The Best Kept Secret Blog - Back To Work

When my eldest was born, I cut back on my training and consulting business to spend more time with her. When number two (a.k.a. "The Destroyer") came home, I decided to take a complete, albeit temporary, break.

So when I got the itch to re-enter the paid workforce, I found myself in the same boat as many other mid-life women who are trying to get their foot back in the corporate door.

While many of you likely sailed into plumb positions that fit snugly with your lifestyle, my re-entry has been choppy, more like paddling upstream in a leaky row boat.

A few examples . . . .

January 2005
While off work, get caught up in a knitting craze. Have idea to start craft business. Buy lots and lots of supplies, assuring husband I'll re-coup expenses once things start to sell. Decide to make and sell scarves since they are the only things that take less than a year to knit. Do two craft shows over the course of three months, sell five scarves and calculate my wages to be .49 cents per hour. Craft business is closed.

June 2005
Update resume. Debate whether printing it on special paper with happy face border will divert attention from the BIG GAP during which time I was home with children. Decide to go with functional style resume and highlight skills gained while home. Volunteer lice lady position is rejigged to read "dedicated problem solver".

December 2005
Get interview for perfect job. Interview with hip, young owners of hip, young start-up to be held in Starbucks on Yonge Street. Immediately focus on what to wear. Wore navy suit, beige hose and minimal jewelry to last interview. It was 1992. May not be allowed in Starbucks in said outfit. Go with ubiquitous black pants and clean shirt.

January 2006
Receive rejection letter in e-mail. Go into deep depression. Figuring no-one will ever hire me for rest of my life, attempt to come to terms with being a stay-at-home mom for indeterminate period of time. Vaguely wonder if children will mind me walking them to school when they're in university.

February 2007
Working on web-site to inform and inspire women over 40. Hold focus group session. See February 15th posting.

March 2007
Logo and business cards ready for pick-up. After years of conditioning to save money for the household by buying in bulk, can't resist deal printer gives me for 10,000 cards. Ever resourceful husband comments we can always use them for kindling.

June 2007
The Best Kept Secret is open for business. Weigh pros and cons of re-entry journey. Cons: Currently earning less than .49 cents per hour. (Okay, I'm kidding.) Pros: Have a job that I love.