Tips for Professional Turbocharge: Entrepreneurially Manage Your Career and Life

by Theresa E. Singleton, PhD 

December 8, 2010

 

Taking an entrepreneurial approach to your career development can help you gain greater satisfaction and productivity in both your professional and personal life. Managing your professional plans with purpose and intention will open the door to achieving your full career potential. At a recent WEST panel, women entrepreneurs across a spectrum of career decades, including their 30’s, 40’s, 50’s, and 60’s, shared pointed advice on ways to jumpstart your career. The panel was moderated by Barbara Carter, principal of Barbara Carter consulting, a human resources and management consulting firm. The panel of experienced and distinguished women included:

  • Lauren Celano, co-Founder & CEO, Propel Careers
  • Carol Fishman Cohen, co-Founder, iRelaunch
  • Joanne Kamens, Director of Discovery, RXi Pharmaceuticals
  • Yael Schwartz, Founding CEO & President, Hygeia Therapeutics

   

Networking, a familiar and recurrent theme

The panel emphasized the importance of building professional relationships through networking. You should be selective about who you add to your professional network. Do not just exchange business cards at random; you must have a mutual interest with the other person. Also, try networking on hobbies or things you like to do for fun. You never know where a connection through a shared interest will lead.Working for a cause that you are passionate about was a recurrent theme throughout the evening. If you are to devote your free time to service on a board, particularly for a nonprofit organization, you must have a keen interest in their mission. This will allow you to remain excited and driven. Visit the organization to get a sense for the culture and the type of work that they do. Determine whether the organization’s mission aligns with your passion: is it a place where you can make a difference? Think about what role you might play on the board. The panel members agreed that the experience is well worth it if you are passionate about the work.

 

Work-life balance

The panel reminded us that work-life balance is not just about children. It also includes parents, your spouse, medical emergencies, your own health and physical fitness, etc. All of these contribute to your well-being and can demand your attention outside of work.
Networking was mentioned here as an effective tool for achieving balance between work and life. If you do not have help with child rearing, you must create it through community. Seeking out or forming a networking circle is vital to getting the support you need to juggle work and family matters. If you have a spouse, it is important to have 50/50 share in child rearing responsibilities in order to be fully successful in your career. Do not let society dictate that women must be the primary care givers.

 

Career re-entry

Managing career re-entry following a break from paid employment can be a daunting task but, there are simple steps you can take to ease the process. Prior to a career break, it’s best to make your mark in your field so that you depart at the top of your game. This will allow you to leave an opening for re-entry. Depending on your type of work and personal needs, consider proposing a reduced time arrangement with your employer. Do not be afraid to be proactive; you never know what sort of unusual arrangement may suit both your and your employer’s needs.

During a career break, it’s important to do a career assessment. Take a giant step back to self-reflect and evaluate your passion and interests. What motivates you/gets you up in the morning? What have you enjoyed about the jobs you’ve had? Use your time off to make changes and identify resources that can help you achieve your career goals. Continue to network with your peers and those in senior positions but, do not forget those that are junior to you. These people know your strengths and accomplishments and may be in a position to hire you when you’re looking to re-enter the work force.

The best way to get rehired is by meeting people face-to-face to communicate your unique skillset. Conduct informational interviews to establish connections and learn about jobs in your target industries. One specific solution offered by the panel was a resource sponsored by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Their Career Reengineering Program (http://web.mit.edu/professional/career-reengineering/) is geared towards professionals in the sciences and engineering who have left demanding careers for personal reasons and plan to re-enter their field at a professional level.

In closing, it’s important to keep an open mind when it comes to your career development as you cannot predict where opportunities may take you. No matter where you are in your career, the time to think about your next move is always now. Do not just sit back but instead, jumpstart your career by taking an entrepreneurial approach to your professional development.

 

*The WEST panel discussion “Professional Turbocharge: Entrepreneurially Manage Your Career and Life“ was held on December 8, 2010 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Click Here for more information.