"Blossoming" photo by Derick Esquivel
Women’s liberation? Kudos to our foremothers for their courage, determination and sacrifices. They did it so that we can have the choices we do today. However, mothers today should coin a new term because we live in an era of women’s choices, product of women’s liberation. As the saying goes “Of those to whom much is given much is expected”. This era is about the craziness of making hard choices. This is specially true for mothers. This is the era of “Making the Choice”.
It is difficult to think of having choices when most moms feel they have no choice at all right now. Many had put careers on hold to raise a family and now find themselves trying to get back into the job market after hubby has been laid off or fired and after savings have been depleted. Mothers who have been home for 3 or 4 years or more may have postponed finishing college, or may have lost contact with former colleagues. Now these moms struggle to find employment in one of America’s worst economies in history.
Some moms have considered babysitting in their home for extra cash, or working at a local fast food restaurant. However, the encouraging news is that early indicators show the economy is bouncing back. Business is blossoming once more, therefore this is a good time to make that choice. Here are some tips to help you land that job.
Put your resume together
Companies like Women for Hire have great tips on how to create an excellent modern day resume that can highlight your specific skills right up front for potential employers to focus on when they first pick it up. Create a resume and print at least 2 hard copies to always have with you, put one on a flash drive, and if you have a blackberry or iphone make sure you can access your resume at all times.
Create a contact list
Many chambers of commerce like the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber post job openings for their members. You don’t have to be a member to inquire regarding openings at local businesses or to attend your first meeting. Most chambers meet once a week around 7:00 a.m. for one hour. The San Bernardino Chamber is holding an afterhours event at the Black Angus, 290 E. Hospitality Lane, this coming August 27th, 2009, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.. There is a $5 cover charge at the door. Please R.S.V.P. by calling the Chamber at (909) 885-7515.
The goal is to network and exchange business cards. As a jobseeker you can just collect business cards, or if you are daring enough go onto Vistaprint.com and create 250 for free. A personal card is just your name, phone number, email and your profession or primary skill. Then introduce yourself just as everyone else does and let them know you are looking for work.
Update your wardrobe
Remember you are competing for a position that will put you in contact with other adults. Therefore you must look like a modern professional. The best tip is to visit an upscale store like Nordstrom or Macy’s and look at the career clothes, try on a few items, find something you feel great in and then write down all the details of the outfit. Then you can go shop at Ross, T. J. Max, or even a good thrift store and find very similar pieces for a fraction of the original price.
Contact local employment agencies
Employment agencies are great resources for both career advice and actually finding a job. They have lists of hundreds of openings in your community and can help you secure a temporary or temp-to-perm position. Many agencies help you fine tune your typing or computer skills while they find you a job. Some agencies like Apple One have offices all over the Inland Empire and will actually let you do everything online, including scheduling an interview.
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