Better Than You Think
“I have been out of the workforce for five years. I will never find a job.”
“Do you think that anyone will take me seriously? All I’ve done for the last seven years is raise my family and run some PTA events.”
Are these thoughts that have crossed your mind and left you discouraged, defeating you before you begin? Take comfort in the fact that many women feel the same way, but rather than filtering themselves out of the labor market with assumptions of failure, they went on to execute successful job searches. As a Certified Professional Résumé Writer (CPRW), I have had conversations with women who were surprised that their unpaid labor – raising a family, involvement in community functions and volunteer leadership – could be positioned in a way that made them more marketable. It is always a pleasant surprise, and here are two stories to make the point.
Michelle left the retail industry to start a family, and also stayed busy volunteering at the local community center. She also took a few online classes while at home to earn a human resources certificate from a regionally accredited university. We positioned her experiences, both paid and unpaid, along with her ongoing education in a way that made her a top candidate. She heard back from one of her targeted employers within a day and sailed through the interviews. Her community involvement resonated with the company’s leaders and her certificate made her a natural for the assignment.
Patricia spent the entire time her kids were growing up, right up until they left for college, working part-time jobs, working on some entrepreneurial endeavors and engaging in volunteer work in the community, the schools and her church. We were able to tell a compelling story in her résumé, profiling her as someone who stayed current in her field, displayed flexibility and adaptability, and who demonstrated a high level of responsibility. She was hired as a senior assistant in large health care organization.
Why was it so easy for these two women to succeed? First, they stayed engaged during their times at home. They recognized that they could have a life outside of the home even while staying home with their children. Second, they learned new things – both formally and informally – that kept them marketable. Third, they had career marketing documents (résumés, cover letters, etc.) that presented their stories in creative and effective ways.
You also have statistics on your side. Did you know that the majority of management, professional and related positions in the United States are held by women? Some specific fields have a vast majority of these positions held by women: Advertising (61%), Public Relations (60%), Human Resources (69%). Check it out for yourself at the Bureau of Labor Statistics website (www.bls.gov/cps/cpsaat11.pdf). The people who make the decision on granting you an interview may have had similar experiences. Don’t talk yourself out of trying due to some self-created and wrong assumption about hiring authorities.
Convince yourself that you will succeed. Present yourself creatively and effectively. Get your interview, prepare for it, ace it and get the job. You can do this. Your chances are better than you think.
Bill Florin is the President of Resu-mazing Services Company.
