Hi Smith alumnae: I invite you to ask questions and share your work experiences with me and smart Smith women of all ages. I hope that this blog will be both a sounding board for the in-the-trenches observations you can share with each other and a safe haven when you need to ask challenging questions.

Sorry I can't make the times of the webinar; will the sessions be available online after? They sound terrific. My comment to fellow alum's is to value fully your Smith (and other) informal connections, if only for information's sake!

Hi, Nancy. Yes, we'll have them archived for future accessibility--details not quite finalized on that yet. Thanks for your advice to other alums--it's true that these connections are an incredibly valuable resource.

Dear Barbara, it was great seeing you at the "Smith Women Mean Business" conference. I just want to send along my gratitude and blessing personally; Smith is the best for continuing to provide unmatched education and sanctuary. I do not want to take much room here or take away from its intended use, but I want to thank you personally and everyone at Smith for providing all the things I wish my “mother” had told me. Because my own mother, thousands of miles away across the A ocean,couldn’t even imagine how her baby stork that left the nest is dealing with life all by herself and what it takes to succeed at multiple levels. Thanks for making material available for later viewing as well.

Thank you Barbara and thank you Smith for this wonderful series. I look forward to the webinars. I am at a bit of a crossroads, and I have just lost my job of 6 years, so I am networking and absorbing as much as I can

This is so great! I am wondering if there is any advice for an almost 50 year old who has been a stay at home mom, community volunteer and leader, and who has worked part time professionally who wants to get back into the world of full time work. How do I market my skills? I am intereseted in working at a college or university in development, admissions, alumnae affairs... I'd love to participate in something on this topic. I am sure I am not alone! Thanks for being here, Smith College and Barbara!

It's great to hear from alumnae so quickly. I'm confident that you'll find great resources and advice from other alums here.

Let me suggest that you see the CDO career page. Click on "Jobs" and then you'll find "career fields information" which will provide well-vetted links to reliable information about a wide variety of fields. That's a great place to start investigating options.

Follow that up with some alumnae networking and your campaign is off to a great start.

Just a word for alums making a return to full-time work with a little bit of trepidation. How can I compete in this economy, you ask. Well, the answer is "very well." It's all in how you present yourself. Remember, a resume is a marketing document, not a career obituary. If you use a functional resume, you can emphasize your skills and all the WORK (not jobs) you've done, with descriptions customized for different potential employers. And how will you get those skills in front of someone? Through careful networking. And, if you're willing to be flexible at first, you could be very attractive to organizations who don't want to hire full-time right now, but who are very willing to hire someone on a contract basis. You get to showcase your skills and Smith-honed brain power in the short run, and by the time they're ready to hire full-time, you will have made yourself indispensable.

I too look forward to reading the archived sessions: my computer does not meet the system requirements, and I am sorry to miss this! As I am just getting my Ph.D. at 41, this information couldn't come at a better time (personally speaking). Thank you for offering it!

Hello, Sydney. We'll miss you at the webinar live, but you'll be able to catch up. Congratulations on the upcoming doctorate--I was in my 40's when I got mine too, and it was a very different experience. I think it was more meaningful that way. Let us know how you hope to use the degree, and perhaps we can generate some conversation about your next steps. Good luck!

Dear Dr. Reinhold:

I was interested in attending the webinar, but then after registering for the April 22nd event, I noted that it required the use of headphones to listen into the webinar. I am deaf, and I was wondering how I could access the webinar. I look forward to hearing back from you on this issue.

Sincerely,

Noelle

Hello, Noelle. You won't need to use the headphones. You can simply use the telephone equipment you use for other calls. Looking forward to having you join us next Wednesday.
All the best,
Barbara

Dear Dr. Reinhold,

Thanks for doing this series. Good format, and very topical. I am in the corporate world for the first time since graduating from law school and am learning about navigating the career ladder. Hearing the stories of those who have come before who have been successful as they grow through their own organizations, whether corporate, non-profit, etc. is very informative.

Thanks!
Barbara '03

Dear Dr. Reinhold, I was inspired by a panel you hosted at a reunion nine years ago. As a 65-year old with my own business and still thankfully busy, I am concerned about the future. I had thought I might retire in a few years but the recent economic crisis has required a change in plans. I am now planning to continue working for the foreseeable future and hope that I won't come up against the "gray ceiling." I hope you will address this topic in your series of web seminars, which I am looking forward to.

Olivia Buehl

Hi Dr. Reinhold. I am interested in attending the webinars, but wondered if you could tell me how long each session will be? I spoke with you roughly 10 years ago at the CDC about what I wanted to do with my life when I was a first year at Smith. I look forward to hearing what you have to say now. Thanks!

Hello, Olivia and Katie. Each webinar will be about an hour in length, and you'll have a chance to type in questions as we go, which I'll answer in the second half-hour of the program.

As for content, yes, we'll be discussing age issues in all four sessions, and how to move forward confident that maturity is an important "strength" for you to market about yourself.
Barbara

Barbara, It is my mistake but I missed the Webinar today because of not transposing the time to RMT. Next time I won't make that mistake. I'm glad to read that you will be archiving the contents. Please let me know when. Thanks, a longtime fan, Valerie

Thank you so much for this webinar series and this forum. The first installment has already helped me regain some focus and motivation in navigating my career path.
I want to change careers to align my work with my interest in renewable energy and was wondering if getting an MBA would make sense to that end (I've worked in publishing, advertising and technical support for the last 14 years).

Also, I invite anyone reading these posts who is interested in renewable energy to contact me to exchange ideas.

Thank you Barbara for a wonderful first Webinar! The hour was informative and pushed me from the one-month inertia in which I find myself. Will look at the Work Satisfaction Audit worksheet to begin the next phase of my finding a job that I will enjoy. Again, thanks for your advice and good counsel. Looking forward to next Wednesday's Webinar. Edie

Barbara, it was great to hear your voice on the webinar today after all of these years. Your insights, expertise and suggestions are as sharp as I remember them when I graduated. I'm one of those who currently feels "paralyzed" and needs to do something "outrageous"! I would enjoy connecting to a Smith group of peers/coaches in the "Chicago north suburban area" if possible. Do you know of any groups or alumnae in the process of organizing? I had a career in arts management/philanthropy and have continued with some consulting/project work and grantswriting. "Externally", I am thinking about returning to college to brush up on my research/computer skills and to reassess an area of interest. Thanks so much for helping me reconnect!

I'm ready to get started with a strategic planning group in the Boston area, per today's informative Webinar. (I'm in Newton.) Anyone interested in joining me? Thanks!

Kudos to the folks in Boston and Chicago who are ready to get a strategic support group going. If you can find a full group of Smithies, great--but feel free to use the same approach with non-Smith supporters as well. The important thing is just to get going!
Will connect you all next week, I hope.
Barbara

Hi Barbara,
I missed yesterday's webinar. In one of your earlier posts you mentioned that the webinars would be archived for later viewing. Can you let us know when and where we can access the archive? Thank you!

Hi!

I'm new to this blog and am looking forward to attending my first webinar on May 13.

In the meantime, I hope it's okay to ask Melody: I read your blog entry and am in Andover, MA. What kind of Strategic Planning Group are you looking to form?

I put my career on hold 12 years ago to raise 3 children. WHile I'm obviously still raising them(!), I am beginning to think of ways to reenter the 'work force'. I had just graduated from the MIT Sloan school and worked for only 2 more years before putting my career on hold. Would love to hear what you had in mind for the Strategic Planning Group.

Thanks, Caroline (Smith '88)

Great interview in the NYTimes this weekend that should prove reassuring for Smith graduates: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/26/business/26corner.html?em

Good morning--it's great to see Smithies blogging each other directly. Hopefully you'll exchange direct emails as well so that you can keep the connections going.

The webinars and the Power Points, for those who asked, are on the Alumnnae Association career web page.

See you tomorrow (4/29-noon EDT) to talk about how to build and maintain your own employability--it's like always being sure you have enough gas in your car.
Barbara

Barbara, I congratulate on your webinars! They have absolutely invogarated me and my career. Before I tell you how, is there any possible way that you could continue offering these free seminars at least on a monthly basis? It's not only for career coaching but to feel connected to Smith, to feel that connection to other women who are going through the same situations that we are all going through... And to feel that the Alumnae Assoc and Smith's CDO office cares about us. Sometimes I feel that once we graduate they forget about us and the only time they think about us is when they need our money. These webinars have been such an absolutely great idea!!! Thanks! I myself tell you that after last week, I decided to act on my ideas. I am doing (like you said this week) exactly what I fear. Yes, I feel fear but I going forward. Wish me luck! BTW, is there a Smith group of bloggers out there that you know? Also, how can I obtain info on Smith Women Entrepeneur and Smith Women in Publishing world? Thanks!

I am sorry I missed the first half of today's webinar because the second half was great! Thanks so much for offering these, and I plan on availing myself of them as often as I can.

Thanks again.

Thanks, Katharine. Check the website for copies of the webinar plus a printable copy of the PowerPoint, and be sure to let any other Smithies you know that they're available.
Good luck,
Barbara

Someone in today's session asked about international networking/career websites. I have used xing.com, which is popular in Germany, the Netherlands and elsewhere. It's similar to LinkedIn.

What are some signs to look for to help you decide when you have sufficiently applied yourself towards a certain career and its time to change direction.

Hi Barbara, thank you doing these Webinars. I still can't seem to find where they are posted after they are delivered. I've missed one and most of the third but would like to hear them... can you post a link? Thanks.

Hello Sea, the archived recordings are on the "resources" page linked from the main webinar page:
http://alumnae.smith.edu/career/resources.php

Barbara, This series couldn't have come at a better time for me. You are so skilled and talented yourself. You said that you would address the question about someone in later age having the urge to get another degree. You said that it might be better to market skills more emphatically. Would you elaborate please? Thanks again!!

thans for the tip

Hi Joanna,

It's funny you should mention Smith blogs; I was surfing the other day and found this rather neat site:

http://smithalumblogs.wordpress.com/

It lists a number of alum blogs by class year--is this what you were looking for?

Would you comment on the feasibility of earning a decent income from work done online or long distance?

Hi Barbara, thank you so much with wonderful insights. I have two quick questions, if you could adress or direct me to other sources during your 4th webinar.

1) Would you comment on how to maintain high self-esteem. When we deep down, it takes time to pull back up. Are there some time proven tactics with quick results?

2) Careerwise, if we have to choose between a more exciting work but much riskier with long hours and the other written death sentence to soul but comes with much cherrished work-life balance? Which one will be the better choice for someone over 40?

Good work! Thank you very much! I always wanted to write in my blog something like that. Can I take part of your post to my blog? Of course, I will add backlink?

Melody & other mid-career Smithies in MA: would love to connect for some career strategies.

I'd like to see a webinar about how to get part-time work. I've found that almost all jobs are full-time and you are looked at as inferior if you are even talking about part-time work.

Related to this is the slash professional. I'm an environmental consultant / nature, landscape, concert photographer. I do both well, have 30+ and 15+ years experience in these and have full websites for both but have significant problems getting gigs.

Related to my last comment, can this site help link us to people who are good salespeople/ marketers? I suspect there are plenty of us who are good practitioners / creative people, but don't market ourselves well.

Thank you Barbara for today's session. I wonder if you could comment on transitioning from a long tenure at one institution, knowing that you were at Smith for so long (I have just left a 19 year tenure at one institution).

The resources for the webinars are located here:
http://alumnae.smith.edu/career/resources.php

The presentation from the final webinar has already been posted

Valerie has asked about earning a livable income "virtually." The answer is yet again, "it depends," on what your goals are, what the market rate for your services is etc. Web businesses are certainly growing, but you'll also run into more than a few shysters when you try to investigate the options online.

Still, I'd do some online due diligence and see what you can dig up--and check for people in your area who have online work (google will tell you)with whom you might speak in person or by phone.

In my experience, working virtually is not a way to get rich, and it can be lonely, but most of the folks who do it wouldn't trade the autonomy for anything!
Barbara

Someone asked about self-esteem and how to maintain it. That seems to be a universal concern. I believe that the John Medina book I mentioned yesterday, Brain Rules, is generally helpful for feeling balanced and good about yourself. Also, I recommend finding one person--a friend or family member who you know is on your side--to work with you as a "self-esteem peer coach." Another really helpful thing to do is to get a small group (3-5 women) and make it a "Self-Esteem Strategic Support Group" that meets once a month and has the expressed goal of keeping you all more confident. Focussing on that for 6 months or so could be tremendously helpful to all of you!
Good luck,
Barbara

Hello, Arianamate: link away,
Barbara

About finding marketing help: there are lots of books around--Jeffrey Lant has some workbooks out on the topic. Many, many people would prefer a root canal to having to market themselves, however. Do you have a friend or colleague who might want to "moonlight" doing this for you? You can also google "marketing services" in your area and see if you coud find someone with whom you sense good chemistry, who is new to the game and eager,and thus not terribly expensive, and see what you could work out. Don't be tempted by expensive, high-powered marketers.
Barbara

About transitioning to a new place after spending what seemed like a lifetime with one employer: cherish the wonderful memories and let the rest go. And be sure to keep your contacts alive there--you never know when some great opportunity will come along, such as doing these webinars has been for me. Keep the times when you succeeded there in your mind as "power packs" to remind yourself of your talents as you begin to prove yourself in another environment.
Good luck,
Barbara

Thanks for the answer, but if I knew someone, I would have already hired him/her. I have the same problem with getting the right apartment organizer. I've tried many. How do you know the one that will work out? It may be a blind spot that some of us have - not only in not being able to or interested in lots of self-promotion, but also in distinguishing who is full of themselves or inappropriate for you vs. the one that will fit hand-in-glove with you and what you want to accomplish.

Hi, Maggie. I think choosing a marketer or an organizer is like choosing a therapist--I always recommend "interviewing" several of them (even if you have to pay all or part of an hourly fee)and choosing (or not!) one that seems right for you. Call it "professional dating." If you go through 5 of them with no positive responses, then it might be wise to talk to someone about your standards, but interviewing several (and thinking carefully in advance about what you really want and why) can usually get you good results.
Good luck,
Barbara

Caroline in Andover and anyone else mid-career interested in forming a strategic planning group, let me know. We may have to teleconference but this will open up the group to any locale.

Putting out the call for other strategic support groups is an excellent thing to do--keep this thing alive by lereting other Smith-connected people know of the opportunity!
All the best,
Barbara