It is my pleasure to introduce you to Nancy Collamer, Career Coach and founder of the Jobs and Moms Career Center. Collamer has her M.S. degree in Career Development and has advised millions of women online as the “Jobs and Moms Pro” for Oprah Winfrey’s Oxygen Media. She is also the mother of two girls – a junior in high school and a junior in college.
Please give a warm welcome to Nancy Collamer [hint: that means leave a comment with your thoughts or a simple greeting].
ME: What are the best work-from-home jobs for moms?
COLLAMER: There’s so many of them. Rather than think about what are the best options out there, instead think about what you are happiest doing. Find work that you enjoy doing and that you do well. That’s where you want to start. Ask yourself: What are subjects that you are interested in? What are causes that you are excited about? Then, begin to explore the options. The possibilities are really endless. The important thing is to start with your experience and your interests. Go to Barnes & Nobles. Browse the Small Business section. Read Paul & Sarah Edwards‘ The Best Home Businesses for the 21st Century and Making Money with Your Computer at Home. Subscribe to Entreprenerur Magazine or check out Entreprenereur online.
ME: What is the mission of the Jobs and Moms site?
COLLAMER: As you can tell from looking at the site, the overall theme of the site is to present professional women with ideas and resources around finding a better way to blend work and family.
ME: How does the Job Board section of your site work?
COLLAMER: Moms can post their resumes for free. All the jobs that are listed have some form of flexibility associated with them: work-at-home, part-time, contract, etc. These are not your standard 9-5 jobs. It’s not a huge board, but it’s a good place to just take a look.
ME: How can moms stay connected and engaged professionally if they choose to stay-at-home or work PT during the early years?
COLLAMER: There are a couple of things that every mom should be doing. If you are currently at home, think about what you want to do when you do go back. Do you want to go back to what you did before?
If not, you may want to consider doing targeted volunteer work or you might want to take some classes in a field that interests you. Another idea is to find an entrepreneurer. There are millions of people that are working from home and perhaps you could offer to handle their overflow. For example, perhaps there’s a small real estate firm who could use your help a few days a week. Sometimes just by going into someone’s office, you can learn about that industry.
If you would like to stay in the same field, stay informed about developments in your industry. Set up a Google news alert. The other thing is stay in contact with the people who you worked with. It doesn’t mean you have to stay in contact with them on a weekly or even a monthly basis. Once a year, plan a breakfast or lunch. It is also helpful to belong to a professional association. You may only go to a few meetings when your kids are small, but that face-to-face contact is invaluable.
ME: How can moms make the leap back into the workplace seamlessly (whether it be after 5 months, 5 years, or 15 years)?
COLLAMER: You don’t have to do everything at once. You can build your career back in phases. Find in outlet that really interests and, with time, you can build it, expand it, and diversify it to generate more income.
Thanks so much, Nancy! You come across as such a pleasant, intelligent person over the phone and I’m sure your 1-1 Consulting/Coaching sessions are well worth the money.
Readers – Feel free to check out the Jobs and Moms Career Center website. Read helpful articles about flexible work and work/life matters. Post your resume or search for flexible, family-friendly jobs. You may also want to buy one of Nancy’s e-books.
Speaking of Nancy’s e-books…
WIN IT! I have three prizes today: #1 Flex Jobs: Your Work, Your Life, YOUR WAY! e-book, #2 Online Job Search Simplified: 250+ of The Best Sites for Job Seekers and Career Changers e-book, and #3 The Back-to-Work Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms e-book. To enter, simply leave a comment stating which e-book you would most like to win and why prior to Friday, Feb. 15, at midnight. The winner will be announced and contacted on Saturday, Feb. 16. * This contest is open to readers from around the world.
* UPDATE * The winner of “Flex Jobs: Your Work, Your Life, Your WAY” is #3 Melinda. The winner of “Online Job Search Simplified: 250+ of The Best Sites for Job Seekers and Career Changers” is #6 Anonymous. The winner of “The Back-to-Work Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms” is #25 sassy2. Congratulations!
Flex Jobs: Your Work, Your Life, YOUR WAY! e-book
Online Job Search Simplified: I am seeking a career and or career change.
Flex jobs would be my first choice out of the three.
Love Flex Jobs
I honestly can say that all three would be of use in my current situation, but if I HAVE to pick just one, then Flex Jobs…
don’t know if still taking comments, but I could use the help, thanks.
I would love the Flex Jobs: Your Work, Your Life, YOUR WAY e-book.
I teach business classes in an inner-city schools. The Online Job Search Simplified book would be a real asset to our classroom library
I would want Online Job Search Simplified: 250+ of The Best Sites for Job Seekers and Career Changers.
I would want the Online Job Search Simplified: 250+ of The Best Sites for Job Seekers and Career Changers e-book!
The Online Job Search book would be a huge blessing as I face the daunting prospect of a mid-life career change!
i would like Flex Jobs: Your Work, Your Life, YOUR WAY! e-book.
Flex Jobs: Your Work, Your Life, YOUR WAY!
Flex Jobs: Your Work, Your Life, YOUR WAY!
Online Job Search Simplified Career change!
The Back-to-Work Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms e-book.
i like to win stuff
The e-book “Online Job Search Simplified: 250+ of The Best Sites for Job Seekers and Career Changers e-book.” looks interesting.
Working and having young kids is a very tough undertaking
I’m on my last year of staying home with the kids and I’m so nervous about going back to work. Maybe this would help?!
the flex jobs are great
I would love to win all three, but The Back-to-Work Toolkit: A Guide for Comeback Moms is probably the most beneficial for me. My husband passed away 8 years ago when our son was 3 1/2. I took time off from working so I could be there for him. I plan on going back to work soon since he’ll be starting jr. high school.
Thank you for the contest and Happy Valentine’s Day!
Thank you for your tips, Nancy! I would most like the “Flex Jobs: Your Work, Your Life, YOUR WAY” e-book.
I would like Online Job Search Simplified: 250+ of The Best Sites for Job Seekers and Career Changers, this would help me check out some online jobs.
I think I would have to pick the Flex Jobs – But the best sites for job seekers is pretty good too!
pamela.callahan@sbcglobal.net
I would like to win the Online Job Search Simplified: 250+ of The Best Sites for Job Seekers and Career Changers e-book because finding a job is the hardest thing a person ever does in life and all help in this matter is much apreciated.
I would like all three
Wow, tough choice. All three look good, but I think my top choice also has to be “Flex jobs”.
Ditto on what Kira said! I’d want the flex jobs: Your work, your way, e-book.
I would love the Flex Jobs: Your Work, Your Life, YOUR WAY e-book. Thanks and great site!