Are Women Opting Out of Corporate Careers? -CareerWomen.com Offers Tips for Preparing to Opt Back In
“Opting out,” the new catch phrase within corporate circles, defines the rising trend towards leaving corporate positions for alternative career paths. Given this, CareerWomen.com recently conducted a poll to asked working women if they have opted out of corporate work, why they left and if they plan to return.
PORTLAND, OR (PRWEB) June 2, 2004 -– “Opting out,” the new catch phrase
within corporate circles, defines the rising trend towards leaving corporate
positions for alternative career paths. Given this, CareerWomen.com recently
conducted a poll to asked working women if they have opted out of corporate
work, why they left and if they plan to return. With a labor shortage predicted
in the coming decade, employers at leading corporations could be looking for
those that “opted out” to “opt back in.”
In the CareerWomen.com survey,
over 70 percent of respondents opted out of corporate work stating their top
three reasons as taking off several years for family, pursuing non-profit or
foundation work or taking a government position. Overwhelmingly, 62 percent
revealed that they are not currently considering re-entering the corporate
workforce.
In a previous survey on work/life balance, over 50 percent of
women responded that they are not satisfied with their ability to handle the
balancing act. According to CareerWomen.com, employers and employees need to
strike a balance that meets the needs of the corporation and creates a satisfied
workforce that is focused on contributing to the bottom line.
“While we
are seeing an increase in women opting out of corporate positions, increasingly
we’re receiving good news from corporations on additional women and diversity
programs,” said JillXan Donnelly, president of CareerWomen.com. “Companies such
as Honeywell, Raycom Media and Philip Morris are setting a great example by
providing career advancement opportunities for women while managing strong
corporate growth.”
To prepare for “opting back in” or to prevent the
need to “opt out”, CareerWomen.com suggests the following to working
women:
1. Look for workforce diversity programs by researching companies
that have placed a priority on promoting women in the workplace.
2. Find a
good blend of mentors both in and out of the workplace. Having a mentor from
Mars and another from Venus will provide a balanced perspective needed to
succeed in and out of the workplace.
3. Keep up with your network. If you
leave a corporate position, hold on to email addresses and phone numbers of your
co-workers and managers. Make a point to stay in touch and keep a pulse on your
previous employer. Re-entry will be easier with this knowledge base.
4. If
you are re-entering the corporate workforce, evaluate and investigate the
company’s values to make sure that there is a match. A good values connection
will ease decision-making, improve communication and provide a more comfortable
work environment.
5. If you opt out, do so gracefully. Leave your current
position with open doors to re-entry by completing projects and allowing for a
period of continued contact to resolve questions. Always leave thanking the
company for the opportunity.
Additional resources to enhance
professional development and advance women’s careers can be found at
CareerWomen.com including career development tools, career and employment news,
professional associations and employment opportunities across the US with some
of the best women-friendly companies.
About
CareerWomen.com
CareerWomen.com is the leading online career center by and
for women. Tailored to the needs of today’s working women, CareerWomen.com
provides easy access to top employers and recruiters who are actively looking to
recruit women. Since 1997, CareerWomen.com has helped thousands of women find
jobs in their chosen career. For more information, visit http://www.CareerWomen.com.
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2004/6/prweb130800.htm