longer).  People that you meet don't necessarily have the job or opportunity that you are looking for at the time you are looking, but eventually the stars will be aligned.  When they are, you want to be top of mind so that they think of you and not someone else. 

Successful networking takes perseverance with a pinch of panache.  With practice and persistence, it can become second nature.

Tip #8 - Work Life Balance

If anyone has defined the true meaning of "Work Life Balance" please let me know.  Work life balance has become such a ubiquitous buzzword and part of our culture that I believe it has lost it's meaning.  It seems like everyone these days is searching for work life balance.  In fact, this is no longer just a working mother phenomenon, but spreading to the larger working population.   What does seem to be a commonality is that no one seems to have found it.  Research, studies, articles and informal surveys all state that work life balance is the biggest source of stress at work. 

There are of course several reasons for this: demographic shifts (sandwich generation), dual income households (leading to less time at home), cultural changes (less walking to school, more playdates) etc.   I have a theory that another reason for the rising stress of work life balance is that many people tend to define the balance at its face value (ie. 50% of your time devoted to work and 50% of your time for life).  For most, this is an impossible goal and leaves people unsatisfied with both their work and life environments.

Which leads me to a simple exercise to help you through the first step towards achieving work life balance.  Start with redefining the term to be work life effectiveness or work life flexibility.  This should allow you to think of it in a new light.  Work life balance means different things to different people, and not enough people have taken the time to define the term for themselves.   

Defining your own work life balance will help you when you are re-entering the workforce.  This is no different than defining what is important to you in your company role.  Work life balance is only a piece of your broad definition of career.  Realizing what your needs are is the first step in selecting or eliminating options for your reentry into the workforce.  Some questions to consider are:

• Is location of your job important?   For some there are daycare / school drop offs and pick ups to consider.
• Is part time a necessity?  Are you easing back in gently?  Do you want to be with your kids while they are in school?
• How much travel can you accommodate in your role / life?  Can you leave your other obligations behind while you are out of town?
• What sort of benefits does the company offer with respect to flexible work arrangements (FWA's)?  Are there negative consequences to using FWA's?
• What are your goals with respect to career advancement?  Is your goal to get ahead and climb the corporate ladder as quickly as possible?
• What sort of overtime does the job entail?  Are you able to handle unpredictable overtime schedules with your home responsibilities?

The answers to those questions will help point you down a more balanced path.  Remember, work life balance initiatives come in many forms.  For some, it will mean starting your own business, or taking on more of a consulting role.  For others it means getting back into a company that has flexible work arrangements, or perhaps working full time and hiring help on the homefront. 

Whatever the solution is, it will likely be yours alone.  Work life balance is not generic and it certainly is not 50% work and 50% life.  Figure out your needs and be prepared to be flexible to give and take.  The solution is as unique as you are! <