The Gift of Being Real  (listen to this excerpt from the classic tale "Velveteen Rabbit", narrated by my friend Anne Hossack)

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"By working faithfully eight hours a day, you may get to be a boss and work twelve hours a day."  - - Robert Frost

Hello On-Rampers!  Is it time to make your way back to the workforce?

Many people who have taken time out of their career for parenting are now trying to find their way back to the workforce. If progress seems slow and/or your outlook becomes confused, step back and recheck your priorities. Think about what motivates you the most (flexibility, benefits, pay, challenging work, etc.) and make sure the most important motivator is at the top of your list.

Job hunting has changed and traditional methods may not create effective results.  Today's job market calls for a fresh approach.  Make the following practices a normal part of your job search:

Network, network, network - More than 70% of all opportunities are shared through contacts made while networking.  There is an organization for just about every professional around, so finding a venue that is in line with your interests should not be hard to find.  Reconnect with established contacts and make new ones.

Informational Interviews - Take every opportunity to schedule informational conversations with former colleagues or new contacts who are working in the field you want to learn more about.

Consulting - Take on short-term consulting gigs to build up current real-world experience.  Even your volunteer work should "count" and be in your field of interest.

BIO Profile - In addition to your resume, create a biographical profile which is a more personal perspective of not just where you've been, but also reflects what you are capable of doing in the future.  Include testimonials from former bosses, colleagues, customers, etc. and let your references be your resume!

Functional Resume - If you've been out of the job market for a while, you may benefit from using a functional resume format in lieu of the traditional chronological format.  Functional resumes allow you to present your skills and experience in a cohesive manner without tying them to any particular date in time.  A separate section contains your work history (company name, title, location and years worked) as a list rather than a narrative.

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Last modified: 08/15/09