Tuesday, July 30, 2002

By JANE DALTON

Judy Nygren celebrates earning her Master’s Degree with her children, Lindsay, Julia, and Garret.

You told yourself that once the kids were in school you’d go back to work. It sounded good when you were chasing sticky toddlers through the house and work was a distant memory. But now your youngest is approaching first grade and panic is setting in. Where will you find a job? Who will hire you? What can you put on a resume? Should you return to your old career? Can you? Should you try something new? How? Where? These questions can seem overwhelming, but are actually productive. You’re thinking, which means you’re taking the first step toward finding a job. Here are some basic strategies to help you define your goals, refine your search, and secure the job that’s right for you.

Consider your availability

How many hours can you realistically work at this time? Debbie Miller, a mother of two, is returning to work in September after 10 years as an at-home mom. Before applying for a job, she made a list of all the things that must get done each day. “I asked myself, can I do all this and work four hours a day? I decided yes, I can, if I ask my family for help and cut back on volunteering.”

Rita Richards, President of Rita Richards Associates Inc., a personnel recruitment firm in Paramus, advises thinking of your career in terms of short-term and long-term goals. “It’s important to have a balanced outlook on what the reality is and what your dreams are. You have to consider your priorities, your availability, and what’s important to you now.”

Miller, who secured a part-time administrative position in the Glen Rock school system, decided that working when her kids are in school, rather than at night or on weekends, will work best for her and her family. Thinking about her priorities and availability, says Miller, helped her determine what kind of job would best suit her now. “You might need to compromise at first,” says Richards, “but you are building a foundation for your future.”

Investigate the possibilities

Think about what job or profession interests you and take time to learn more about it. “Network,” suggests Richards. “Talk to as many people as you can about their observations in the workplace. The idea is to have a realistic outlook on what opportunities are out there. Ask people specific questions about their jobs. For example, ‘What skills do you think a person needs for your kind of work?’ or ‘What’s the best thing about your job or profession? What’s the worst?’”

Judy Nygren, a mother of three, is a school counselor for an elementary school in Bergen County. She left her job as a special education teacher in 1988 when her first child was born. While an at-home mom, she began taking classes in a field that interested her. “I always knew I wanted to be a counselor, even as a teacher. To help me focus I went to talk to the Dean of Counseling at Montclair State University to see what I’d have to do to get a degree.”

Going to a college and talking to a professor or dean is a great way, says Nygren, to learn more about a profession. Plus, she adds, “A lot of colleges let you take six credits without matriculating. This was helpful to me because I didn’t have to dive in. All I did was sign up for one class.” One class eventually led to a Masters of Science degree in General Counseling and a new career.

If you’re thinking about a profession, but are hesitant to approach someone in the field, take a trip to the library. “The reference librarian is a wonderful resource in the community,” says Richards. She will be able to assist you in finding information about jobs that interest you and the skills that are necessary for them. Many libraries also retain current course catalogs for local colleges and trade schools. Often this information can also be accessed via the internet, which a librarian can assist you in using. Finally, all public libraries retain various national newspapers in which you can locate business, education, and employment information for nearly any field.

Enhance your marketability

“Computer skills,” says Richards, “are a crucial part of the workplace today. People who are home now and thinking about going back to work should investigate classes in all the Microsoft products.” If you are unable to attend a computer class or need instruction weeks before a class is scheduled to begin, consider hiring a private tutor. You may be surprised to learn that your tutor is a high school or college kid - or another at-home mom. Ask around or look in your community newspaper for tutoring services.

“A lot of times,” agrees Nygren, “education is the pathway to a better job or a different job.” Luckily, for those interested in pursuing advanced degrees, our area is replete with excellent academic programs. Some colleges and universities offer inexpensive on-site child care for registered students taking daytime classes. Many offer night and weekend classes for those who can’t attend traditional daytime programs. Nygren found that Montclair State University was willing to help her complete her degree, even though she took a few years off after the birth of her second and third children. “Every five years I had to apply for an extension, but the school never gave me a problem.”

“Volunteer activities,” says Richards, “also give you an opportunity to exercise your skills, whether they’re organizational skills, fundraising skills, or computer skills.” Miller was pleasantly surprised to learn that her employer values the skills she gained as an active volunteer. “I fell into the trap of thinking, ‘If I don’t get paid for it, then it mustn’t be important,’ but I was wrong.” When she took the time to think about all she had done in various volunteer positions, she realized that she had acquired, among other things, sales, managerial, computer, and teaching skills.

Toot your own horn

“How you market yourself,” says Richards, “is almost equal to the skills you bring to the table.” She advises giving some thought to what talents you have and what skills you bring to a job. “You can’t expect a prospective employer to identify a job for you. You have to say, ‘Here’s what I can do for you. I bring this, this, and this.’

I always tell people when they’re working on their resumes, ‘Think like a prospective employer. What would you want to hear? What would you want to see on a resume?’ Change roles for a minute and think about the qualities you have that are needed in the workplace.” For example, do you have strong follow-up or organizational skills, excellent Internet or word processing skills, superb research skills, or exceptional interpersonal skills?

Not sure where your talents lie? Ask someone you trust to tell you. Family members, friends, and former colleagues can tell you what you’re good at - and what you’re not. Miller and Nygren both sought help from family members when they drafted their resumes and cover letters. Taking the time to consider their talents and strengths helped them to subsequently interview well and land jobs that meet their personal and professional needs.

Be creative

If a traditional part-time or full-time job does not appeal to you, says Richards, “think about what the needs are of people like yourself and try to fill that need. It’s an entrepreneurial world and people who can think outside the box can start valuable small businesses.”

Richards suggests, for example, establishing a tutoring service for senior citizens who want to learn how to correspond by e-mail; starting an errands service for personnel in an office building; or providing child-care carpool assistance for a fee.

“Identify a niche,” advises Richards. Nygren did this when she was completing her degree. “For my program I had to do an internship so I approached a local school with a cover letter indicating that I was looking for hours to fill and would work for free for the experience.

The school didn’t have a counseling program before I got there. I had to create the job, which was kind of frightening, but it was a really great opportunity. I got to try all these different things that maybe I wouldn’t have been able to do in another setting.” Upon completing her degree, Nygren was offered a paid position with the school and has been successful in increasing her hours and expanding her responsibilities.

Dare to dream

Spend time thinking about what you would really like to do with your future. “Think about it,” says Nygren, “when you’re in your forties you could still work for twenty-five more years. You might as well do something you really want to do. Twenty-five years is probably more years than you worked before you had kids. Don’t look at your age in terms of where you’ve been, but in terms of where you can go.”

Jane Dalton of Glen Rock is a writer and mother of two children.

Resume resources

These resources may prove helpful as you prepare your resume or begin your job search.

* What Color Is Your Parachute?: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career Changers by Richard Nelson Bolles.

* Resume Writing Made Easy: A Practical Guide to Resume Preparation and Job Search by Lola M. Coxford and Lola Brown.

* The Everything Online Job Search Book: Find the Jobs, Send Your Resume, and Land the Career of Your Dreams-- All Online! by Steven Graber and Barry Littmann .

* The Resume Handbook: How to Write Outstanding Resumes and Cover Letters for Every Situation by Arthur D. Rosenberg and David Hizer.

If you are thinking about returning to school, find out if you are eligible for any undergraduate or graduate scholarships. A helpful scholarship resource is www.fastweb.com.

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