allison O'kelly Archives - Keppie Careers https://www.keppiecareers.com/tag/allison-okelly/ Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach Wed, 04 Jun 2014 12:23:43 +0000 en-US hourly 1 How to get back to work https://www.keppiecareers.com/get-back-work/ https://www.keppiecareers.com/get-back-work/#comments Wed, 28 May 2014 10:30:28 +0000 http://www.keppiecareers.com/?p=11982 Are you part of the 2 million people (mostly women) in the “career relaunch” pool? Are you trying to figure out your next career move to re-enter the workforce after taking time to go back to school, raise children, care for family members, travel, etc.? Perhaps finding a new job is significantly more difficult than […]

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]]> social media expertAre you part of the 2 million people (mostly women) in the “career relaunch” pool? Are you trying to figure out your next career move to re-enter the workforce after taking time to go back to school, raise children, care for family members, travel, etc.? Perhaps finding a new job is significantly more difficult than anticipated. How can you get back to work?Mom Corps, a professional staffing and career development firm that caters to professionals looking for alternative work options, released its third annual workplace survey commissioned through Harris Interactive. The survey reports 55 percent of working women surveyed agreed that taking a significant amount of time out of the workforce would set their career back. When it is time to re-enter the paid workforce, this reality really hits home. Many find re-entry to former career levels nearly impossible. However, all is not lost.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

With a strategic plan and strong job search focus, it is possible to land a new job, even if you’ve been out of the workforce for several years.

Allison O’Kelly, CEO and founder of Mom Corps, suggests the following six steps to create your re-entry plan.

1. Evaluate what you want to do professionally. Perhaps you’d like to re-enter the workforce doing the same type of job you had before you left. Maybe your feelings about your profession have changed since you last worked and you’d prefer to shift into a new field or role. It’s impossible to land a job before you have a clear vision of what you want to do; it’s like trying to find a location without directions or a map. Spend time identifying your goals so you have a clear endpoint in mind.

2. Be sure you can commit to your choice personally. Are you prepared to make the expected sacrifices in your personal life to get the job done successfully? If there are long hours or travel involved, make sure you’re prepared to manage those aspects of the position when you do land a job. It’s not wise to decide to figure it out later. Plan ahead and apply for positions you know you would be happy doing. “Have realistic expectations and criteria for evaluating opportunities,” O’Kelly says.

3. Understand your skills. Make a list of your expertise from previous jobs, community commitments and any volunteer work you’ve done. Narrow down your top skills and determine what words employers would use to find someone like you to hire. These keywords should populate your résumé and online profiles. “Don’t forget to ask your friends to help you identify your strengths. Look for opportunities that match these skills,” O’Kelly suggests.

4. Avoid time gaps on your résumé and online profiles. “Fill the gaps in your résumé with strategic volunteering and contract work,” O’Kelly says. “Note the word ‘strategic’ – look for opportunities that are relevant to the career you want to pursue or will help build skills you are lacking. Résumé gaps are better than irrelevant fluff.”

5. Network. Never underestimate the value of every networking opportunity. Network at the grocery store, at the gym and at professional events. Don’t bombard your friends with requests for referrals to jobs. Focus instead on letting people know you are ready to re-engage in the workforce. For example, let your friends know you’re reading industry news and plugging back into your professional background. If you use Facebook, start posting links to work-related items. Use social media tools such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+ to let your network know when you attend professional events and to share insights people who might want to hire you would appreciate.

6. Look for steppingstones. Sometimes, you need to take baby steps before you can run a marathon. “Your first job when you re-enter the workforce may not meet every single standard you desire, but look at its long-term potential and whether it will get you closer to your ideal career,” O’Kelly explains. Incorporate growth potential as a factor when evaluating a possible job. Maybe it is a step or two back from where you’d like to be, but if the company is growing and you anticipate impressing your superiors, you’ll be well on your way to a successful relaunch.

Re-entry doesn’t have to be overly daunting. Be open to new and different opportunities to leverage your experience, skills and connections in a way that make sense for you, and you may find yourself back at work sooner than you think.

Get my free white paper: 5 Mistakes Preventing You From Landing a Job This Week 

Originally appeared in U.S. News & World Report

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]]> https://www.keppiecareers.com/get-back-work/feed/ 1 Can YOU land a job if you are pregnant? https://www.keppiecareers.com/can-you-land-a-job-if-you-are-pregnant/ https://www.keppiecareers.com/can-you-land-a-job-if-you-are-pregnant/#respond Mon, 30 Jul 2012 10:30:58 +0000 http://www.keppiecareers.com/?p=8569 What happens when you’re looking for a job — pregnant? It’s old news now: Marissa Mayer, an executive who has been climbing the corporate ladder at Google was just named as Yahoo’s new chief executive. What seems to be even bigger news: she is pregnant (it’s a boy) and due October 7th. Reports indicate that […]

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]]> What happens when you’re looking for a job — pregnant? It’s old news now: Marissa Mayer, an executive who has been climbing the corporate ladder at Google was just named as Yahoo’s new chief executive. What seems to be even bigger news: she is pregnant (it’s a boy) and due October 7th. Reports indicate that she let Yahoo’s board know about her pregnancy at the end of June; they first contacted her to discuss the position on June 16th.

It’s great that this superstar from Google was able to land a big new job while expecting, but what about the rest of us? It’s hard enough to try to find work, are you out of luck if you are pregnant?

Allison O’Kelly, founder and CEO of Mom Corps, a national flexible staffing firm dedicated to connecting progressive employers with professionals seeing flexible work, believes all women have an opportunity to job hunt successfully while pregnant, even if their positions are a very far walk from the corner office.

The key to success is communicating your skills and competencies first: convince the hiring manager you are the best fit. Once you’ve gotten over that hurdle (usually in the first interview), O’Kelly believes pregnant job seekers should disclose their situations. She explains, “When you’re looking for a job, you’re starting a relationship. You don’t want to begin that relationship by not disclosing your pregnancy. Be honest and explain that you are prepared to take on the job and fully expect to return to work after maternity leave.”

How should you broach the subject? Once you know you want the job and have made a good impression, O’Kelly suggests opening a conversation with the hiring manager; explain that you are pregnant, when you are due, and your plans for how it would impact your job. Make a clear case to convince the employer you are committed to maintaining the position after the baby is born.

It’s not out of the question to explain that you, or your family, require your income. You may also note how important it is for you to maintain your career or job because you enjoy what you do. Since your plans for after the baby is born are a touchy subject, the employer will not want to ask about childcare arrangements, but you can bring it up if you already have plans in place. You may also describe how you’ve successfully managed a leave in the past.

O’Kelly explains, if you are able to quickly and completely address the employer’s concerns, you may quell any hesitations. “The less of a big deal you make it, the less overwhelming it will be for the hiring manager.”

The bottom line: you don’t need to be a superstar candidate to land the job while pregnant, but, as in every situation, pregnant or not – you do need to be the right candidate.

Once you have the position, it’s all up to you to set the tone. Be sure to keep communication lines open between your boss and colleagues. Co-workers will be wondering how much of your work they will have to pick up, so make it clear how you plan to make your leave as easy as possible on everyone.

“Tell your employer your goals and plans for when you return. If you’d like to go for a promotion, be sure no one is assuming that you won’t want a more responsible job after the baby comes. Talk about your goals – if you want to move to a promotion down the road, say so.

O’Kelly reminds us, “Your actions are more important than anything when you come back to work. You need to be on top of things if you aspire to a better job. Maybe you do need to step aside and try to arrange some reduced hours initially. Many employers will make flexible arrangements for valued employees; they’d rather keep you on board than have to hire and train a new employee.” But, once you are back to work, if you don’t want to be “mommy tracked,” and have everyone assume you are more focused on family than work, be sure your actions demonstrate your commitment to work and show that you are ready for that next challenge.

Photo by JD Lasica/Socialmedia.biz

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]]> https://www.keppiecareers.com/can-you-land-a-job-if-you-are-pregnant/feed/ 0 10 tips if you are looking for a flexible job https://www.keppiecareers.com/advice-if-you-are-looking-for-a-flexible-job/ https://www.keppiecareers.com/advice-if-you-are-looking-for-a-flexible-job/#comments Mon, 12 Mar 2012 06:30:21 +0000 http://www.keppiecareers.com/?p=7785 When you look for a job, you’ll want to target organizations and companies with workplaces and cultures conducive to your lifestyle. If you’re looking for a job with some flexibility, you are in good company. A 2011 national Harris Interactive study conducted on behalf of Mom Corps  found that 42 percent of working adults were […]

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]]> When you look for a job, you’ll want to target organizations and companies with workplaces and cultures conducive to your lifestyle. If you’re looking for a job with some flexibility, you are in good company.

A 2011 national Harris Interactive study conducted on behalf of Mom Corps  found that 42 percent of working adults were willing to give up some percent of their salary in exchange for more flexible work options.

In honor of National Telework Week, I tapped Allison O’Kelly, founder/CEO of Mom Corps, a national flexible staffing firm dedicated to connecting progressive employers with professionals seeking flexible work and Cali Williams Yost, CEO of the Flex+Strategy Group / Work+Life Fit Inc. and author of Work+Life: Finding the Fit That’s Right for You for 10 tips to help you identify and land a flexible job:

1. Decide what flexibility means for you.

2. Focus on your skills. What do you offer?

3. Specialize. Identify several specialty areas in your skills and accomplishments.

4. Research organizations and learn where you’re likely to be most successful and happy. Yost suggests investigating the 2012 Guide to Bold New Ideas for Making Work Work, by Families and Work Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management, Working Mother’s Top Employers list and The Flex Pages. You may also want to investigate organizations dedicated to helping people find flexible work, such as Mom Corps. If you are planning to re-enter the workforce after taking time off, another resource is iRelaunch.

5. Plan ahead; be realistic. Don’t try to fit a square peg in a round hole.

6. Know the right questions to ask – and what answers mean.

7. Be open to temporary positions.

8. Prepare to use technology. “Video will make remote work more personal.” 

9. Prepare your workspace. What if you land the perfect flexible arrangement tomorrow? Are you ready to start work right away – from your own home office, a co-working space or another site you arrange?

10. Don’t sell yourself short. Even in this economy, it’s still possible to land flexible work opportunities. In fact, a  Flexpaths – LinkedIn Virtual Think Tanks study attests that hiring managers believe flexible work arrangements are important if they want to stay competitive for top employees.

Read all the details and advice at my U.S. News & World Report piece.

photo by Pulpolux !!!

 

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