3,2,1 Irelaunch

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.

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

Marc Cenedella, best-selling author and Founder and CEO of Ladders, Inc. the website connecting $100K+ professionals with employers and recruiters throughout the US, is a renowned thought leader on job search, career management and recruiting. In this dynamic and candid episode, Carol and Marc cover everything from what you can do during your career break to help you win the job, what to say in an effective elevator pitch, to how to convey the right attitude about learning new technology, and so much more. https://www.theladders.com/ "Ladders 2018 Resume Guide" http://amzn.to/2DIImuc "Ladders 2018 Interviews Guide" https://amzn.to/2H8S6iQ

Jean Chatzky, financial editor of NBC’s TODAY and weekly podcast host of “HerMoney with Jean Chatzky” answers the financial questions surrounding a relaunch in this must-listen episode. Jean and Carol discuss how to calculate the financial impact of a career break, what you can do during your career break to offset the loss of income, how to look at the bigger picture when weighing the costs of returning to work against the income you’ll receive, and how to plan for your retirement. https://www.jeanchatzky.com/

Mara Feldman was a multiple award-winning pharmaceutical sales representative and regional sales trainer at GlaxoSmithKline when she left to become a stay-at-home mother. Mara decided to return to work eight years later. In this podcast, Mara describes how she knew it was time to go back to work, the difficulty in finding a job during the recession, and how contacts and experience gained by taking a lower-paying contract sales position opened doors that were originally inaccessible when she started her relaunch.

Best-selling author, international speaker, and former editor-in-chief of "Cosmopolitan" magazine, Kate White knows what women can do to get ahead and achieve their goals. In this episode, Carol talks with Kate about her latest book, “The Gutsy Girl Handbook: Your Manifesto for Success,” Kate’s inspirational guide to career success. Touching on topics including “picking a lane and knowing your brand” and asking for what you want “even if you can come up with reasons why you shouldn’t,” Kate and Carol cover relevant tips for relaunchers who are looking for an infusion of confidence. http://www.katewhitespeaks.com/ https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0756BSZ3D/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

Lisa Heffernan, co-founder with Mary Dell Harrington of "Grown and Flown," and best-selling author of “Goldman Sachs : The Culture of Success,” joins Carol to discuss her varied career path and the motivations that led to her professional decisions (here’s a hint: sometimes the answers come to you – you just have to listen). A mother of three, Lisa describes her decision to be a “stay-at-home mom” and what she wishes she’d known at the time. You’ll also hear about Grown and Flown’s participation in the UT Austin “Foundation Scholars” program to help first-generation college students. https://grownandflown.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P24UAxg5VYA

"You don't unlearn what you already know!" Jane Pastoor, two-time relauncher and Sr. Manager for Systems Engineering at Raytheon shares her relaunch story in this informative episode. Jane talks with Carol about what led to her career break (and her perception that it would mark the end of her technical career) and how a former co-worker reached out about returning. As Ambassador to Raytheon's "ReLaunch," Jane shares information about this new return to work opportunity.

The interview process has become more and more complex over time. Are you ready to answer even the toughest questions with confidence? In this podcast Carol speaks with Mary Beth Barrett-Newman, the founder and President of 2nd Career Consulting, a moderator on the iRelaunch Return to Work Forum private Facebook group, and frequent iRelaunch Return to Work Conference speaker about how you can prepare for the “next level” of interviews, including salary and compensation negotiations, behavioral interviews, case interviews and the three “questions” that are at the root of every good interview.

Lesley Jane Seymour, former More magazine Editor In Chief and creator of CoveyClub.com, interviews Carol Fishman Cohen on the secrets to re-entering the workforce. Lesley and Carol discuss the growing number of re-entry internship programs and employers’ recognition of the high-caliber value of relaunchers. Carol offers the “two most important things you should do right away if you’re thinking of relaunching.” A rebroadcast from “Covey Cast.” https://www.coveyclub.com/

What are the 5 most important phases of your relaunch and how can you best break them down into actionable steps to ensure your success? Join iRelaunch Chair and Co-Founder Carol Fishman Cohen as Jill Kravetz, iRelaunch CEO talks to her about the foundation of the iRelaunch Return to Work Roadmap.

Join Carol and Oliver Schinkten, LinkedIn Staff Author, Business, Education & eLearning for this informative episode detailing how relaunchers can best use all that LinkedIn offers. Whether it’s learning how to portray yourself in your Profile, using LinkedIn Learning resources to build your confidence and skills, expanding your networking opportunities, or maximizing the Newsfeed, Oliver and Carol explain how LinkedIn can help you send the message you want potential employers to see.

If you’ve ever considered relaunching in a new career but feel discouraged by the lengthy training and interviewing path ahead, you’ll find this podcast with Diane Lindsey-Adler inspiring. A successful marketing professional with Revlon, Diane took a 7-year career break to raise her children. The serious food allergies her second child suffered with led Diane to independently study nutrition and how it affects the body. With the encouragement of her husband and friends, Diane turned her love and dedication to help her daughter into a successful new career path she loves.

Recently retired from her position as Special Advisor on Gender Diversity for the Certified Financial Planner Board, Eleanor Blayney, a long-time advocate for women in financial planning, speaks with Carol about the role of Certified Financial Planners in providing 360-degree guidance in personal financial management. She and Carol discuss the “Financial Planner Re-entry Initiative,” a program developed by The CFP Board Center for Financial Planning in partnership with iRelaunch, that connects firms in the financial planning sector with experienced professionals seeking to reenter the workforce after a career break by establishing return-to-work internships. https://www.cfp.net/career-center/resources-for-job-seekers/financial-planner-reentry-initiative Tune in to hear how relaunchers can be particularly attractive candidates in this professional re-entry opportunity.