Ritz asks: What if you have matured in your vision for yourself and your career path in the years you took a break, to an extent where you see yourself capable of much more than what will likely be offered to you due to a break? Tami: When job searching — with or without a break — the best strategy is to assume nothing. Don’t assume you won’t be offered…
Barbara asks: What is realistic regarding salary expectations when we are trying to re-enter the workforce? Aside from one’s own financial considerations, how much is too much when you are asked to go significantly below your previous level? Tami: Salary questions are tricky because there are so many factors that go into salary offers. And it tends to be an emotional topic, which can further complicate things. Figure out what…
When it comes to returning to the workforce, many job-seekers ask the same thing: “How do I stand out?” While you can and should practice telling your story, consider that to be just one piece of your return-to-work strategy. Showcasing your skills online, rather than just talking about them, is a great way to create a compelling case for yourself. Creating and curating online content gives your skills new life…
Shruti asks: How do you justify your career gap during your time as a full-time mom, and how do you bring it up during job interviews? Tami: First of all, you don’t need to justify or apologize for taking time to care for your family! When you talk about your time out of the workforce you should be simple and direct, skip any unnecessary details (the interviewer does not need…
Alexandra asks: How do I ask for recommendations on LinkedIn? I feel awkward reaching out to my network, especially after a long time. Tami: Well, the first thing I would say is that I would not start out by asking for a recommendation after a long time. I’d instead try to re-establish a connection by asking them for a call to reconnect and get advice. People we’ve worked with and…
Company: Walmart Labs Role: UX Designer Shruti Katyal took a five year break from her QA engineering job, during which she had two children and relocated with her family to California. When she felt ready to return to work, Shruti decided to make a pivot into UX. She completed a returnship at Walmart Labs, which prepared her for her current role as a UX Designer at Adobe. Shruti talks about…
Laura asks: As someone with a long career but a sizable break, I worry about facing ageism in interviews. In particular, how should I answer the “overqualified” question? Tami: I get asked about ageism a lot and I wish I could tell you that it doesn’t happen, but it does. A lot. Ageism is a structural issue that we should collectively work to dismantle. And, while I’m on a soapbox,…
Gabrielle asks: It can be hard to stay upbeat when you don’t get a job after many attempts and applications submitted. What can I do to stay motivated? Tami: Oh, wow! I wish I had an easy answer for this one. It is hard! So first of all, know that it’s hard. I think one problem people run into is hoping it will be easy which actually creates a bit…
Red Ventures Recruiting Manager Caroline Adams was getting ready to launch the company’s first-ever returnship program when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and the company went fully remote. Caroline talks about the challenges and successes of adapting the program to a remote environment, what surprised her and hiring managers most about returning talent, and best practices for companies considering running a future virtual returnship program. Company: Red Ventures Role: Recruiting Manager…
Fall is typically a time of back-to-school and new beginnings, but as with every facet of daily life, the pandemic has turned that upside down. While this has been a challenging year for everyone, we know that it has been especially difficult for working moms trying to maintain their careers while caring for their children, and for caregivers looking to return to work in an unstable economy. While there is…
