You Can Live Better

Taking a career break in the middle of a recession is probably not the best idea, but sometimes we are forced to do so, especially when we are expecting a new arrival. These days with household budgets being stretched so thin, the thought of being a full-time mum, while attractive, is not realistic. Whenever we’re ready to get back into the job market we need to look for ways to catch up economically.

Unemployment rates are crazy right now and the labour market can be a very unpleasant proposition. This is not the time to falter though and it is important to prepare your negotiation skills and boost your self-confidence, ready for battle. To start off with, you should make a thorough analysis of your financial position and needs for the months and years ahead. While you must always be reasonable, cut out anything that you don’t really need. Be very clear in your own mind about your financial requirements, what you absolutely need as a minimum and what is ideal.

While you may have been quite happy with your career prior to the break, this is an opportunity for you to really evaluate whether you want to go back into that line of business, or whether you want to explore something new. Is this the time to consider setting up your own business, for example? If your financial analysis shows you that you can expect reasonable returns from self-employment and still make ends meet, then this option may allow you to create a good deal more flexibility in your life, down the road. You are being faced with some significant and potentially very far-reaching decisions and you might want to consider professional coaching at this time. Thankfully, coaching for women in your situation can definitely help you to determine what to do.

It’s important to be positive and never to focus on the negative. Focus on all your strengths, which you should write out on paper and keep on your desk at all times. Reinforce your psyche and project yourself in all your conversations, phone calls and e-mails.

If you are aiming for a particular position, try and consider jobs which are beneath, but fall naturally within the career progression. You may be overqualified, but if it gives you a stepping-stone toward your ideal position, by going the extra mile you will soon find that you become eligible (and get) the position that you want.

This can be a tough hiring environment but those who are prepared to go the extra distance and really stand out from the rest, will succeed over the sad majority who cannot or do not. If you remember that it is in your mindset to succeed, then you will.

At this stage, you will need all of the inner strength that you can muster. It is easy to get disenchanted by the negative news we hear about the economy and jobs every day and while you might begin to think that the task is very difficult, don’t think that it is a hill too steep. Remember to take the journey one step at a time, being fully confident of your ability and your readiness for a particular position before you start to contact the employer. A useful tip — take a deep breath and even stand up when you make a phone call. A slumping posture, or a sagging mindset will not help. Always smile as you talk on the phone as well.

Nowadays, online life coaching can give you the boost when you need it, as all of us go through periods of negativity or self-doubt. You can definitely do this!

Amanda Alexander, Director of Coaching Mums, helps pressure-cooked, stressed working mums who long for more hours in the day. Through her coaching programmes and online life coaching courses, Amanda shows mums how to create fulfilling and successful lives. For your simple 5 step guide to balance as a working mum, download our free eBook today!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!