I don’t write often of politics, but it hasn’t escaped my attention that there are two very prominent working mothers in the news lately, Hillary Clinton and Michelle Obama.
Even though I favor Hillary in the race, I have more of an affinity with Michelle Obama. After all, Chelsea Clinton is a fully grown 28-year-old woman and Hillary doesn’t have to face the same work-family decisions as Michelle, who has two daughters ages 9 and 6.
In a February 28th, 2008 interview with the Houston Chronicle, Michelle Obama was asked how she manages to balance everything on her plate. She replied, “When I’m on the road, I try to keep it to day trips or maybe an overnight. And for the most part, I’m home on the weekends.”
Okay, so she juggles. She also has the benefit of her mother’s help with the children while she travels and does not use a nanny, which I’m sure provides peace of mind. As all of us working parents know, finding good childcare is difficult, and finding affordable childcare is impossible.
But it wasn’t Ms. Obama’s statement about how she manages her own busy life that impressed me, it was her insight into my life as a working mother. “The thing I deal with on a day-to-day basis are the challenges facing working mothers, challenges that transcend race and socioeconomics and class. Women feel guilty all the time.”
That last part about the guilt really hit home, which brings me back to Hillary. She raised Chelsea in the spotlight, and now enjoys the support of her adult daughter. But what does that mean for me, as a working mother today? Can she understand the issues I’m facing as a middle class working mother trying to manage work and family and feeling guilty that I can’t do either very well? I’m doubtful.
For that matter, does Michelle Obama’s inside perspective on the difficulty of juggling work and family mean her husband gets it to? Is Michelle acting as a buffer between Barack and the stress of taking care of the children to the extent that he has absolutely no insight into the difficulties that working parents face?
But whatever my doubts, I am hopeful. I am invigorated. I know they are currently running against each other, but I often speculate that if these two strong women enter the white house together, there could be a very different agenda starting in 2009.
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This article was originally published in the Poughkeepsie Journal on Saturday, March 8, 2008 under the title, “Campaign spotlights working moms”
It’s almost impossible to overlook the signs that the U.S. is falling into a recession. From the 0.6 percent drop in purchases in February, as reported on Bloomberg.com, to the 63,000 job losses last month, tough times appear imminent.
For me, the recession has become distinctly personal as my own inner circle is pinched by a job market that’s in a downward spiral. Last week I spoke with a friend of mine who’d been laid off from her job of seven years.
She’s now scrambling to update her resume and try to get back into job seeker mindset. I’ve been where she is now. I was laid off in 2002 after five years at the same job, and I remember feeling just as displaced and out of sorts.
But I’ve learned a lot since then, the biggest lesson being that we’re never really out of the job market, even when fully employed. As a consultant, this is definitely the case. I’m always looking for new opportunities, pitching myself and trying to find resources and tools to help me land new projects and make new connections.
Thus, I think I’m in a good position to outline a few tips for my friend, and for those of you who may be in the market for a new job, during a time when competition is fierce and employers are reluctant to bring on new staff.
A few tricks from a perpetual job seeker
I redo my resume, from top to bottom, at least twice a year. I also customize my resume for each position I apply for, making sure to highlight the experience I’ve had that’s relevant to the specific project, company and industry outlined in the job description. Yes, it takes time, but it’s really worth it.
Likewise I recommend sending a customized cover letter for every position you apply to. Your letter should highlight specific things that set you apart from other applicants. For example if you’re applying for a marketing position at a nonprofit organization, it’s definitely relevant to mention any charitable work/fundraising you’ve done that demonstrates your sincere interest in working with and for a charitable organization.
Another word of advice – don’t be afraid to get help. There are services like ResumeDeli that specialize in preparing applicants for the tough job of selling themselves. Free tools are also widely available online including jobs-only search engines such as Indeed.com. I also recommend building a professional profile on LinkedIn or another job site such as Monster, so employers searching for people with your skill set can find you.
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This article was originally published in the Poughkeepsie Journal on Saturday, March 15, 2008 under the title, “Successful job hunt takes work”
