It is weird to think that I have been out of the workforce since 2007. Even though I have not stopped working -- prior to blogging and becoming a full-time stay at home mom, I was also a virtual assistant and worked 50+ hours a week up until my second child was born. But, now that the girls are getting older and will be starting school in the next year or two, I have found myself revamping my resume and seeing what is out there for work. It is funny to say, but a lot has changed since I last stepped foot in an office.
Prior to leaving my last job, I was a community health educator, and would put on health fairs, seminars, and hold health education classes for patients in the hospital I worked in, as well as for people in the community. As I was preparing to exit the workplace, medical records were being implemented in most medical settings. With this new medical records system, patient education was incorporated in the program. So, instead of doctors sending patients down to my office for more information on a newly diagnosed medical condition or concern, educational handouts could be accessed online free of charge, or printed out and handed to the patient before leaving the office. As a health educator, I knew my role over time may be phased out, as consumers are turning to the Internet to find out more about illnesses and medical concerns -- even though most of what they read doesn't relate to their medical needs, or be too confusing to understand. And, now six years later, I am seeing fewer and fewer jobs where my skills could be utilized, thus making it difficult when the time comes to return to the workforce.
I always wanted to be a stay-at-home mom while my children were young, just like my mom was for my brothers and I. But, when it was time for part time preschool and then kindergarten onward, my plans were always to turn back to work. I wanted to be able to add another income back to the family, as well as be a positive role model for my girls, and show them that I was more than just a stay-at-home, and that I could balance work-life while working in a professional setting. With all the changes to my career field, and now learning how to juggle being a mom and returning to the workplace after being gone seven years, I know this transition will be challenging to say the least.
But, thanks to Mom Corps, I can slowly transition back into the workplace, and be ready to balance work-life better, thanks to their online forums, webinars and other resources geared towards moms.
Mom Corps, a national award-winning professional talent acquisition and career development firm, has launched Mom Corps YOU, an online community to help professionals better integrate their professional and personal lives. Mom Corps believes that work-life satisfaction is best achieved when you can take ownership of several key areas of your life, including career, finances and health & wellness, and this subscription-based community provides education, resources and tools to help you do just that.
For the past few weeks, I have been enjoying a free subscription to the Mom Corps YOU online community, and have been taking advantage of the online presentations, printed off a list of books worth reading and have found some great tips for updating my resume so that it will stand out once I start sending it out.
And, because I haven't been on job interviews in so long, it was great to see the sample interview questions, as well as a template I can use when thanking potential employers with once the interview/job hunting process begins in the next year or two.
Call me crazy...but, even though I will not be joining the workplace for another year or so, I can't help but start getting my ducks in a row, while also gaining insight into how to better manage work-life so that when the time comes, I will not struggle to keep them separate like I did when I was a virtual assistant.
Even if you don't plan to join the workplace again, Mom Corps You is great for entrepreneurs, as it offers resources like how to write a business plan, a handy business start up checklist to print off and follow, and well as information about Freelancers Union and FASTTRAC®, which I was unaware of, but will be checking out and utilizing.
If only there were more hours in the days, I would definitely be tuning into the different webinars they hold, as the topics and speakers are interesting. Luckily, the folks at Mom Corps understand a mom's hectic schedule, as they achieve many of their webinars so that you can watch them at a more convenient time. Just last night, I watched "Resumes that Get Results: A Three-Step Resume Workshop."
In addition to the 50 minute insightful presentation, there was also handouts you could print out, so you didn't have to worry about stopping the webinar to take notes.
I learned so much, and will definitely be tweaking and updating my resume so that it will stand out and get me into the door for interviews.
RETURNING TO WORK LATER? WHAT TO DO NOW.
Tuesday Mar 04, 2014 1:00 PM EST
Are you taking some gap years and considering a return to work at some point? Does the thought of re-launching your career make you feel excited, overwhelmed or lost? Don't miss this session where we cover the latest information on career pre-launch, creative strategies for keeping a toe in the water and how to address those tough questions.
See I am not alone when it comes to returning to the workplace. Are you in the same boat? Now that the kids are getting older, do you feel yourself drawn back to the workplace -- not just for an additional income coming in, but also to be back interacting with other like-minded adults and being able to have adult conversations and feel like you are being productive again outside the home? The whole idea of returning back to work may be terrifying....just remember back when you were starting a new grade or attending a new school..those butterflies and nerves are what I am starting to feel as I think ahead and plan for the future. But, with the resources and support from Mom Corps, this transition will be easier, as I will be prepared and have an arsenal or work-life management tools I will have learned from webinars I attend, questions and responses from other moms and recruiters shared in the forums, and the abundance of resources in the form of books, tips, tool sheets and more available to members.
So, what are you waiting for? Head on over to Mom Corps YOU and sign up for an online subscription, so that you too can enjoy all the benefits I have been these past couple of weeks as you get ready to join the workforce, contemplate starting your own business, or want to learn how to better manage work-life so that you can be successful and truly happy being a mom and a professional (it can be achieved!).
Right now, you can sign up and access the Mom Corps YOU online subscription for an introductory annual price of $99.99 (regularly $149.99) or $19.99 a month. This is a bargain once you see firsthand all the resources and webinars available to members. I have attended conferences and other online webinars for $99+, but didn't walk away feeling as educated or inspired as I have with the webinars I have attended through Mom Corps YOU, or with the articles and online resources available. I am so glad that I was able to check out Mom Corps YOU, and have been raving about it with friends who are also planning the return to the workplace.
Fellow bloggers: Mom Corps is also accepting applications for the Mom Corps YOU affiliate program. Bloggers will earn 25% of each Mom Corps YOU subscription they refer. Visit http://www.momcorpsyou.com/login/affiliates for details.
Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Mom Corps YOU. I received a free trial to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
This sounds like a really great program for moms returning to the workplace. I have some friends that may be interested in this one I will tell them about it thanks for all of the great information.
ReplyDeleteheather [email protected]