Are You Ready to OnRamp?
Contributed by Catherine Clifford of YourOnRamp.com
Are you a woman who took a career break and is now eager to find your next path? Are you looking for career inspiration and flexible work options? Is the thought of brushing up your résumé and going on an interview overwhelming? You may not want to return to your prior career, but do you know how to move from the playground into a new fulfilling career?
The journey does not need to be a struggle. It can be an exciting, rewarding experience, but you do need a plan.
10 Step Plan to OnRamp:
1. Are You Ready? Looking for a job takes a lot of time; it is a job in itself. You don’t want to start this process if you are not really ready to set aside time and make that time a sacred priority in your busy life. You need to be fair to yourself and understand whether you are really ready or are you in the “talking about it” phase. The “talking about it” phase is fine, but to accomplish more, you will need to transition to the “do it” phase. Explore your level of motivation. How much do you really want to return to work? Do you know how to find the confidence you’ll need?
2. Clear the decks! Deliberately set aside time and space where you can focus without the multitude of interruptions that often cloud your days (if you are like us!). Spend focused time every day on YourOnRamp “project.” That means dodging the email “black hole”, saying “no” to volunteer requests that do not contribute to your effort, and outsourcing non-essential chores.
3. Get the Support You Need. A support network is critical to your success in getting back in. Everyone needs a cheerleader or two! Find a friend, mentor, or colleague who can help you. If you have a spouse, make sure your spouse is on board and understands why you want to re-enter the workforce. Understanding why you want to go back to work will make it easier for your support system to keep you focused and on track when challenges and opportunities appear. It is also important to enable you to deal with any resistance you may encounter. We have spoken to hundreds of women who have successfully OnRamped. The vast majority felt that their success in finding a career life balance was due to the support they received from their family. Without this support, many said their re-entries would have been very hard or would have even failed.
4. Discover Your Path. Devote time to a Self Assessment. For many OnRampers, this is the most important yet most overlooked step. Don’t fall into this trap. This is a valuable opportunity to recognize what you enjoy doing and when you feel the most successful and fulfilled.
5. Get Educated. Research technology, ideas, industries, companies, people – there is a wealth of information available within a few keystrokes. Spend as much time as possible gathering the necessary information.
6. Develop Your Marketing Tools. Be sure to add these marketing tools to your toolkit:
- Elevator Pitch – a one to two minute description of yourself and your job objective (if you have one). It is an essential networking tool.
- Résumé – Use an expert such as YourOnRamp.com to help you present your work and volunteer experiences in a meaningful and effective way. You should also compile a list of references.
- Cover Letters – Yes, you need them! They go hand in hand with your résumé and are an essential communication tool, persuasively matching your prior experience to your future career goals.
7. Build a Network. This is the most important aspect of your OnRamp effort. Your chances of getting a job are much better when you know someone at the company. A complete personal profile will help friends and colleagues find you to offer ideas and new connections.
8. Find Your Career. The next step is to search for that perfect job. Whether you want to work for a company, hang a shingle as a consultant, or start your own business, the job search is the exciting part of the OnRamp process.
9. Prepare for Interviews. Preparation is the key to successful interviewing. Know what questions you will need to answer as well as how to explain your time away from the workplace. Again, get help from experts for more difficult issues such as how to deal with outdated skills or large gaps in your work history. And don’t forget to dress for success.
10. Bring it Home. You have successfully networked, researched, and interviewed your way to a job offer – now is the time to bring it all home. But how do you know if it is the right offer for you? Aside from the obvious gut feeling you get when it is the right move, you need to analyze the offer to see if it is a winner in terms of compensation and fit for your life.
With a plan, you can turn the chore of finding a job into an empowering and enjoyable journey. Be inspired, be imaginative, and be confident. Good Luck!
Catherine Clifford is the co-founder of YourOnRamp.com, an online community where professional women manage their career OffRamps and OnRamps, and connect with employers. Catherine is also the author of Your Career OnRamp: A Woman’s Guide to Re-entering the Workforce. Catherine is an OnRamp expert and has been a featured guest on Lifetime, NBC, ABC and The Washington Post.
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