To most people, networking feels smarmy and, well, icky. I think it’s because we fundamentally misunderstand why networking is important and how it helps us. Most people think of the old cliche “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” This very idea is what turns people off. We want to be evaluated based on our talent, not our ability to climb a social ladder. But the fact is,…
If you’re among those who are skeptical about the value of using a “returnship” to re-enter the workforce after a break, you’re not alone. Back in 2012, Working Mother ran an article that opened with the line, “Thinking about doing a returnship? Please don’t.” The article went on to argue that returnships took advantage of women’s feelings of insecurity after a career break, and that placement rates at the end…
In November 2017, Wall Street Journal magazine had a cover story about Reese Witherspoon. She has become a force in Hollywood creating movies and TV shows that are made by, star, and appeal to women. That this is a novel concept—despite the fact that 52% of moviegoers are women—is a testament to how far we’ve got to go. But her success is a testament to how far we’ve come and we…
Those who’ve been out of the workforce for a few years often find taking a course or two aimed at refreshing your skills can be helpful, especially if you’ve worked in the tech sector. Technology surrounding computer programming and web development can change rapidly. Taking a course can give you a boost of confidence and demonstrates to prospective employers your eagerness to learn new skills. The good news is that…
I was recently interviewed for a podcast and at the end I was asked a series of rapid-fire questions. One of them was “What is the key to work/life balance?” Hmmm. A lot of things flashed through my head. An understanding boss. A company that respects employee’s personal lives. A supportive spouse or partner at home. Some other kind of good personal support network. All of those things are helpful,…
Summer can be a burden for working parents, especially mothers. That’s because the American school calendar is predicated on a family structure that hasn’t existed for decades. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2022, 73% of mothers and 93% of fathers with children younger than 18 were employed. That’s a lot of families that are scrambling to figure out how to cover care for up to 12 weeks.…
There seems to an unending number of articles written that tell moms to “put themselves first.” The reason that these articles keep getting written is because so many moms feel overwhelmed and stressed out. But the advice doesn’t seem to match the problem — if you are overwhelmed trying to meet everyone else’s needs, an article that tells you to put yourself first, even if it explains why you need…
One question that I’m frequently asked is “Does anyone read cover letters? And, if not, do I need to bother with one?” The short answers are it depends and yes. Talk to a bunch of recruiters and pretty soon you will hear the same thing: they don’t read cover letters. But you still need one, and it needs to be customized for each job. The reason is simple: A great…
Of all the amazing people I’ve had the privilege of meeting, Tiffany Dufu stands out. She was the president of The White House Project, was part of the launch team for Lean In and is currently the chief leadership officer of Levo. And that’s just a few highlights – her list of accomplishments is so long and impressive it would take an entire blog post to fully represent them all.…
In her new book, Work Pause Thrive: How to Pause for Parenthood Without Killing Your Career, Lisen Stromberg digs into the reasons why women take pauses in their careers and the steps they can take to successfully return. Relying on extensive social-science research and data about who leaves the workforce and why, Stromberg centers the narrative of Work Pause Thrive around the idea that pausing your career can enrich your career and your life. Covering everything from the complex…
