Networking has a branding problem. By Tami Forman Getting lunch or coffee with former coworkers is networking! Photo by Helena Lopes on Unsplash At the end of July I got the chance to speak at the Power to Fly Career Connections Summit. The title of my session was “Stop Networking, Start Connecting” and you can see the recording here. At one point the moderator asked me about tips and tricks for people who…
Author: Path Forward
5 Reasons Why Returnships are Great for Society
You’ve heard about them on TV. You’ve read about them in the news. They’re returnships, and they’re here to stay. Returnships offer a path back into the paid workforce for those on career breaks and are becoming more popular with employers and returners alike – and with good reason. Here are five reasons why returnships are great for society. 1. Returnships promote diversity in the workplace and begin to address…
What Should My Salary Expectations Be When Returning to Work?
There are so many factors that go into the salary that comes with a job offer. Evaluating that salary can also be an emotional experience, which can further complicate things. Especially when you’re trying to re-enter the workforce and reestablish your professional worth, navigating salary negotiations can be tricky. How do you create realistic salary expectations for yourself? And what do you do if asked to take a job significantly…
How to Follow-up on a Job Application
You just submitted an application for a job you’re really excited about. Congratulations! But as the days go by, your patience starts to thin waiting for a response. So what should you do? Follow up with the employer, of course! That said, it matters a great deal how you follow up, so here are our recommendations for how to do it successfully. Double check the job description before taking action.…
Defining Success as You Return to Work
It’s fairly common for people to return to work after a career break through project-based work, consulting, or returnship programs. Because of the temporary or time-bound nature of these kinds of positions, we often hear how anxious people are about whether or not they’re on a path to success. This anxiety seems to be centered on what may be a narrow definition of success – will this company offer me…
Leveraging Unpaid Work Experience in Your Job Search
You’ve been gaining new skills throughout your career break. Many of those skills and experiences are valuable in the workforce. But how do you translate those experiences in a way that recruiters and hiring managers will understand? The better you are able to articulate how your experiences have helped you develop skills that are valuable to a business, the more likely you are to persuade a potential employer that you…
3 Essential Tips for Talking About Your Career Gap
Interviews are probably top of mind as you start your return to work journey. They can be a stressful experience for anyone, but maybe even more so after a career break because you’re wondering how to discuss your employment gap. How do you explain your reasons for taking a career break? How much detail should you go into about the circumstances behind your break? It can be nerve-wracking to put…
[Recording] Behavioral Interview Strategies for Returners
Recording If you haven’t had a job interview in awhile, you may be surprised when you get asked what are called “behavioral interview” questions. These are questions that ask you to describe how you handled a past job situation in a way that concisely conveys your impact. This can be hard to do and preparation is key! Watch a recording of this July 20, 2022 webinar to: discover how employers use the behavioral interview…
Search Path Forward’s Returnship Matcher to Find Your Best Fit
Job searching after you’ve been out of the workforce for several years is daunting. You quickly find out how much things have changed. One thing that may be new to you, for example, is the concept of returnships. Returnships bridge the gap between employers and highly qualified returners. They are supportive hiring programs that offer a pathway for mid-career professionals to return to the workforce and gain new skills and…
Is “Back to School” Making You Think of “Back to Work”?
The end of summer and start of a new school year feels like a fresh start for everyone. The kids are older now – maybe your youngest is beginning full-day kindergarten. Or the oldest is off to college. Or your teen or preteen is super busy with activities. What about you? The back-to-school season is when many stay-at-home moms and dads begin to think about their own next steps. Maybe…