Murray Hill Institute
Newsletter
March 2005
Volume 2, Number 1

In the July Newsletter, Debbie Y., of Crystal Lake, IL asked for ideas about re-entering the job market.

Q. Now that my children are in school, I am thinking about going back to work. The type of work I do is difficult to do part-time or from home—it would require a full 40-hour week with occasional overtime. What are some of the things I need to take into consideration in making this decision? I’d like to hear from other readers who have made this transition.

Answers from our readers:

A. Write down all your questions, concerns, and suggested solutions relating to both your family and your potential work life. This will help you think through the implications of, for example, who is going to fill in running the household, and will help you define your short and long range career goals. Consider the emotional needs, as well as ages, of your children, e.g. how independent and/or responsible are they—as well as your own emotional makeup. How are you and your family likely to respond to the added stress that this transition will cause? Do you welcome it as a challenge, or is it likely to send someone—you, your husband, one of your children—over the edge? Meanwhile, collect all the tips you can from other moms you know who work outside the home, and start researching job opportunities. If you can approach it without a sense of pressure, the transition will be much smoother and you will have a better chance of timing it appropriately. (Susan S., Grand Rapids, MN)

A. Do what you can to find out how family-friendly your new workplace is likely to be. You can often find a corporate statement about work-life issues on the company website, but in the pressure of deadlines, good intentions often fall by the wayside. You can approach this in your job interviews by asking questions about how assignments are distributed, what strategies have they used to manage unanticipated increases in work load, that sort of thing. Obviously you would want to bring this up after the interview is well under way, and without making it the primary focus of your conversation. (Helen R., Springfield, MA)

A. If you have been out of the job market for a while, talk to some of your former colleagues, or to any contacts you may have in your field, to find out how things may have changed since you last worked. You may find that job structures have become more flexible, enabling you to have more options in arranging your schedule, or you may find that downsizing throughout your field has created even greater pressures and longer working hours. Whatever the situation, this is important to know before you proceed. (Anne A. Rochester, NY)

New question:
Carmel R. of Chicago, IL asks for wardrobe advice:

Q. I just finished school last spring and am still paying off college loans. I work as a paralegal in a corporate law office. Any suggestions for putting together a professional-looking set of outfits on a budget would be greatly appreciated.

Send your answers, and ideas for future questions to: info@murrayhillinstitute.org