Your Turn: Careers, Kids, and Comebacks--A Working Mother's Guide

by Jennifer Gefsky

The founders of Après, the top career site for working mothers offer a step-by-step guide for women who are struggling with the big question of whether to stay on the career track or quit, and once they have how to reenter the workforce after a career break. Lean in? Pivot? Opt Out? If I leave my job or corporate America will I ever get back in? These are some of the questions almost every mother asks herself. Your Comeback is the reality-check that today's working women need. Jennifer Gefsky and Stacey Delo offer advice, insight, and inspiration to help women make the right career decisions for themselves and their families. This is a clear roadmap for how to navigate key work + life transitions to think about their careers as a long game filled with opportunity. Gefsky and Delo show what companies can do to promote family friendly policies, hire from this untapped talent pool, and create more inclusive workplaces for all. Blending research data from Après, best practices from top career coaches, and real-world advice from thousands of women who have successfully reentered the workforce after time off, Your Comeback will guide you through each step of the process, so you can keep your career on track.

Genres: Business, Parenting

1 pages, MP3 CD

First published October 1, 2019

Reviews

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

For women who have left the workforce when their kids were young and want to return, one of the most useful things about the book is its encouraging tone. The suggestions for resume organizing and using LinkedIn are also sensible, although available elsewhere. Where I found the book most vague and least satisfying was in the central questions of how a woman can decide if she wants to return to her former career and/ or how to prepare to enter a new field. Some of the advice about networking, framing volunteer work as job experience and pursuing further training seemed trite. The advice on job interviews was likewise fairly standard. Someone could pick up a few useful tips from this book but it seems superficial. On the bright side, took me only an hour to read, so no big waste of time.

[Angela Cierpicki Tohl · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book strikes the right balance of being realistic and encouraging. The authors have lived and researched the experiences that they are advising on, so the advice and strategies in the book come with a voice of authenticity. It's very enlightening that they've also included strategies for employers to nurture and tap into the hidden talent pool of professional who are relaunching after a career pause. A must read for all parents (men and women) who are navigating the demands of family, parenting and professional responsibilities.

[Jordan Martindell · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I picked up this book, I FINALLY felt like someone was singing my song. I have been out of the full-time workforce for 5 years, have two young children, have multiple part-time jobs, and am balancing the crazy juggle of working parenting! YOUR TURN is a welcome narrative of what it is REALLY like to be a working mother, all the while outlining clear, actionable steps that all women can use when navigating the complexity of their careers and personal lives.

[Vovka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Every hiring manager should read this. Every spouse should read this. Everyone who took — or is thinking about taking — a break from work to handle childcare should read this.

The book has its flaws, but overall I haven’t read a more thorough, more reasonable guide to this topic.

[Meiran · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rather superficial book that builds on women's anxiety without providing too much insight.

[Zibby Owens · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is about how women can make career decisions when their work and motherhood collide. There are women prematurity who think through the whole journey of "I have kids and am out of the workplace for fifteen years. Now my kids are going to college, and I want to return to work."

The book provides a roadmap for making decisions along the way, whatever those decisions may be, and then setting women up for success once they make the decision. If you want to work part-time, how can you do that successfully? If you want to continue to work full time, what does that look like for you and your family? But women need to know they have options. We can go part-time and still get a full-time job later when we're ready. We can take a career break and still get back into the workforce. This book is about giving women those options and helping them learn how to make those decisions when the time comes.

To listen to my interview with the authors, go to my podcast at:
https://zibbyowens.com/transcript/jen...

[Sara C Madden · Rating 5 out of 5]

For me, when someone has "walked the walk" I am on, I find their advice has more value, more meaning, and a lasting impact. In reading this book, I felt understood and seen. Whether you are out of the workforce 1 year or 15, like me, OR even contemplating stepping out for a time---you will find valuable takeaways. I read some of the more critical reviews and believe what is missing in their analysis is that this book is part of a larger resource. The authors are part of a wonderful company called Apres (https://apresgroup.com) They have both free and paid assistance to bring the lessons in YOUR TURN to life. I listened to a free webinar the other day and gained new knowledge that builds upon the YOUR TURN information. Check this book out!

[Missy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Realistic take on the costs and benefits of different work situations after kids. As a working parent committed to staying a working parent, the value here was minimal and this is likely a better guide for someone making a decision whether to stay or go. From the title and description, I expected more content about balancing childcare with a partner and how to handle other commitments of the “Messy Middle” part of adulthood, like ailing parents and community responsibilities.

[Michèle-Renée Charbonneau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though it's highly U.S. focused, I wish this book had been around when I was returning to the paid workforce. So many of the same messages I would like to give other people who take leaves and then want to return to the work force. Highly recommend.

[Lovelylia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent hands on guide to getting back into the work force.