I’ve blogged and commented a lot recently on the slew of material out there that discusses women getting back on the career track after taking time off to stay at home with their children. Usually these voices are on high, and well, as a mere blogger, I’m down low, and so rarely would we have a chance to connect.
But lately, perhaps because I’ve been so vocal about my passion for finding case studies of women “on-ramping” outside of big financial and accounting firms, I’ve gotten a few e-mails from some of these “mommy career” gurus themselves, the most recent containing some good nuggets of information worth sharing.
Carol Fishman Cohen, co-author of the book, Back on the Career Track, responded to my dilemma of how it seems the biggest success stories of women re-entering the workforce are those in the careers of finance or accounting. In Carol’s (hope it’s ok to use first names here) e-mail to me she points out the success that Aquent, the world’s largest marketing staffing firm, is having by placing SAHMs into jobs after they’ve been out for awhile. She even gave this example:
I’m [Carol]Â in the Boston area and have been following the progress of a mom here who was a marketing analyst for a high tech firm, was part of a 9/11 layoff, started her family and took a break for 5.5 years, and just got placed thru Aquent in a 3 month marketing position at a major money management firm here. (She does not have a graduate degree.) She thinks it is working out pretty well and will turn into a permanent position.Â
Thanks, Carol, duly noted. I guess there’s some hope for us sad sacks still eeking out a career in PR or marketing.Â
Tags: SAHM, Carol Fishman Cohen, Back On The Career Track, on ramping off ramping
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I feel very strongly about on-ramping.
There are certain careers that allow for on-ramping. Some basic principles never change. You might have to stay up to date on the software and technology that are used in the job (i.e. tools of the trade) but you don’t necessarily have to stay up to date on the job itself to have a chance to re-enter the workforce.
I am a process engineer that works for a chemical company. Every year, new advances are made in my career. If I were to stay at home for more than a few months I would loose my marketability. Your knowledge becomes outdated and employers find it more effort than it is worth to “re-learn†you. I am not saying that this is fair. I personally don’t feel it is but not everything in life is fair. I chose to have a career that is heavily involved in the sciences and sometimes those decisions you make have consequences. I wouldn’t be opposed to having a flexible schedule or working from home though. Maybe I will have that as one of my next topics on my site. Hhmm.
Kick ass, I have had contractors through Aquent work on my project teams. I did not expect to ever be one, but I am encouraged by this. Thanks.
Good to know! I always worry that us PR shlunks are the first to be replaced by the 22 year old ‘fresh from college and willing to work 80 hours a week for 35k a year” types!