5 Steps to Developing Critical Thinking Skills

5 Steps to Developing Critical Thinking Skills 5 Steps to Developing Critical Thinking Skills Article by Sam MilamDo you react to situations based on your emotions or personal biases? Are you looking for ways to improve communicationwith those around you? Do you want to achieve more in your career?By adopting critical thinking skills, you can improve your ability to make objective, effective choices and arguments. Without these skills, your arguments can often be one-sided. Criticism can feel like a personal attack on your character rather than an opportunity to open up dialogue and communicate productively.Lets take a look at how to develop critical thinking skills so that you can walk into any situation with the tools needed to set intense emotions aside and makesmart decisions1. Become a Self-CriticThe very first and most important step in developing critical thinking skills is becoming a critic of your own thoughts and actions. Without self-reflection, you cannotgrow.You can br eak down your own thoughts by asking yourself why you believe something. When you do this, you need to clarify your thoughts by assessingyour response objectively and finding a solid logic supporting what you believe. When you self-reflect, you are able to step back and observe how you respond to situations.Important questions to ask during self-reflection include Why do I believe this? Can I think of examples in my life when this proved true or false? Am I attached to this idea emotionally? Why?Another aspect of becoming a self-critic is acknowledging your strengths, weaknesses, personal preferences, and biases. When you know this information, you can understand why you approach certain situations with certain perspectives. When you are aware of your viewpoint, you can step beyond it when necessary.2.Listen ActivelyThinking and listening are nearly impossible to do at the same time. To become a critical thinker, you need to be able to listen to others ideas, arguments, and criticis ms without thinking about your response while they are speaking. You cant properly absorb the information someone is trying to convey if you dont take the time to truly listen.Listening allows you to feel empathy. When you hear someone elses perspective, you canunderstand their stories, their struggles, their passions, and their ideas. Actively listening allows you tounderstand what someone is trying to tell you because it pushes the conversation until all parties can reiterate what the other is trying to say.3. Analyze InformationNo one thinks critically at all times. Sometimes your joy, anger, sadness, or other emotions are too great. Other times, you struggle to focus on the central issue at hand.Critical thinking requires you to carefully analyze the information before you, whether it is information in your mind or information shared by others. To analyze information, first assess what is being said and ensure you clearly understand it. Then, you can dissect and appraise all arg uments, including your own.4. Communicate NonviolentlyCritical thinking isnt much help if you cant communicate in a nonviolent, productive way. When listening to and analyzing arguments, you first need to recognize valid logic. Then, you need to communicate withthe other people involved in a productive way.The basis of nonviolent communication is compassion, observation, and collaboration. When you approach a scenario with compassion, you approach witha peaceful mindsetrather than a defensive one. When you observe, you can observe your arguments and others without judgment or emotional attachment. Collaboration naturally happens when everyone enters the process with a compassionate, open mind focused on solving theproblem at hand.5. Develop ForesightForesight is theability to predict the future impact of a decision, whichis critical for success in all aspects of your life. For example, when you move somewhere, you plan ahead to see what your job outlook is and what the neighborhood is like.Similarly, if you are moving a business, it is wise to examine the impact of that decision. Will it be too far for some of your talented employees to commute? Will you lose customers? What will you gain?Every decision should be weighed carefully, its potential impacts considered closely, before it is made.A version of this article originally appeared onSUCCESS.com.Sam Milam is a freelance writer hailing from the Pacific Northwest. Her focus is on discovering passions, developing skill sets, and honing the best, most productive versions of ourselves. She loves to travel, meet new people, and do yoga.

How to Accept and Move Past a Job Rejection Find Your Dream Job

How to Accept and Move Past a Job Rejection Find Your Dream JobHow to Accept and Move Past a Job Rejection - Find Your Dream JobOn Day 29, you learned how to either accept or reject a job offer. But what if you apply to your dream job, interview, and do notlage get the job? Being turned down for a job is never easy, but you dont have to let it disrupt your job search. Below are a few tips on how to accept, and move on from, a job rejection. Be Upset Upon realizing you did not get a job, it is perfectly normal to be upset or angry. Allow yourself some time to feel those feelings. Find an effective way to process those emotions. Talk to a supportive family member or friend about the situation, take a relaxing bath, or go for a walk or run outside. Take some time to feel and deal with your emotions. Gain Some Perspective Spend time with family and friends to remember what is most important in your life. Consider volunteering giving back to others will help you remember what yo u have to offer outside of your job (it will also help you continue to gain new contacts). Move On Eventually, you have to let the rejection go and return to your job search. Dont think of it as going back to the drawing board. By writing a resume, conducting informational interviews, and practicing writing cover letters, you have already developed a number of tools and strategies to continue to help you with your job search. Reconnect with some of your contacts, let them know you are still looking for a job, attend another job fair, and continue job searching online. Reflect on Your Job Search Rather than dwell on a job rejection, try to learn from any mistakes you made. If you think your resume is unorganized, talk to a career coach to learn strategies for improving your resume. If you realize you had some grammatical mistakes in your cover letter, have a friend or family member thoroughly read over your next letter. If you struggled to answer particular questions in the i nterview, practice your interview skills with a friend before the next interview. By learning from mistakes rather than dwelling on them, you can improve your chances of landing that dream job. Try not to be too discouraged - job searching is hard work. Stay positive, as best you can, and the right job will come along. It might not be as quickly as youd like, but it will happen

How to Think Like a Pioneer when Hiring Pioneers

How to Think Like a Pioneer when Hiring PioneersHow to Think Like a Pioneer when Hiring PioneersTo boldly go where no one has gone before. You may recognize that quote from the opening of Star Trek The Next Generation. While its highly unlikely that youll be hiring spaceship captains anytime soon, hiring for a sttte that is the first of its kind at a company can feel like being on the Starship Enterprise with its mission to explore strange new worlds. When a position comes across your desk in a new field- one you have not had to fill before- what can you do to make the process easier? You may be skilled at filling customer service, sales or engineering positions, but filling positions in new fields such as data science, user experience design or artificial intelligence presents a challenge that requires the saatkorn pioneering approach you want your top candidates to have. Heres how to get started 1. Research existing positions in the fieldAccording to Terra Winston, principal of Int erract Consulting, Whats new to you is probably not brand new to the world. Winston emphasized the importance of networking in addition to online research. Talk to other recruiters and people in the field, she said, and ask about red flags, fluff answers and how to probe. Theres no need for you to be a lone ranger even if the part youre hiring for may be a lone ranger- an ambassador of the strange new world to the company, as Winston called such employees. 2. Create a realistic job descriptionIn an ideal world, said Kristy Stromberg, vice president of marketing at Simply Hired, the recruiter would be a strategic thought partner to the hiring manager. The job description is where you have the opportunity to make your job of filling the position easier and to help the company move forward in this new field. Stromberg emphasized the importance of identifying transferable skills from specific fields.Back when I had to build out my first digital marketing team, we identified fields in wh ich we could find candidates with strong analytical backgrounds, she said.Instead hunting for the very few current experts in the new field, cast a wider net by searching for transferrable skills, list them in the job description and look for candidates with applicable business backgrounds. Use your knowledge of the skills required by positions in existing fields to guide the hiring manager in determining which skills apply to the new position.In addition to identifying transferable skills, clarify the non-negotiable requirements for the position with the hiring manager before recruiting. Which technical skills are a must? This is where your research also plays a role. Winston cited an example of a job description that asked for six years of experience in a programming language that had only existed for four years. A quick search online will help you create accurate requirements for obscure technical skills. 3. Look for learning agility and leadership abilityHiring people in new fie lds is different in the sense that because its a new role, training can be somewhat difficult, said Avni Shah, lead recruiter at Simply Hired. Shah noted that other team members usually train new hires, but with new roles youre basically relying on a persons ability to lead their own training.Hire people who learn as they go and will act as ambassadors of their functions to the rest of the company. Winston mentioned that hiring existing genius experts- particularly those with academic backgrounds- can be risky if they dont know how to translate the value of their work back to the business objectives and evangelize it to the larger team.A combination of behavioral- and scenario-based interviewing techniques are necessary to see how the person will work with the team, how they deal with challenges and how they would go about solving business problems.You want to know what their vision is and how they imagine this new function will help your business because you dont know either, Winst on said.Like any hire, hiring for a new role is a gamble, but in this case youre gambling on their ability to build something that you may not have the ability to evaluate. Use your research to help the hiring manager determine what success will look like.Five or ten years from now that person you hired for an obscure job in a new field could be leading a whole team of experienced experts. Every new position is an opportunity to help the company grow. While it may not look like Starship Enterprise, that so-called new world will become the old world soon enough. Over the next several months well be sharing best learnings and best practices on how to adapt and thrive in this new era of changing careers. To receive articles like this by email, sign up for Simply Hireds Monthly Newsletter and Feature Articles. Read more from this series The Changing Workforce4 Pleasing Results From Hiring a Career Change CandidateDiversify with Career-Change Candidates 6 Factors to Consider6Tips for Hir ing in Emerging Fields

The best state for military retirees is Florida, study says

The best state for military retirees is Florida, study saysThe best state for military retirees is Florida, study saysAfter military veterans return home from service, fights for jobs and healthcare still endure. As part of Military Appreciation Month, personal finance website WalletHub wants to make that search a little easier. On Monday, researchers released a list of the best and worst states for military veterans to retire.Florida is the best state for military retireesLooking at economic environment, quality of life and healthcare, researchersscored all 50 states and the District of Columbia on datathat included the state taxes on military pensions, the quality of VA hospitals, and the share of homeless veterans.What they found was that Florida ranked as the best state for a comfortable military retirement. Montana and New Hampshire ranked second and third.The Sunshine Statehad the fifth-highest number of Veterans Affairs health facilities per veteran, which was one of the most weighted factors. But what really helped Florida beat out the rest of the competition was its tax friendliness, which allows veterans to keep more of their incomes and pensions.Florida has no personal income tax and doesnt tax military pension whatsoever, so thats obviously a huge benefit to any typeof retiree, but certainly a military retiree. I think thats why Florida is known as a retirementstate, WalletHubs Jill Gonzalez told Ladders. It makes sense then as to why Florida has the third-largest veteranpopulation in the nation.D.C. is the worst area for military retireesD.C., meanwhile, ranked as the worst area for military veterans to retire. According to WalletHubs data, D.C. has a very high cost of living, as most places around the Northeast do, and is not as friendly towards taxpayers, Gonzalez said. D.C. also had a lower quality of VA hospitals compared to other areas.Out of all the regions, D.C. also had the fewest job opportunities forveterans. Since the average officer is 45 years old upon retirement from service, many are looking to start their next careers and are not ready to live on their pension. If finding a job is the most important factor to you as a military veteran, move to Indiana. Indiana had the highest availability of jobs for veterans.

The Chronicles of Resume 2017

The Chronicles of Resume 2017 The Nuiances of Resume 2017 Take note of these items you may include in your resume for 2017. Not only are you going to look bad, but it will haunt you down the line with other future prospective employers. 10 points is actually great for the primary body of your resume. If you still must save mora space for other info, which you want to add to your resume, single line spacing is an excellent decision in your case. What is Really Happening with Resume 2017 Organizing your resume is at least as critical as formatting it. You may also download completely free templates from our Resume Library to get going on your best resume. Do you need a skilled and efficient design template for your CV Look at an absolutely free CV template prepared to print. But What About Resume 2017? If you dont understand what you ought to start with, it is a really very good concept to pick aresume 2016 templateand make your evening easier. Thus, you should understand that functional resume 2017 is a superb selection for you only in that instance, if your skill-set is actually strong. Try to remember, landing the interview is the very first step to receiving the position that you truly desire Kursmark says there isnt anything wrong with taking a bit from assorted samples to ensure it is simpler to construct your own resume. Because the primary purpose of any resume is to provide you with a call and an invitation for an interview. Its possible to communicate you have the fruchtwein suitable experience utilizing challenge, action, result statements. Because you should win a competition. It isnt uncommon for job applicants to ask what things to devote a resume, particularly if they are rather new to the world of earning resumes for employment. Recruiters will figure out if it isnt. These resumes are excellent for job applicants that are applying for creative positions. In the USA and Canada, theres a huge difference between a CV and a resum e. As youve already understood writing an outstanding resume isnt an effortless job that you can do. Getting the most of timelines in your resume makes it simpler for the prospective employer to learn what you have been up to in previous years and what your prior jobs were. Begin with your latest job and degree first. Resume 2017 Options Among the substantial differences which you may come across is that some EU employers wish to observe photographs on your CV. In some instances, you may use your American resume with hardly any changes. Youll still have to set your education on your resume. Things You Wont Like About Resume 2017 and Things You Will You need to always tailor your resume to coincide with the data in the work description. You may also have to include specific info. A reference list nowadays is not quite as common as it looks. Below, you will locate a list of resume examples that may aid you with your work search. The Resume 2017 Stories Bear in mind, your on-line presence may also strengthen the odds of you getting that interview invite. Today, putting social networking links on your resume has begun to turn into a trend. A resume thats too long could also hurt your odds of being chosen. The very first thing you ought to do is make sure a prospective employer knows whose resume theyre taking a look at In truth, its not that hard as it might appear to be. If you own a lot of experience, it might be a very good alternative. The very last thing that you want to do is receive a job that you cant do. New Step by Step programm for Resume 2017 Read your revamped resume with an important eye to make certain it reflects you. From the info it is possible to gather here, you will see it isnt as challenging to understand how to compose a resume as you might have thought. After youve written the correct content, select a design which best shows off your specific capabilities and fits the position youre seeking. Pay attention to the resu me format you opted to pick, as you want to reveal your skills, depending on the format you made a decision to pick.

Employees need training to fill skill gaps

Employees need training to fill skill gaps Employees need training to fill skill gapsPosted October 9, 2012, by Mike KermodeThirty seven per cent of executive managers consider their management and leadership skills as average or below average, according to new figures. The survey, conducted by Leadership Management Australasia (LMA), involved 3000 participants from 32 industry sectors and included executives/senior managers, middle managers, frontline managers/supervisors, and employees. On several criteria, including planning, personal leadership, training and development, time management, goal-setting, mentoring, personal productivity, and other facets of management, a large proportion of participants found their own proficiency and skills wanting. Supervisors were the highest self-doubters at 53 per cent, followed by middle managers and employees at 47 and 42 per cent respectively. The numbers suggest a substantial amount of uncultivated talent in the workforce, with organ isations spanning multiple industries missing out on potential employee performance and productivity. LMA Chief Executive Grant Sexton says its a wake-up call for companies that might not be getting bang for their buck. Theres a huge opportunity here to achieve mora with the people weve already got, says Sexton. Its not that people dont want to be highly productive, its just they dont know how to be. In addition to mentoring, coaching and buddy programs, Sexton suggested companies should be looking to encourage formal training to boost employee skills. Fill their skill gaps and who knows how much improvement could be addressed, though I think a 10 per cent to 15 per cent increase in productivity is realistic and realisable, says Sexton. The figures come as IBISWorld Research releases their market research report into erreichbar education, which reveals the online education market has grown by over 18 per cent in the last five years to total around $5 billion. The company su ggests this growth is largely driven by the attractiveness of online study for those seeking to retrain or augment their existing skillsets while still retaining their jobs. Enrolments in Open Universities online courseshave grown by around 30 per cent per annum, with almost half of students over the age of 30. If you, too, would like to gain skills to help improve your professional performance and potential, see our full range of online courses. ResourcesMy first resumeCover letter for my first jobCareer Insider StoriesShelley Lask - Body Positive Health & FitnessInterested in becoming a?Human Resources OfficerGeneral ManagerBusiness ManagerAccountantOffice Administrator CoursesBachelor of Social WorkEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Health AdministrationEnquire Online Enquire OnlineBachelor of Criminal JusticeEnquire Online Enquire OnlineCertificate III in Allied Health AssistanceEnquire Online Enquire OnlineMike KermodeRelated ArticlesBrowse moreCAREER ADVICEShar ing EconomyTop 12 Sharing Economy AppsSave money, make money and share stuff. From home cooked meals to designer heels and gardening tools, behauptung 12 sharing economy apps have got you coveredCareer progressionCoworkersHow To Ask Someone To Be Your Mentor An Email TemplateAsking someone to be your mentor is serious stuff but that doesnt mean you should shy away from it. Heres how to ask someone to be your mentor - and how to convince them that its worth their while.WORKFORCE TRENDSStudy to get ahead during the GFCThere are two ways of looking at the current recession as a problem, or as an opportunity.

Perfect Computers and Technology Resume Templates to Showcase Your Talent

Perfect Computers and Technology Resume Templates to Showcase Your TalentPerfect Computers and Technology Resume Templates to Showcase Your TalentThe future of the employment market will lean heavily towards the computer and technology fields. If you want to be instantly employable, then this is the industry you should set your sights on. There are many career paths to follow in the computers and technology field, and its hard to go wrong with any one that you choose.Whats it Like Working in the Computers Technology Field?With the rapid advancement in technology innovation, the computers and technology field offers a fast-paced career. Whether youre a computer repair technician or a software engineer, youre constantly standing on the threshold of new discoveries and technological breakthroughs. You start and end your day exploring the ways in which machines and computers can change the world. If you want your computers and technology resume to stand out, then you need to show an ong oing dedication to education and training.Benefits of Working in the Computers Technology FieldThere are two main benefits to working in the computers and technology field excitement and pay. The computers and technology field gives you front-row access to next generation innovations that none of your friends can even wrap their minds around. The technology field needs qualified professionals and the pay continues to increase. If youre looking for a lucrative career that has a secure future, then start putting together your computers and technology resume.Why You Need a Resume Hiring managers in the computers and technology field need to match up job openings with very specific candidates. If you want your computers and technology resume to advance your career and get you the job you want, then you need a very specific list of the technology you are familiar with and the professional accomplishments you have been a part of. You can go to Resume-Now to see examples of effective cons truction and technology resumes.Computer Programmer Resume Questions1. How do you list education on a computer programmer resume?Begin listing your educational accomplishments by placing your most recent degree or certification first. Work backward from there, until youve covered all the schooling you have. You dont need to include your high school diploma unless its the highest degree youve earned and is one of the job requirements. If it is your highest degree, thats okay. Just be sure to include the name of your high school and its location. If youve earned a college degree, youll do the same with those listings. Provide the name of the college, its location, and the degree you earned. Our computer programmer resume sample provides some examples for you.2. Whats the way to include digital skills on a computer programmer resume?Being digital savvy is essential for a computer programmer, and you can include elements of these skills in more than one section of your resume. In the pr ofessional summary, for example, you might describe yourself as a digital savvy computer programmer who excels in seamless technological innovation. The rest of your document would need to back up that bewertung with verifiable evidence, of course, but you could do that easily by listing some of your savvy in the qualifications section. Finally, your work history could incorporate some solid facts to validate your claim. For help knowing how to do this well, review a computer programmer resume sample.3. What goes in the qualifications section of a computer programmer resume?The qualifications section is where you let your skills shine. Take a look at the computer programmer resume sample. Youll notice the digital acumen mentioned above fits nicely here. Mention specific skills such as Apaches Hadoop, Maven, or Spark. Also, spell out your comfort level with writing, rewriting, or maintaining software programs the company uses. Dont forget to indicate soft skills youve developed as we ll, relational qualities such as customer service and collaborative teamwork. If you creatively work out solutions to problems, mention that prized ability here, too.4. Whats the best way to list certifications on your computer programmer resume?You may include certifications in your education section, listing them in the same way you do school achievements. Start with your most recent certificate and work in reverse chronological order. If you have no certifications, simply add your educational accomplishments and leave it at that. Check out the computer programmer resume sample for further insight about this section of your resume.5. How do you list awards on your computer programmer resume?The answer to this question depends on the kinds of awards you have earned. If you have recently graduated from college and your department recognized you for special honors at graduation, you may include those in the education section. Leave off high school honors, as they are not as significa nt.Community awards, on the other hand, stand out as life accomplishments and deserve a special place on your document. Indicate the award you received and the organization that gave it. You might also include the date, if the event welches recent. For more ideas on creating a winning resume, be sure to look over our computer programmer resume sample, and let our step-by-step resume builder guide you.Computers and TechnologySoftware EngineeringSoftware Project ManagersInstallation, Maintenance and RepairHow to write a Computers and Technology Resume1. Brainstorm your accomplishmentsUse scratch paper to jot down your professional accomplishments.2. Inspect Computers and Technology resume samples to help navigate the resume creation processUse our collection of resume samples to get an idea of a strong Computers and Technology resume.3. Create an eye-catching header for the top of your Computers and Technology resumeCraft a header with aesthetics and practicality in mind. Include the following your name, phone number, email address, and personal website (if applicable).4. Put together a summary statement that addresses the employers needsCraft a short, interesting statement that tells your professional story. Include your accomplishments, skills, and most important areas of expertise.5. List skillsNext, make a list of your professional abilities for your Computers and Technology resume. Ensure that each talent is applicable to the job description.6. Dive into your work history as a Computers and TechnologyInclude your relevant past jobs. Provide the company names, your dates of employment, and your title.7. Go deeper into your Computers and Technology work historyDetail your role and accomplishments at each position in 3 to 5 bullet points. Keep the job description in mind as you do so. Refer to the list you made in step one.8. Add an education sectionCover the highest degree you earned, where you obtained it, and what year you finished (or will finish).

INTJ - Your MBTI Type and Your Career

INTJ - Your MBTI Type and Your CareerINTJ - Your MBTI Type and Your CareerAre you an INTJ? If you took theMyers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)and learned this is your type, you may be wondering what it means. INTJ is one of 16 personality types Carl Jung identified in his personality theory upon which the MBTI is based. Career development professionals believe that when you know your personality type, you can use that information to make informed career decisions. Therefore, its important that you know what the initials INTJ stand for. First, lets quickly review Jungs theory. He believed there are four pairs of opposite preferences for how individuals energize, perceive information, make decisions, and live our lives. We energize through introversion (I) or extroversion (E) perceive information by sensing (S) or intuition (N) make decisions by thinking (T) or feeling (F) live our lives by judging (J) or perceiving (P). Each one of us prefers one member of each pair over the other. The one you prefer makes up your personality type. As an INTJ, you favor introversion (I), intuition (N), thinking (T), and judging (J). Lets take a look at what that means. INTJ What Does Each Letter Mean? I (Introversion) As someone who favors introversion, you would choose to work alone instead of with other people. It is not that you are antisocial. You simply receive motivation from within and dont need to rely on outside sources for it.N (Intuition) Intuition is like a sixth sense that allows you to look for meaning beyond what you can see, hear, touch, taste,and smell. When you have to process any information you receive, it allows you to imagine the possibilities that exist beneath the surface and take advantage of them. T (Thinking) You use logic when you make decisions, instead of being guided by your emotions. You are methodical as you analyze problems and weigh the effects of your actions.J (Judging) Lots of deadlines? Bring em on. Your excellent organizational skills wo uld allow you to thrive in a job that requires you to get things done in a timely fashion. You need to work in a structured environment. Your preferences arent absolute. While you may prefer to energize, process information, make decisions, or live your life in a certain way, you, like most people, are flexible. Additionally, your preferences interact with each other. That means each one effects the other three. You should also realize that your preferences may change during your lifetime, sometimes multiple times. How to Use Your MBTI Type to Help You Make Career-Related Decisions If you choose a career that suits your personality, there is a better chance you will be satisfied with it. To find occupations that are a good fit, look at the middle two letters N and T. They are the most informative when it comes to making this decision. Your preference for using intuition (N) when processing information, rather than just relying on the hard facts, indicates that you are creative. However, you are also logical, as evidenced by your preference for thinking (T) when making decisions. The combination of behauptung two preferencesshould lead you toward careers that rely on innovation and well-thought-outdecision-making and problem-solving. Following are some career choices for you to consider AttorneyWriterSoftware DeveloperMarket Research AnalystPilotLibrarianTeacherOccupational TherapistComputer Systems AnalystEngineerArchivistBroadcast TechnicianPsychologistManagement ConsultantTranslatorSpeech PathologistPhysicianArchitect The first and last letters of your type, I and J, play a role in your success in particular work environments. As someone who prefers introversion (I), your energy comes from within yourself. You would rather work alone. Given your preference for judging, look for a workplace that is structured since an unstructured or disorderly environment would be stressful for you. It is essential to note that your personality type is only one piece of the puzzle when you are choosing a career. You must also consider your work-related values, interests, and aptitudes. Make sure the career path you decide to pursue is a good fit for all these traits that make you who you are. Sources The Myers-Briggs Foundation Web Site.Baron, Renee.(1998)What Type Am I?. NY PenguinBooks.Page, Earle C.Looking at Type A Description of the Preferences Reported by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Center for Applications of Psychological Type.Tieger, Paul D., Barron, Barbara, and Tieger, Kelly. (2014)Do What You Are. NY Hatchette Book Group.

More than half of stay-at-home parents stop working longer than planned

More than half of stay-at-home parents stop working longer than plannedMore than half of stay-at-home parents stop working longer than plannedFlexJobssurveyed more than 900 stay-at-home parents (SAH parents) who are interested in going back to work to learn more about their experiencesand feelings during this often exciting and stressful time. For anyone in this situation, its common to wonder how other people handle going through the saatkorn thing. The responses to this survey offer interesting insights into this unique experience.Follow Ladders on FlipboardFollow Ladders magazines on Flipboard covering Happiness, Productivity, Job Satisfaction, Neuroscience, and moreIn this wide-ranging survey, weasked SAH parents about how much time theyve spent out of the workforce (and how much theythoughttheyd spend) their reasons for becoming SAH parents and deciding to return to work whether theyve been doing any work-related activities while staying at home to raise children what sorts of w ork arrangements theyd prefer, and what their job search strategies will be for their return to the professional workforce.This survey also corresponds with anew resource weve created at FlexJobs to help stay-at-home moms (and dads) return to work through jobs with flexible work options. Our comprehensive guide covers everything from the experiences of other moms whove returned to work to job options to resumes, cover letters, interviews, and networking advice specifically for stay-at-home parents. And its all with flexible and remote jobs in mindSurvey Results Stay-at-Home Parents on Exiting and Re-entering the WorkforceHow Much Time They Thought Theyd Take Vs. How Much Theyve TakenOne of the most interesting results of this survey is the comparison between how much time SAH parents thought theyd take when they exited the workforce versus how much time theyve actually taken.58% of SAH parents have taken more time away from work than expected.39% took a lot more time out of their ca reers than expected.Only 6% reportedly took less time than they expected.When they first went on leave, 27% of SAH parents werent sure at the beginning of leave how long theyd actually stay home. Twenty-two percent thought theyd take less than one year 23% anticipated 1-2 years away from work 14% planned for 2-5 years off 14% planned to take more than 5 years away from the workforce.Careers Before Kids and Staying Connected AfterThe survey also asked respondents about their careers before kids. When asked to describe their career levels, 9% said entry-level, 55% said experienced, 24% said manager-level, and 10% said, senior-level manager.That means that 34% of SAH parents opted out of manager-level or higher-level jobsThe top career fields of the SAH parents surveyed includedAdministrative 23%Data Entry 22%Customer Service 21%Education Training 15%Medical Health 13%Accounting Finance 12%Writing 12%Project Management 10%Marketing 10%Youth Children 9%Fifty-three percent of SAH par ents said they left paid full-time work entirely once they had kids and 7% left part-time jobs.ButSAH parents, on the whole, stayed committed to re-entering the workforce 76% stayed connected to their careers in some way, while only 24% completely disconnected from their previous careers.How did SAH parents stay connected to their careers? Fifty-two percent stayed in contact with colleagues and coworkers, 32% kept up with industry or professional news, 21% followed career-related experts on social media, and 17% learned new software and technology.Reasons for Exiting the Workforce After Becoming a ParentAll of the people surveyed worked before having children, but their reasons for leaving the workforce after becoming parents varied. Besides wanting to stay at home with their kids (65%),inflexible work arrangements and poor child-care options were the two biggest factorsin their decision to stay out of the workforce.I wanted to stay home with my kids 65%I wanted to continue working, but my job was too inflexible to accommodate my needs as a working parent 36%It wasnt possible to find affordable or quality child care 25%It made sense financially because my lebenspartners salary was higher 21%I was laid off from my job 13%My child(ren) had special needs that necessitated my staying home 12%Other reasons included relocation, homeschooling, their own personal health issues, and retirement.Staying Active While Staying at HomeWhile raising children is, of course, one of the most active roles out there, survey respondents have also participated in a number of activities during their time as SAH parents.Earning supplemental incomeFreelance projects (gigs or side projects) 34%MLM (multi-level marketing) sales like jewelry, cosmetics, clothing, etc. 11%Selling self-made crafts 5%Child care for others 7%Getting really good at certain skillsJuggling multiple competing priorities or multitasking (80%), problem-solving (78%), prioritizing (76%), time management (71%), organ ization (70%), communication (66%), and conflict resolution (63%).VolunteeringIn their child(ren)s classroom or school 70%At a local community nonprofit or charity 48%With the parent-teacher organization (PTO) or other school committees 32%At a virtual nonprofit or charity 14%Why Stay-at-Home Parents Return to WorkWhileincome is the primary motivation for SAH parents to return to work(85% said they want to earn income for their families), there are several important underlying factors that necessitate these returns.My family needs the income 56%I enjoy working and want to get back to my profession 45%My kids are less dependent now 40%I want to start a geschftsleben 19%I became interested in a new career 13%Difficult life circumstances also play a roleIm experiencing a separation or divorce from my spouse 7%My spouse lost his or her job or is now unemployed 3%I experienced the loss of my spouse 2%One particular concern surrounds performing dual roles as parent and professional.We ask ed respondents if they believed that they could be both a great professional and a great parent.A full 70% said yes, it isnt easy but they feel they can be both. Another 27% are hopeful they can be great in both areas. Only 3% said no, that something has to give in your professional or parental roles- you cant be great at both.The Ideal Return-to-Work Situation Flexible WorkSAH parents seem to be open to the possibilities in their return to work. A majority, 59%, said theyre open to changing careers, while 14% plan topursue a different career.Only 10% plan to return to their previous careers.More are interested in freelancing (40%) than being an employee (21%).Remote work is definitely the preferred work location of SAH parents only 13% want to work in an office or on-site, whereas90% want to work remotely (from home).When asked about their ideal work schedule, only 30% said theyd want to work full-time hours (40+ hours per week).Part-time hours are preferred (64%), as are flexible schedules (76%).Alternative hours are also in-demand with 31% of SAH parents interested in working outside traditional business hours. Sixty-seven percent would ideally like to work somewhere between 20 and 39 hours per week.What the Return to Work Will Be LikeEighty-eight percent of SAH parents are somewhat or very concerned about re-entering the workforce. Only 9% are not at all concerned. The good news is that the majority, 68%, know another stay-at-home parent whos gone back to work. Those connections can providehelpful support and guidance during a return.When asked, What barriers do you see in re-entering the workforce?, survey respondents saidDont want or cant be in an office full-time 59%Dont know how to find a job that fits my life 54%Dont know what I want to do for work 36%Dont know where to begin 34%Dont have networking contacts or havent stayed in contact with them 33%Not sure how to balance career and family 31%Need an updated or new resume 30%Dont want to go back to th e same career 27%Lack confidence 25%Local job market isnt great 22%Havent kept up my skills 23%Need guidance orcoaching 19%Commuting to work is prohibitive 17%Other barriers include the daunting task of organizing a new family routine, lack of support from a partner, and expired professional certifications.When it comes to salary, benefits, and length of the job search73% are somewhat or very concerned theyll have to take a pay cut.51% think theyll negotiate salary, benefits, or flexible work options after a job offer.50% said they anticipate starting at a lower level in their careers than when they left.29% arent sure how long it will take them to re-enter the workforce 22% think it will take 3-4 months of job searching 18% said 1-2 months 13% said 5-6 months 19% said more than 6 months.Stay-at-home parents are planning to do the following as part of their job searchSearching online job boards or listings 93%Research companies online 72%Asking friends and family for help 48%Network ing with professionals in my target career or industry 47%Having myresume reviewed or written 37%Attending webinars or online events for job search advice 33%Other job search activities include having informational interviews to learn about potential careers or jobsworking with a career coach or counselor conducting a mock job interview and getting help through their colleges alumni services.Demographics and DetailsSurvey results were collectedin December 2018 and January 2019 with 934 total responses.Age of Respondents19 years or younger 1% 2029 6% 3039 33% 4049 39% 5059 15.% 6069 4% 70 or older 1%GenerationGen Z 2% Millennial/Gen Y 22% Gen X 55% Baby Boomer 14% The Silent Generation 7%Mom or Dad90% identified as moms 10% identified as dadsPhoto Credit bigstockphoto.comThis article first appeared on Flex Jobs.You might also enjoyNew neuroscience reveals 4 rituals that will make you happyStrangers know your social class in the first seven words you say, study finds10 lessons from Be njamin Franklins daily schedule that will double your productivityThe worst mistakes you can make in an interview, according to 12 CEOs10 habits of mentally strong people