TAPP Blog

I've been hearing so much lately about how, in other countries, the culture around work hours and time off is quite different from what we are used to in the US. I was curious, so I did a little research. What I found out got me to wondering about how deep into our lifestyles these differences reach.

One of my co-workers happened upon an interesting blog post that discusses a "part-time revolution" in the UK, where 5.1 million people work part-time by choice. Apparently, part-timers in the UK are protected by legislation that states they should be treated no less favorably than full-time equivalent colleagues. Read more.

I recently had dinner with a friend ‘Emma’ who is expecting her first child. A very exciting time for her and her husband. I asked her whether she had decided what she was going to do after the baby was born – stay home, go back to work full time, or work part-time. She said that her company didn’t have part-time as an option and she was planning to go back full time. I laughed and said that there was a great resource I had heard about – TAPP- which might be able to assist if she decided she did want to work part-time.

In some office cultures you find co-workers participating in group social activities, like fantasy sports leagues, book clubs, and health & fitness programs. Some of these activities are sanctioned by employers and some are arranged by individuals.

One of the fun parts of my job is being able to participate on all the webinars. Today's webinar was with resume experts Dawn & Melissa from Relaunch Career Associates and focused on how to be hired as a part-time professional. As we discussed the current trends for an individual to find a job and how to organize his or her resume, I realized that some of my perceptions about a resume were stuck in the 80s. For example a one page resume is not necessarily the best length - the length of a resume is determined by years of experience, industry, and position. In addition the resume must demonstrate how the candidate fits into the company... it is the primary sales piece to be hired.

In order for the candidate to convey the message that the hiring manager hopes to read, the company must provide the right job description. So what does a job ad say about your company? Is it part of the sales tool to get the "right people on the bus*." Large companies often have a section on their websites which try to share what is like to work at the company and the company culture. My guess is that many smaller companies don't have that information on their website. I remember the first time I was asked what our company culture was. I think I rambled trying to explain it.  How an individual will fit into the company culture is important for both the employer and the employee. Realizing how much job seekers are being encouraged to research a company and tailor both their resume and cover letter, makes me think of the job ad differently.

If you have managed people for any length of time, then you have had a resignation. There are times when this might b e a good thing. You and the employee both know at some level that the relationship isn’t working for either and this is the right next step. Hopefully this is the exception, not the rule. Too often the resignation is from a reliable, high performing individual and comes at a busy time for the company.

If you run a small business like I do, then it is tough to be without an employee for long. The temptation is to post a position and spread the word that you need a person who can do the same tasks as the person who left. But is that the best course of action? Are your services and customers the same? Are you using exactly the same technology? What current employees are ready for a new challenge?

Contemplating a return to work after a period of time off?  Re-entering the workforce takes time, energy and tactical planning. 

1. Self-Analysis: Consider your current circumstances.  What sort of work arrangement will best suit your lifestyle and income or benefit needs?
2. Get-Focused: What is the job market like in your geographic area?  Is your industry of interest hiring?  If you feel paralyzed by choices consider using the services of a career coach to get you on the right track.  There are also many free books and webinars that can assist you to identify your major areas of interest and develop your roadmap to success.
3. Update Your Skills: If you have had a gap in employment, whether by choice or as a result of a long term layoff you may need to refresh your skills.  Look for opportunities to inexpensively update your skills.  Great places to check out are local libraries, community colleges and Adult Learning Centers.  It may even be a good time to enroll in school and start completely fresh.  Take advantage of campus career centers and advisors to help you on your journey.
4. Volunteer: This can provide diverse, up-to-date experience that can be included on your resume.  Non-profit organizations provide the opportunity to contribute in a variety of ways, expand your knowledge base and support a worthy cause
5. Temporary Employment:  Short-term assignments can help to close the gap with related (or unrelated) work and help you to build your resume and transferrable skills.  Communicate with the placement agency and let them know you are looking for a permanent arrangement.  Even if it does not turn into a long-term position you are still building valuable contacts and references.
6. Develop Your Confidence: If you cannot promote yourself than who can?  Once you have defined your relaunch strategy, determined your goals and begin updating your skillset you have to get comfortable telling people that you are looking for work.
7. Build A Professional Network: If you have not maintained contact with past colleagues it is a good time to reach out to them and begin to build new relationships with people from your chosen industry.  Connect with people who know you, are familiar with your abilities and will speak positively about you.  Studies have shown that most people are likely to get a job through someone they know.
8. Take Your Networking to the Next Level: Use social media to your advantage- consider opening a free Linkedin.com account.  You can build a professional profile, join groups in your industry and reach out to former colleagues.  Get back up to date with the standards in your industry and have conversations about professional issues.  A great way to do this is to join a professional association in your field.
9. Be Prepared to Address Gaps: On your résumé, consider using a skills-based format that draws attention to your abilities rather than your employment timeline.  Calculate how you will answer questions in an interview.  Remember to focus on the positive and promote the many ways you have stayed current and are prepared for new challenges.
10. Informational Interviewing: As you build your network one way to gather additional information is to request an informational interview.  This provides a platform to learn more about your job of choice and the skills and qualifications hiring managers are looking for in applicants.  This can help you to refine your roadmap for career success.

Remember, you cannot expect to pick up where you left off.  Be prepared to re-build your skill set and reputation!

Flex time and work life balance are buzz words these days but what do they really mean? And how does part-time work fit into this mix? These days when I hear part-time on the news these days it is usually in connection with the unemployment rate and those who are underemployed… creating a negative connotation. Yet, there are many who choose to work part-time in order to take care of children or parents, go to school, ease into retirement, etc.  So yes, these individuals are seeking a work life balance but not in the way which may be considered typical.

I define a part-time employee as someone who works less than 30 hours per week or is working on a project basis for a company (e.g. edits documents as needed). A part-time employee is NOT always temporary and may not be hourly or junior level. It is possible to work on a part-time basis in most industries with some planning. I have seen jobs posted for part-time lawyers, doctors, marketing professionals, development directors, account analysts, accountants, etc.

I run a small business. I’m a new owner but have managed the day to day affairs of The Guild Associates (GA) for many years (with some guidance). Work life balance is a concept that is used frequently throughout the TAPP website and constantly appears in the media. Work life balance can take many forms: working from home; a varied work schedule, how time off is administered, etc.

As I listened to the TAPP webinar this Tuesday, I was really surprised to learn that Lynn Berger, the speaker – career coach and author of The Savvy Part-time Professional: How to Land, Create, or Negotiate the Part-time Job of your Dreams – was able to describe a proven plan of action to take with your employer when you are trying to transition to part-time.

I'm happy with free coffee, ergonomic chairs and the occasional office party, but the times they are a'changin'.

Welcome to the first TAPP blog post!

The TAPP staff set creating a blog as one of our goals for 2012. Our hope is that it will provide information and dialogue with the TAPP members and potential members.  There will be TAPP staff bloggers as well as guest bloggers so if you want to contribute, please contact us. After all, we believe that collaboration is fundamental to an association.