(no subject)

I needed help getting back into the workforce after eight years at home with our
young children. We were running short on money and I also missed working and
having a career. Here are the top things that helped me: 1. I found a friend who
was in the same boat to be my ''accountability buddy.'' We met every Friday
morning for an hour over coffee and reported in on the tasks we had committed to.
2. I took computer classes at a local adult school and got my skills up to speed.
This gave me more confidence. 3. I temped for a few months so that I felt familiar
with a variety of workplaces and had some paid experience on my resume. 4. I
volunteered at a nonprofit in the fundraising department, working on the database
and making phone calls, which also added to my resume and confidence. 5. I made
myself do one thing every day, and then two things every day, and then three
things. At least one of the daily items had to be networking related, which was
the hardest thing for me. 6. I !
went to Cathy DeCuir in Albany (527-7811) for resume help and created a different
resume for every job I applied to. 7. I went to Toni Littlestone (528-2221) for
career counseling help in order to define various career goals and stay on track
in my search. She really helped me understand the career world and how to present
myself. She was very respectful of my limited budget and helped me work hard on
many issues, including interviewing, within the number of sessions I could afford.
As others have said, Toni is also a mom and understands the need to balance both
worlds. 8. I stopped volunteering for so many school things and put my energy into
my job search. I had been a super-involved parent, and loved it, but the time had
come for me to go back to work. Now, I have been in my job for two years and feel
very good about having a career and an income again. I like having co-workers and
a work environment as well as my loving family at home.
good luck in your search