Back on the Career Track: A Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms Who Want to Return to Work

by Carol Fishman Cohen, Vivian Steir Rabin

If you're a stay-at-home mom considering going back to work, these are some of the questions that have likely come to mind. Returning to the workforce can be a daunting prospect. It requires reigniting old contacts (including those with coworkers once your junior), marketing yourself strategically, and building confidence-whether you've been out of the workforce for two, six, or fifteen years. Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin understand, because they've been there. As Harvard MBAs who successfully relaunched their own careers after staying home full-time with their children, they know it can be done-with careful planning, strategizing, and creativity. Now, in BACK ON THE CAREER TRACK, they offer a prescriptive, seven-step program that includes: Assessing career options and updating job skills Networking and preparing for interviews Getting the family on board. Packed with expert advice from career counselors and recruiters, and insightful stories from others who have been through the process, this book also offers an inside look at what employers and universities are doing to help relaunchers today-including how many businesses are recognizing them as valuable assets. As frequent speakers to women's groups, professional schools, and corporations, Cohen and Rabin provide a thorough, unique program from two experts on the topic of career reentry. BACK ON THE CAREER TRACK is sure to become the classic guide in the field.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 15, 2007

Reviews

[Tami · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wish someone would have given me this book a few years ago when I started back to work after being a full time Mom. My experience was extremely difficult and essentially I had to learn everything the hard way. I fought with myself about going back to work. I felt guilty about leaving the kids. I consistently chose jobs that didn't suit my life realities and then ended up doing Houdini acts just to keep everything together. It took me a long time to figure out what I really wanted to do with my life, where I wanted to do it, and how to balance family and work. Okay, so I'm still working on the last one.

Back on the Career Track looks at going back to work after being a stay at home Mom from a variety of different perspectives. Readers are encouraged to ask themselves those really hard questions like do you really want to go back to work, what are your reasons for going back to work, do you have the time to go back to work, and how supportive is your family about the venture?

With these questions out of the way, the reader then looks to what kind of work they want to do. The shear amount of options can be somewhat overwhelming. Do they want to return to the job that they had before they had children or do they want to start a new career? Do they want to work full time, part time, flex hours, shift work, per project, etc?

With those important issues out of the road, the real problems begin. How do you make a resume that looks professional when you have a ten year gap missing? How do you start networking again? How do you regain your skills? How do you deal with supervisors that are the same age as your kids? Check out Back on the Career Track it will reduce the anxiety and give you a lot of great advice.

[Kathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author did a great job of describing the dilemmas and emotions of women who choose to raise their own children, but would like to re-enter the professional workforce at some point. However, they totally lost me when it became clear that they are addressing a league of professionals that aspire to 6-figure salaries and lofty titles in the corporate business world, and business suits. Ugh. Professional careers are far more diverse than their narrow view of meaningful "work." Had to ditch it.

[AJ · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you have been a SAHM (stay at home mom) and are looking for guidance, ideas, confidence, and positivity for how to return to work either returning to a previous career or finding a new direction with perhaps even more flexibility Back on the Career Track delivers all that and more.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to anyone considering reentering the paid workforce after spending a year or more away from it.

This is a guide that walks you through all of the steps of "relaunching" your career. The first chapter covers the question of whether or not to "relaunch" and considers all of the reasons you might want to do so. There is a useful quiz that assesses your readiness. The quiz can also be found on the book's website. www.backonthecareertrack.com

From there the book went through all of the various steps that a relauncher would inevitably face: overcoming lack of confidence, handling rejection, looking for and finding flexible work arrangements to fit your situation and your work history, networking and using everyday connections. The final section of the book gives inspirational stories of successful relaunchers like Sandra Day O'Connor. It ends with a chapter that talks in-depth about what major employers and organizations are doing to get qualified women back into the workforce after time at-home with their children.

Overall, this was a great, well thought-out book. I appreciate the fact that the tone was so optimistic and encouraging. I borrowed it from the library but it's definitely one to own.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read for anyone who fits the title demographic! Easy to pick up and re-read relevant sections. Offers practical advice, and even better, there is a wealth of information and advice on the website of the authors, and even seminars to attend on point. I've attended the New York conference twice and found both worth the trip from Cleveland, Ohio. Take a look.

[Stephanie Mouton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Full of great practical tips for stay-at-home moms wanting to head back to work, no matter how long they have been out of the workforce; covers everything from updating your resume to potential relaunch opportunities. Obviously, publication age is showing a bit. Published in 2008, companies such as Lehman Brothers are mentioned, though I found general principles are still applicable.

[Janet Gooder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I read this book. It is full of encouragement for those who are looking to get back into the workforce after a period of being a stay-at-home mom. The authors put some of my feelings into words that really resonated with me. Helpful and encouraging read.

[Betty]

I accidentally walked by this book at Barnes and Noble, and I thought it would be an interesing book to read. I read most of the book, or at least the parts that pertained to me.

I thought the beginning and the end of the book was very helpful. The end of the book talked about real-life examples from women who stayed at home for several years. Even Sandra Day O'Connor did it!


I learned that there are plenty of different paths to go back to work, and no one way is thr right way. Each path is different for every mom and family. I was so happy and encouraged as a mom-to-be to read about how one could go about going back to work, or even changing career paths in the future.

[Sabra · Rating 1 out of 5]

I resented the assumption throughout this book that the "mom" in question had a hubby at home with a primary income allowing her the privilege of sliding back into the workforce without any real financial pressures.

As a stay-at-home mom (who is older, though my children are young) who doesn't want to return to work but has no choice since a divorce, I was frankly offended that there is not a single mention of divorce as a back-to-work motivator in the entire book.

Much of the book feels like filler, such as "the future of the relaunching movement."

[Francie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book. There is a very small resource bank for women who have a career gap because they were stay at home moms. This book covers everything from making the decision to go back to work, to childcare, to job options, to resume writing and networking. It is the only book that I have found that truly validates my feelings in my current situation and gives a road map of what to try next.

[Mara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of especially the emotional aspects of attempting to combine potential full time paid work with parenthood or other family obligations. Helpful checklists and "tests" of whether one is ready and willing to enter/re-enter the work force.

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is a nice, even handed handling of what has become a very emotional and difficult subject in the U.S. It's a useful guide to thinking through the issues.

[Amy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Apparently I am not ready to go back to work yet, because this book did not hold my attention in any way.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful, practical advice and information.

[Englandjennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Somewhat informational! Not a whole lot pertained to me though

[Allison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found the book helpful and encouraging.