Career Confidential: Resolve to Find Your Dream Job in 2012!

Guest Blog:The lovely ladies of Mom Corps Los Angeles shared these motivational tips for finding the job of our dreams in 2012.

1. Schedule time for exploring your career options. It doesn’t have to be a lot of time. If you set aside one hour each week, you’ll find that you have plenty of time to make a list of your favorite companies, explore job boards, and read up on careers. We recommend checking out job boards, using Linkedin to find people with interesting career paths, and keeping a notebook full of career ideas.
2. Polish that resume and resolve to have three friends look at it and give you feedback. Need a place to start? Try our resume template.
3. Resolve to start doing what you love every day. Are you a great writer? Awesome with numbers? And organization whiz? Try to do this thing the most in your daily life so that you get better and better at it. Whenever possible, delegate the rest.
4. Think of three things you can learn this year that make you more professional, more skilled, and more highly desired by hiring managers. Resolve to acquire these skills by taking a class, volunteering for a new project, or working alongside a colleague.
5. Every month visualize the end of the year. What do want to have accomplished? Think about what you can do today to get there?
6. Make a list of people to stay in touch with and do it! Whether it’s old friends that can help you clarify your goals, to current colleagues that can help you get new skills, to former co-workers that can connect you to hiring managers, make the extra effort to connect in 2012.
7. Resolve to have excellent follow-up. Whether it’s a thank you email, a phone call, or a thank you note. Make sure you’re thanking people for their time. It’s sometimes more important than you think.
8. Each week look around and appreciate what’s going right. After all, maybe with a few tweaks your current job could be the job you love.
9. Find a networking group that you love and commit to attending their events. This will grow your network and give you exposure to a larger pool of people.
10. Come up with a personal mission statement that describes what you do well and what you want to achieve. Resolve to tell your friends. Once you’re clear about your personal brand, the perfect job might find you!

Career Confidential - Setting SMART Career Goals

There are many talented moms out there actively seeking to re-enter the paid workforce or gearing up to do so in the future.  As experts in flexible staffing, Mom Corps team members are often asked about crucial skills for today’s workplace. In our monthly blog series, Career Confidential, we share smart strategies for career re-launchers.

For most of us, January brings a fresh wave of resolve and unlimited possibilities.  We pledge to get organized, lead healthier lifestyles and spend quality time with friends and family.   These are all admirable goals; but have you created a career resolution for the new year?

Maybe you are ready to change careers, return to the workplace or ask for more flexibility in your current job.  Perhaps you are motivated to learn a new skill or increase your network reach.   Now is the perfect time to define your career desire and make a plan to achieve it!

When setting any goal or resolution, take the extra time to work SMART.  SMART is a mnemonic used to set objectives for personal development or business planning, and has been widely used since the early 80’s.  It stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-bound -- all descriptors to test against your goal.   Fleshing your objectives out this way will make your goal more meaningful.

So let’s take an example of a simple career goal like “Return to work.” and apply the SMART descriptors to make the goal meaningful.

S=Specific

A specific goal is easier to manage than a broad one. Apply the five “W”s (what, where, when, why and who) for details.  For example, apply when and why to the return to work goal, and it expands to Return to work full-time in order to save for kids college tuition.

M=Measurable

Without concrete criteria, you won’t know if you’ve attained your goal!  Think about measurement questions like:

• How much
• How many
• When will I know the goal has been accomplished?

The example of returning back to work has an inherent measure of success; once a job is accepted the goal has been attained.  But you could get even more specific with the sample goal by setting salary goals or how many hours you will work. For instance:

Return to work full-time at an annualized salary of _____in order to save for kids’ college tuition.

A=Attainable

Is your goal attainable?  How will you accomplish it?  If your goal is to return to work, have you considered any obstacles in your way (child care, outdated skill set, commute)?  What specific tasks will you need to check off to overcome these obstacles?  Considering these factors may force you to tweak your goal slightly to make it realistic.  For instance, the goal may change from Return to work full-time to return to work part-time. Remember, if your goal is attainable, you are less likely to fail.  So with an adjustment for attainability, the goal becomes

Return to work part-time at an hourly salary of _____in order to save for kids’ college tuition

R=Relevant

A relevant goal must represent an objective that the goal-setter is willing and able to work towards. This does not mean the goal cannot be high, but it does mean that the goal is worthwhile to the goal-setter.  In this case, the goal-setter must not only believe in the reason for the goal (saving for college) but be able (from a skill and time perspective) to do so.  Perhaps a simple affirmation of the “able and willing” makes this goal more compelling

I am ready and able to return to work part-time at an hourly salary of ____ in order to save for kids’ college tuition.

T=Time-bound

Finally, a commitment to a deadline helps you focus your efforts on completion of the goal. A time-bound goal will usually answer one or more of these questions:

• When?
• What can I do 6 months from now?
• What can I do 6 weeks from now?
• What can I do today?

Your when is multifaceted.When will you start? When will you finish? What tasks can you accomplish towards your goal and in what timeframe?  Your goal starts becoming real as you make it time-bound.  In our "return to work" example, the T rounds out the career goal.

I am ready and able to return to work part-time at an hourly salary of ____ in order to save for kids’ college tuition.  I will begin my job search immediately and expect to find a job within 6 months.

SMART goal setting is a great way to set and meet career and other personal development goals.  Try downloading this SMART Goal setting worksheet and applying it to this year's resolution.

Career Confidential-Your Social Media Profile

	There are many talented moms out there actively seeking to re-enter the paid workforce or gearing up to do so in the future.  As experts in flexible staffing, Mom Corps team members are often asked about crucial skills for today’s workplace. In our monthly blog series, Career Confidential, we share smart strategies for career re-launchers.

Your Social Media Profile-Is It Hurting or Helping You?

If you are reading this blog, chances are you are also using social media in some form or fashion. A 2011 Pew Internet survey, shows that over 65% of online adults (and 50% of ALL adults) in the U.S. use Facebook or another social networking site. That's truly incredible since social media sites have only been around for about 10 years!

Social media can be a really great way to stay in touch with friends and family, but have you thought about what your social media activities may be saying about you to future employers? You should and here's why...

• 92% of all hiring managers use plan to use social media to hire employees in the future. Of those, 86% use LinkedIn, 60% use Facebook and 50% Twitter.
• 1 of 3 employers have rejected candidates based on something they found online.
• 24% of hiring managers say they determined "fit and personality" from social media profile of candidates.
  (data provided by Mashable.com)

Julie Lacouture, one of the Principals in the Mom Corps-Los Angeles office, likens social media to a big networking event going on all of the time.  "Any candidate should carefully prepare for a live networking event by wearing appropriate business attire, carrying business cards and engaging with individuals in a professional manner." says Julie.  "Likewise, we should take care to create a social media presence that gets us noticed, in the right way, by potential employers." As a recruiter,  Julie likes to see candidates engaging in social media channels, but urges them to make their activities "employer friendly".

Julie Lacouture Mom Corps - L.A.

Are you ready to "get found" and look attractive to hiring managers via social media?  Here are our suggestions for getting started.

Create a LinkedIn Profile

This is the business networking site and the site most accessed by recruiters/hiring managers. Whether you are an active or passive job seeker, you NEED a LinkedIn profile. LinkedIn is an incredlble tool to reconnect with colleagues and learn more about hiring managers at companies of interest. Your goal is to fully flesh out your profile and start connecting with people you know. LinkedIn makes it very easy for you to create a profile, even providing a resume upload tool that will populate your profile fields. 

LinkedIn experts give this advice:

• You are twelve times more likely to be viewed for potential opportunities if your profile is complete.
• Add a photo. Professionals that add a photo are seven times more likely to have their LinkedIn profile viewed in general that people who don't. (See more on this in Facebook section below)
• Get connected. Fifty trusted contacts is the "magic" number of connections you need in order to get your LinkedIn network to work for you.

Since LinkedIn is the social media tool most recruiters use, your social media time is best spent (in terms of career search) on this channel.  Use this link to get started if you are completely new to LinkedIn.

Clean up your Facebook Profile

Since Facebook is seen primarily as a social site, it's not necessary to have a Facebook profile to be seen by potential employers.  However, if you already have a Facebook page, review it from the perspective of a hiring manager.  It's very possible (as per the numbers above) that your profile will be reviewed to uncover red flags. Make sure your privacy settings are updated (it's best if only friends have access to your information and photos) and take a good look at what you are posting. Review your Info section to ensure it is consistent with your resume and other profiles you make have online. And remember what goes online can come back to haunt you!

One note on social media profile photos...You don't need a professional head shot for your profile picture, but do be mindful in your choices. Avoid "sexy, glamour" shots or candids of you doing tequila shots at your last birthday party. 

Explore Twitter

Twitter is the least used social media site in terms of job search, but certainly worth exploring! Twitter is a "microblogging" site, where people and companies start "conversations".  It is a bit more complicated than the other sites, but is certainly a great place to learn what's going on in your industry or with companies of interest to you. Learn more about Twitter here.

Take Action

Social media can be a great tool in your job search.  Take the time to ensure your profile represents the professional image you want employers to see.  If you would like to learn more on this topic, listen to our 30 Minute Mentor session by clicking here.

Tell us how you use social media in your job search! 

Tidings & Tips for Merry Multi-taskers brought to you by Maid Brigade

As the song goes, ‘it’s the most wonderful time of the year’.  The holiday season is a joyous and exciting time filled with family, friends and traditions! There are parties to attend, gifts to wrap and plenty of time spent in the kitchen—baking and eating. But with all of these wonderful festivities added in to your schedule, the holiday season can also be the most stressful time of the year!   To help you keep the focus where it belongs and fully enjoy your holiday traditions, we’ve compiled a green guide to the holiday season—a month of tips for merry multi-taskers! It’s a bundle of daily tips on green shopping, cooking, entertaining, decorating and stress relief to lead you right up and through the holidays. Below are a few of our favorites, but be sure to visit the complete guide here.

• Make a budget and stick to it.  Overspending creates guilt, which creates stress.  It really is the thought that counts.  Promise.
• Simplify!  Holiday shortcuts are not a sin. There’s a lot to juggle right now.  Here are some great ideas that won’t leave you feeling guilty.
• Taste does NOT make waist!  Here are some healthy recipes for the holidays that seem indulgent but really aren’t.
• Green your greetings. The Family News Update print version is now frowned upon.  Bonus? The green version is so much less time-consuming to produce!  Use your e-choices, from social media to online albums to word docs, pdfs to blogs. No more folding, stuffing, addressing, stamping!
• Donate - it's the season of giving - instead of throwing away all of your old clothes and electronics this year, donate them instead.  Pack things up for now.  If you get to it this year – great.  But if not until January, the recipients will be no less grateful.
• No does not mean Bah Humbug! It’s easy to over-obligate during the holidays and that causes stress. Learn to say no. Friends and relatives will understand. 
• Eat well.  Certain foods are good immunity boosters.  Sesame seeds, shitake mushrooms, and other easy access foods help defend the body from infection.  Chow down on these.
• Take a breather.  It’s like food.  You have to have it.  15 minutes spent daily doing something specifically for yourself (not cardio-related) is important.  Could be a bubble bath, could be a brisk walk on a good stargazing night, could be a quiet moment with your i-Pod – you choose.  Just find a way.

Everyone wants to enjoy the season, and everyone wants YOU to have fun during the holidays.  Follow the tips on our green guide to the holidays and you’re sure to feel more relaxed! You’re working hard to do nice things for everyone around you.  Don’t forget to do something nice for yourself.  We wish you a merry month!  You deserve it.

How'd She Do It, Kathy Good - A Mom Corps Success Story

Name: Kathy Good City/State:  Watertown, MA Family: 2 daughters, 1 yr and 3 yrs Education: Bentley College; BS Business Communication Summary of Professional Experience: 20+ years work experience including Boston ad agency experience and business owner of Knowledge Source, an internet and business management consulting company working with Fortune 500 companies on their internet initiatives and optimizing business processes across organizations.  New Job: Mom Corps placed me in a part-time role as an Account Manager for a Social Media Services Agency.

Why did you engage with Mom Corps, Boston? I was interested in part-time consulting work after my first daughter turned one year. Mom Corps was offering a networking seminar in the Boston area that featured a discussion panel with several impressive guest speakers. I attended the seminar and learned more about Mom Corps’ background and mission, as well as the strong relationships Mom Corps has with its employers. 

How was your experience working with Mom Corps?  Initially, my relationship with Mom Corps was through an out-of-state recruiter.  At first, I thought this may present a challenge to the recruiter to have insight into the Boston market.  I found out quickly that the Mom Corps organization has proactive and informed recruiters who really know their stuff, and demonstrate a solid interest in helping you understand the true nature of available positions. They make sure you are a mutual fit with their clients before moving you forward in the process. 

How has having a flexible job with Mom Corps affected your work-life-balance? The flexibility that was offered by Mom Corps and their client enabled me to work 3 days a week and keep my family's schedules intact.  The ability to do the work from home, instead of commuting during rush hour, allowed me to produce more work in a day which increased both my efficiency and my ‘happiness with work’ quotient!

What is your go-to stress reliever? Exercise is the best for me for releasing stress and clearing the mind. If time is a factor, I find quick relief in taking a small break from what I’m doing by reaching out with an email to a dear friend with a hello or family photo. 

How would you describe your overall experience?  My relationship with Mom Corps feels like a partnership. They look out for me and I look out for them. Whether it’s in the form of me delivering the best quality work possible, or them seeking new opportunities for me, we are in it together and the relationship is mutually beneficial.

 

How'd She Do It - A Mom Corps Success Story

Name: Lisa Wakida City/State: Seattle, WA Family: 2 dogs Education: BBA from University of Washington; JD from University of Chicago New Job: Senior Counsel at HaloSource, Inc. I was hired as a permanent part-time employee (20 hrs/week) with the potential to grow over time as the company's legal needs increase.

Summary of professional experience: I've spent 6.5 years at law firms;  6.5 years in-house.

Why did you engage with Mom Corps? I was searching for an in-house position at a small technology company (rare in this economy), and Mom Corps had a great job listed at a great company.

How was your experience working with Mom Corps? It stood out for me from the start that it is important for Jamie Flynn, Mom Corps Seattle, to connect the right candidates with the right companies. She really makes the effort to understand a company's specific needs and to vet the candidates for appropriate matches.  She went out of her way to meet me in person and was always available for questions and follow-up.  She also brought me cupcakes to celebrate my first day on the job (which everyone enjoyed)!

How has having a flexible job with Mom Corps affected your work-life balance? For the past 13 years, I've worked jobs that required very long hours.  At various times, I've felt burnt out.  This part-time job gives me the opportunity to recuperate while still working on interesting and unique legal issues.  In the future, I hope this leads to full-time employment, but I'm happy that it is part-time now.  I think I will be a more productive full-time employee in the future having this experience.

What is your go-to stress reliever? Hiking with my dogs and Bikram Yoga.

How would you describe your overal experience? A smooth process that had me meeting great people (both at Mom Corps and HaloSource) and led to my dream job!

Guest Blog-Can Cleaning Products Make You Sick?

Our friends at Maid Brigade discuss the potential links between cleaning products and breast cancer.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, a time when we are reminded of the damage this horrible disease can wreak on a woman and her family. It is a time we probably universally share renewed interest in remembering to perform our monthly self-exams and to schedule our annual mammogram, if we have forgotten. 

 It’s hard to forget Breast Cancer Awareness these days, since the color pink is so ubiquitous in the marketplace.  Football teams don special uniforms, manufacturers issue special Breast Cancer limited edition merchandise (pink hairdryer anyone?) and tens of thousands of people walk a nearly unfathomable distance to raise millions of dollars in search of a cure.

 Breast Cancer Awareness month has become a marketing phenomenon in its own.  Sometimes there is a legitimate and obvious connection between the product or service that tries to link themselves to the pink tidal wave, and other times it seems like brands just want to get on the bandwagon.

 Maid Brigade observes Breast Cancer Awareness month because there is a growing body of evidence that suggests potential links between certain chemicals in house cleaning products and illnesses that range from mild to severe, even fatal.  Is there a link between breast cancer and cleaning products?  There is conflicting opinion about this, in fact about the only thing experts agree on is that more research needs to be completed in order to determine whether there is a link between cleaning product usage and breast cancer.

 While we are waiting conclusive evidence, Maid Brigade believes avoiding potential risks for breast cancer, or any other illness, is the safe approach.  That’s why we offer Green Clean Certified® service – to protect the families we serve and the cleaning staff we employ. 

 Here is a quick check list to run through mentally as you are contemplating the hidden health risks in your cleaning products:

 

1. Can you eat it? – Some of the most effective cleaning agents are vinegar, lemon juice, olive oil, salt and baking soda.  If it’s safe enough to eat, then it’s safe enough to use for cleaning your home.
2. Can you pronounce it? – If you can’t pronounce the ingredients in your cleaning product, it’s a safe bet that the chemical can introduce health risks over time with repeated use.
3. Can you trust it?  - Every cleaning product has a signal word on the label, either caution, warning or danger.  Any product with a warning or danger signal is one that could be lethal if between a teaspoon to an ounce is ingested.  While we don’t typically drink cleaning solutions, exposures through breathing and skin absorption will accumulate in the body over time.  No one knows the accumulated, and aggregated effects, that these chemicals can have in our bodies, combined with other chemicals.

 

Whether or not they agree about breast cancer risks, scientists do agree that chemical ingredients in common household products can cause a variety of illnesses.  This is why we believe in using the safest products and methods available.

 For more information about the health risks associated with cleaning products, please visit our consumer advocacy web site:  www.greencleancertified.com/greenTV. Here you can view several informative videos and read educational articles to help you understand the hidden health risks under your kitchen sink, so that you can make the most informed decision for your family.

 Maid Brigade is happy to help you keep a clean and healthy home, with our exclusive Green Clean Certified® service.  For a free estimate, visit www.maidbrigade.com. 

 

 

How'd She Do It - A Mom Corps Success Story

Name:  Nancy Maguire City/State: Vienna,VA Family:  Husband and two sons Education:  BS in Business Administration, concentration in Human Resources, University of Vermont; MBA, Boston University New Job: Project Manager at NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers) responsible for creating a Web-based, International Resource Center

Summary of professional experience: I joined Bain & Company in Boston (a global management consulting firm) right from college.  My first job was in the accounting department which was a good entry into the business world.  My goal was to pursue a career in human resources.  I was able to secure positions in recruiting and human resources, and eventually was promoted to Human Resources Manager. While at Bain, I pursued my MBA at night.  After I became a mom, I was able to move into a job-share position which worked seamlessly and was a great experience.  After working at Bain for 18 years and anticipating another child, I left to stay at home for a few years.

Why did you engage with Mom Corps? For 8 years I was a full-time mom and during this time we relocated to the DC area.  I really enjoyed being a full-time mom, but after the children started to get more independent I felt that I was ready to re-enter the workforce, on a part-time basis.  A friend told me about Mom Corps and I signed up for the resume service and weekly email job alerts. 

How was your experience working with Mom Corps? Jen Bainbridge, President Mom Corps, Washington D.C., was so helpful to me because she focused on my skills and experience at Bain, instead of my 8 year employment gap.  Jen had some very helpful advice in terms of updating my skills and was very supportive when I went on my first interview.  I remember her saying “just be yourself, you will do great” which is just what I needed to hear!

How has having a flexible job through Mom Corps affected your work-life balance?  I was hired as a part-time contract employee and worked 2 days in the office and approximately another 3 – 5 hours from home per week.  Since my commute is over an hour each way, having the flexibility to work from home the other days is extremely helpful.  Also, my part-time schedule allows me to continue to volunteer at the school and do other activities. 

What is your go-to stress reliever?  Running is my stress reliever; it has gotten me through many stressful situations over the years. Presently, I am training for an upcoming ten mile race in DC, which I run every year.

How would you describe your overall experience? I have had a great experience at NACUBO and thoroughly enjoy the work, the organization and the people.  Mom Corps is a fantastic resource for working moms and I have recommended it to numerous people.  They help “bridge the gap” between home and work and offer many interesting opportunities for working moms! 

Defining Flexible Work Elements

For over six years, Mom Corps has evangelized the benefits of the flexible workplace. As we match up professionals with progressive companies, we continue to see first-hand how both employee and employer benefit from flexible work options. For that reason, we strive hard to practice what we preach in our corporate and franchise offices by offering flex hours and telecommuting options. We are proud to announce that for our commitment to this movement, Mom Corps was just awarded the prestigious Sloan Award for Workplace Flexibility for the second year!

But what exactly is a flexible work option? As we meet with hiring managers across the country we often hear statements like, " We don't offer part-time or virtual jobs at our company", or, "Flexibility would never work in our company culture." It seems the term "flexibility" is often misunderstood because it means different things to different people.

Offering flexible work elements doesn't have to be extreme or complicated.  At Mom Corps, we break the options down into three categories.

Part-time - For many years, companies have found great results hiring part-time employees that work less 40 hours a week. The company gains a valuable set of skills without committing to full salary and benefits. In some cases two part-time employees share a full-time position, commonly called a job share. Modified Hours-This is often the perfect scenario for working parents that  want to work a full 40-hr week but on a schedule that allows them to spend more time with their kids after school.Many employers find that allowing employees to start early and leave early, for example 7am-3pm, can actually increase the service levels they can provide to customers. Modified Workweek- Many companies are beginning to offer a 4-day work week, allowing employees that work 10 hours a day to have a 3-day weekend. Shortening the workweek is not just a boon to employees who get more time at home and less time and cost of telecommuting, but can actually cut operational costs .

Telecommuting/Virtual - With the amazing advances in technology, some companies are now offering the option to telecommute one or more days a week. Many jobs are now completely virtual. Employees save on commuting costs and time ,while companies save on real estate and other operating costs affiliated with traditional work arrangements. Minimal Travel - Business travel is often a detriment for working professionals, especially those with family commitments.  Reducing the amount of required business travel can be a intangible benefit for experienced talent. Reduced Commute Time  - Time is money; when an employee spends less time commuting, he or she accrues a benefit in the form of work-life balance.

Seasonal - Many industries or disciplines, for instance Accounting , have specific busy seasons where trained, experienced full-time employees are required year after year. Seasonal employees appreciate the balance of scheduled meaningful work with time to manage personal needs. Project-based - Sometimes even the best staffed company has a specific project or initiative that requires subject-matter expertise.  Many professionals savor the short-term nature of specific, time-based projects. Temporary - Life is unpredictable. The Brand Manager of the hottest new product suddenly has to take family leave...the company needs a short-term backfill.  Companies like Mom Corps are connected with hundreds of capable professionals that are thrilled to step in.

"Workplace flexibility" should not strike fear or panic in the heart of employers.  It is a movement where a "little" goes a long way in terms of economic health and employee satisfaction.

We would love to hear how you are implementing flexibility in your workplace. Please share your comments below.

Mom Corps Honored As Leader in Workplace Flexibility

Families and Work Institute (FWI), a national research think tank on workforce and workplace trends, announced this week that Mom Corps is among this year's recipients of its prestigious Alfred P. Sloan Award for business excellence in workplace flexibility. This is a tremendous honor for us!

Ellen Galinsky, president of FWI and highly respected in the field of workplace flexibility, had this to say: "Our research consistently finds that employees in effective and flexible workplaces have greater engagement on the job and greater desire to stay with their organization. In addition, they report lower stress levels and better overall health. As a recipient of the 2011 Sloan Award, Mom Corps ranks in the top 20 percent of employers nationally in terms of its programs, policies and culture for creating an effective and flexible workplace." 

Recognition for our own flexible workplace practices is reflective of the very foundation of our business. We recently commissioned a national survey that found more than two in five working adults (42 percent) are willing to give up some percentage of their salary for more flexibility at work.  This is quite telling about workplace attitudes given the current economic state and record unemployment rate. Workplace flexibility is a model that's becoming more widely accepted because of the benefits it offers companies and employees.

We want to hear from you! How do you feel about workplace flexibility? Does it work for you and your company?