Work life balance, JUST A MYTH

Seriously, whoever made up that term didn’t know what it was like to be a single parent of three kids (with no child support to speak of--financial or moral), working full time, going to school part time and trying to advance your career, a goal that could help you make more money to support your kids. The whole “balance doctrine” is a lie. Sorry, there is no such thing as balance, there is such a thing as prioritizing and organizing your time and responsibilities, this will help you meet the demands of each day with a little less stress and chaos.

But the reality is that sometimes you won’t make it to your child's basketball game, you will miss a deadline at work and you won’t have time to call your mother. Try not to feel guilty, it’s about harnessing the strength within you to tackle the challenges each day brings, but you better forget about successfully juggling it all, if you don’t plan. So my advice is…plan, prioritize and get a support system going (neighbors, babysitters, mothers, sisters, and friends).

Phone Interviews

Think phone interviews are a breeze? Think again. They are extremely difficult and stressful. In the absence of body language and mannerism, which may help you, you have to convey your qualifications by what you say and HOW you say it; much more than in-person interviews. You have about the first 5 minutes of the call to build rapport with the interviewer, whereas in person you have a lot more time for first impressions. For example, eye contact, business presence and attire, and body language. During a phone interview you have to be mindful that your physical surroundings are appropriate for the call and that you won’t be interrupted or disconnected. A few things to remember are: 1) have your resume and job posting in front of you, 2) stand up when you speak, your voice projects better, 3) be friendly and professional (not too friendly!), and 4) have a quick reference sheet with questions and possible answers. Lastly, treat it as you would and in-person interview, do your research, dress for the part and take it seriously. You get the idea.