3,2,1 iRelaunch

In this episode, Carroll Welch, iRelaunch Coach and Founder of Carroll Welch Consulting talks with Carol Fishman Cohen about crafting the perfect response to the “tell me about yourself” prompt. What information should you include, what does your body language add to the conversation, and how would you answer differently depending on the context and people to whom you’re talking? Don’t be caught off guard the next time you’re asked. Learn how preparation can ensure you make a great first impression.

In this “Life After Relaunch” series within a series, Carol speaks with relauncher Nicole Young, Director of Public Relations and Communications at Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting. Describing her six-year career break and subsequent seven years back in the workforce, Nicole describes the lessons learned during her break that she now uses on the job, how she dealt with her initial “imposter syndrome” feelings, and whether or not being a relauncher affects her work or relationship with her colleagues.

Julie Brush, founding partner of Solutus Legal Search and the voice of “The Lawyer Whisperer” blog joins Carol for this episode filled with practical advice and tips for dealing with ageism when interviewing (not just in the legal field). Carol and Julie engage in a mock interview to address scenarios including 1) being called overqualified, 2) an employer expressing concerns about higher salary expectations, 3) hints that the job pace “might be a little too fast” and more. The answers will leave you feeling optimistic and well-prepared – not just for your next interview, but for how you present yourself in any professional situation.

www.thelawyerwhisperer.com

Did you know that your Alumni Career Services Office might be the hidden treasure for your return to work? In this episode, Carol speaks with Matthew Temple, Director of Alumni Career & Professional Development for the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University about the resources that Alumni Career Services Offices provide for their former students. Although the benefits can vary among institutions, offerings include professional self-assessments, job search groups, webinars, workshops and so much more. Hear Matthew’s tips about how to approach reunions for maximum benefit (and comfort!) and how to reach out to your alumni association for more information.

What does the career path look like for a relaunching attorney? In Erin Gibson Allen’s case, the path went from law school to full-time attorney, stay-at-home mom, freelance writer, volunteer in a federal judge’s office, community organizer, reduced-hour attorney, to full-time attorney at Marcus & Shapira in Pittsburgh, PA. In Erin’s words, by its very nature, the path of a relauncher is unclear. But as you’ll hear in this inspiring and instructive episode, Erin’s organized approach to networking, her flexibility in direction, and her commitment to her community (both professional and non-professional) paved a path to her relaunch success.

What does the career path look like for a relaunching attorney? In Erin Gibson Allen’s case, the path went from law school to full-time attorney, stay-at-home mom, freelance writer, volunteer in a federal judge’s office, community organizer, reduced-hour attorney, to full-time attorney at Marcus & Shapira in Pittsburgh, PA. In Erin’s words, by its very nature, the path of a relauncher is unclear. But as you’ll hear in this inspiring and instructive episode, Erin’s organized approach to networking, her flexibility in direction, and her commitment to her community (both professional and non-professional) paved a path to her relaunch success.

Does our sense of ambition change as we grow older? Do our life experiences affect the dreams we imagined for ourselves when we were younger? In their book, “The Ambition Decisions - What Women Know About Work, Family, and the Path to Building a Life,” authors Hana Schank and Elizabeth Wallace explore these questions through interviews with their former Northwestern University sorority sisters. They examine the career trajectories of the “High Achievers, Opt-Outers, and Flex-Lifers.” In this episode, Carol asks Hana and Liz to reveal what they learned with a special focus on the (surprise!) Opt-Outers.

A two-time relauncher, Lesley Jane Seymour’s achievements and longevity in the publishing world practically guaranteed her successful return. But when the former editor-in-chief of YM, Redbook, Marie Claire, and (most recently) More magazine (in addition to Beauty Director of Glamour, and copywriter and senior editor at Vogue) recognized that the magazine publishing world was changing, and More closed its doors, she faced what many relaunchers face – the need to reinvent. In this entertaining and affable conversation, Lesley describes what led to her creation of “Covey Club,” and her respect for life-long learning.

https://www.coveyclub.com/

Sometimes, a career break is an opportunity to reassess your career path and consider something new. In this episode, Rebekah Rombom, Vice President of Student Success at Flatiron School, speaks with Carol about how Flatiron School’s in-person and online courses have helped career changers all over the world find rewarding work in software engineering. For those who are not sure whether coding is the right path, Flatiron offers students free coding introductory courses to help figure that out. Hear more in this encouraging episode.

https://flatironschool.com/

In this episode, Carol talks with Shanda Hinton, Global Diversity Talent Attraction Leader at United Technologies (UTC) and one of the leaders of the United Technologies Re-Empower return to work program. A member of the Society of Women Engineers/iRelaunch STEM Re-entry Task Force, UTC is starting their third cohort of this successful program. Hear details about Re-Empower and some of its participants in this informative episode. http://www.utc.com/Careers/Work-With-Us/Pages/ReEmpower_Program.aspx