A big part of Cardigan Associates' focus is on helping moms come back to paid work or pivot in their careers. Sidelined by the pandemic and home with kids or perhaps coming back from an intentional time focused on caregiving, moms we work with have two big issues: what I call the 2Cs — confidence and childcare.

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There are plenty of job openings that no longer require cover letters, but when they do (or when they are optional), it's important to create a fresh cover letter for each job application. The components may be similar, and in some cases use identical language for portions of it, but each letter is a unique way to supplement your application.

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One of my clients recently asked if she should focus on networking, identifying employers she'd like to work for, or looking at job boards, like Indeed. "Yes!" I replied. It's not an either/or answer. An effective job search strategy, especially for someone who is changing careers or returning to paid work, requires a multi-pronged effort. 

Over a decade ago the talented Tina Fey wrote about the "yes, and" rule in her insightful book Bossypants. “The second rule of improvisation is not only to say yes, but YES, AND. You are supposed to agree — and then add something of your own. If I start a scene with 'I can't believe it's so hot in here,' and you just say, 'Yeah...' we're kind of at a stand-still. But if I say, 'I can't believe it's so hot in here,' and you say, 'What did you expect? We're in hell.' Or if I say, 'I can't believe it's so hot in here,' and you say, 'Yes, this can't be good for the wax figures.' Or if I say, 'I can't believe it's so hot in here,' and you say, 'I told you we shouldn't have crawled into this dog's mouth,' now we're getting somewhere.”

When I started research and planning for Cardigan Associates, one of my first contacts was with some wonderful mentors through the organization SCORE. I pitched my idea of a career coaching business for women, and they said: "What about men? Will you help men if they ask?" I said yes, of course, but my main focus is on women because it's still women who predominantly take time out for caregiving, it's still women more than men sidelined by the pandemic, and it's still women who often feel less confident in the job search, especially in things like negotiating. So, while Cardigan Associates' focus is squarely on women, I want to spend a moment on men.

I watched a webinar recently that was all about ageism in the hiring process. The job search expert stressed that age discrimination is wrong and illegal. But, she said, it exists and is rampant. So, here’s what you, the job candidate, need to do. Don’t lead with your age. Focus on your recent relevant experience. Don’t include experience from over 15 years ago. And every time she shared a tip, she’d add, “I know age discrimination is illegal, but it exists.”

When I was a new mom, the "What to Expect" books were new, too, and they were all the rage. Are they still even a thing? I remember appreciating the books because they gave me a guide and they made some of the unknown known. Now, as a career coach, I follow lots of different thought leaders, influencers, and some actual experts. There's a line of thought that intrigues me, and that is the listing of steps to take or questions to ask. My favorite lately is "What would you tell your younger self?"

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Between LinkedIn and Facebook and Instagram there are a lot of messages out there encouraging us to hustle harder, push beyond our comfort zones, dare to try new things, climb whatever figurative ladder or mountain we have ahead of us. And if you've spent even a nanosecond talking to any woman in the last two years, you've no doubt heard stories of frustration and fatigue. It's no coincidence that the Great Resignation is largely a female phenomenon. All that hustling, climbing, and reaching is downright exhausting. 

A woman received a job offer with a decent and competitive salary from a company clearly eager to hire her. Knowing her qualifications (high) and the job market (a candidates’ market) gave her additional confidence. She increased her pay by 7% just by asking. She also got the start date she wanted simply by sharing when she could start and not asking for permission.

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These headlines are everywhere: Great Resignation, Turnover Tsunami, Big Quit, Great Reshuffle. If you're reading this blog post, maybe you're part of it. Several of my clients are. Turns out, so am I. I started this business while still working in my long-term (but recently part-time) job at a college. As of May 13, I'll be part of the national wave of resignations as I leave a steady, institutional gig to work for myself at last. What's going on with this seismic shift and why does it matter?

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You get to be who you are. Let me say that again: you get to be who you are. And if you are a more intense person with energy and passion, please don’t tone it down. Channel it, yes, and find ways to use it that allow you to share your gifts, but don’t deny who you are because there’s a bias against fierce or intense women.

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Everywhere you look, there’s a list. Five things you can do now. Four steps to start your job search. Two things you must not say in an interview. And I understand this. I’m famous in my family for all the lists I make.

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Fifteen years after my move back to Maine when I had driven away from Grinnell, Iowa, with an eleven-year-old in the back seat, I returned on a cross-country trip. My 2019 Honda Civic was enough like the 1997 Geo Prizm I drove back in those stay-at-home mom days that perhaps I can forgive my mind for the tricks it played on me. As I wandered around that small town where I spent twenty of my most formative years, muscle memory took over. I was my 40-year-old self again, and in my backseat was not the family pet who accompanied me on this year’s cross-country trek, but my son.

“Wait, you’re driving from Maine to California? And back again?” is the usual response I receive when sharing with friends my annual plan to spend winter in California where my extended family lives. (Because I have a dog who is my family, too, I drive.) Friends can’t believe I’d do a 3000-mile trip twice in one year. Friends can’t believe I’d take seven days to do what most do in seven hours via airplane. When I look at it objectively, I understand that.

A word about ageism. It’s in the news these days, as it should be, and it’s top of my mind in my consulting business. It’s also something I’ve experienced firsthand, so, yes, it’s personal to me. But here’s the thing: ageism isn’t a simple generational battle or a cry to listen to your elders. It’s much more nuanced than that.

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