Sherri Ruhl took a break from her career as the director of technology at the Houston Symphony when she had her second child. After a 16-year gap for childcare, eldercare, and many family moves, Sherri felt ready to return to the workforce. After learning about returnships, Sherri applied for and completed a returnship at Trimble, where she now works full-time as a business analyst. She talks about her return-to-work experience,…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Self-care requires the discipline to do the hard and boring things that are good for us. But the way self-care is portrayed today is completely and utterly backward. First, self-care as a concept is almost exclusively aimed at women (generally wealthy white women who can afford the goods and services that get marketed to them as self-care). The not-so-subtle suggestion is that women need to be reminded to care for…
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…
We’re thrilled to announce the launch of our new online community for caregivers looking to return to work! On May 15, we’re opening the doors to the Path Forward Community on Mighty Networks, and we invite you to join us. We know how important it is for returners to connect with others who are going through similar experiences. That’s why we’ve created a space for caregivers at every stage of…
Naga Vijaya Lakshmi Ijjada took a 12-year break from her career in tech when health issues coincided with a family move from India to the US. However, Naga always intended to return to her career. “I love to work and I love to code, so I couldn’t just give it up,” she says. When she started her job search, Naga soon realized that it would be difficult to find a…
When you’re looking to restart your career, you definitely need to be prepared to spend time on your job search quest. The best way to do this is by building and then keeping a routine. It’s not about applying to as many jobs as possible in one day, but creating consistency. Think of it like exercise — it’s much better to work out more frequently across most days of the…
