What Every Returner Ought to Know About Community

Job searching is no fun. It’s a lot of work and for all that effort, you may get ghosted or rejected outright. Noone wants that. “The job search can feel very lonely, very difficult, and very discouraging,” says Emily Askri, program manager at Path Forward. “It’s especially hard when you’re on that journey alone.” But here’s some great, research-backed news: there’s something super simple you can do to make your…

[Recording] Spotlight on the Wells Fargo Glide – Relaunch Program, Fall 2023

Recording Watch a recording of this June 15, 2023 webinar to learn about the Wells Fargo Glide – Relaunch Program for Fall 2023. Resources View or download the slides from this webinar. Ready to apply? Check the Wells Fargo page on Path Forward to see job links for 50+ returnship opportunities once applications open on June 20.

Stuck In Your Job Search? How to Keep Going.

I’m a big fan of Patty Azzarello, a writer and executive coach. I find her advice really helpful. Much of it comes out of her experience in large organizations, but it’s often applicable to people working in companies of all sizes. One memorable blog post was about how to win a big promotion and, as usual, it has a lot of good advice. But that’s not why I’m sharing it…

Figuring Out Your Motivations for Returning to Work

When people come to me for advice on restarting their careers, I always start with the same question: “Why do you want to go back to work?” There are a lot of ways to return to work. The path (pun intended) you choose may well depend on what your primary motivation is for returning. Having talked to hundreds of people looking to restart their careers, I can say that there…

Top 5 Rules for Job Interview Follow Up and ‘Thank You’ Notes

We frequently get questions about following up after a job interview — usually something along the lines of “How often is too often to check in?” or “How long should I wait before following up on a job application?” Mostly, candidates seem concerned about being too aggressive in contacting recruiters or hiring managers. But in reality, a lack of follow up seems to be a bigger issue. I was shocked…

Straight Talk About Time Management for Job Seekers

How much time do we really have? Laura Vanderkam, noted author on time management and productivity, believes in rethinking the concept of how much time we have in the day, both for work and family responsibilities and for doing the things we enjoy. In a Q&A with Tami Forman, Laura talks about how returners can prioritize their job search, how to reduce the “mental load” we often carry, and which…

How to Counter Ageism and the ‘Over Qualified’ Label in Your Job Search

If you’ve had a long professional career, followed by a sizable break from the workforce, you might be worried about facing ageism in interviews, often hidden behind terms like “overqualified.” We wish we could tell you that it doesn’t happen, but it does. A lot. It’s frustrating to face. Ageism, like other -isms, is a structural issue that we need to collectively work to dismantle. In the meantime, there is…

7 Things to Do Now to Return to Work This Fall

Hello, summer! Sunshine, iced tea, and sleeveless tees. Is it really time to start thinking about fall? Why yes it is! For many caregivers, the end of the school year and beginning of summer is a time to re-charge and re-set. And, as the rhythms of your week changes, this may also be the perfect time to look ahead and get prepared to return to work in the fall. “Many…

Working Toward Financial Security With a Career Restart

Financial security should be a big part of the equation when women consider a return to work, says Kathryn Sollmann, author of Ambition Redefined: Why the Corner Office Doesn’t Work for Every Woman & What to Do Instead. She suggests thinking about work and compensation in a way that’s likely very different from when you were in your 20s and first starting out. In a Q&A with Path Forward, Kathryn…

How to Reach Out to Old Colleagues

As you prepare to return to work, old professional colleagues can be a great source for support, networking, and advice. But if you’ve been on a career break for a while, you might have lost touch with many in your old professional network. And the more time that has passed since you’ve talked, the more apprehension you might be feeling about reaching back out. First, think about how you felt…