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Ask the Business Coach Explaining Your Reason for LeavingQuestion: I am looking for employment after being a stay at home mom for the past 3 years, I was in the customer service industry on and off for over 10 years working my way up to Supervisor of the Department. I left my former position because I married my boss, now not only can I not use him as a reference but how do I handle the question of "Reason for Leaving". I have been putting Personal but I am afraid whoever is making the decisions may read more into Personal than is really there. So how should I handle this?Julie Answer: Start your new job search by doing the customary things. Get your resume in order with an accurate accounting of the positions you've held. Clearly detail your duties and skills so that your highest expertise and levels of advancement are apparent. At the bottom of your resume, state 'References available upon request.' Get a list ready of all past supervisors along with former colleagues or clients who can attest to your work standards. While you might be sensitive about it, there is no reason to avoid offering your husband's name as a reference on this list. After all, he was your boss at one time. If the name is questioned, you just openly say - yes, he's now my husband. End of story. As for your reasons for having been out of the job market for a while, you're right to avoid the 'personal' label and simply be forthright about the time you took off. That means getting comfortable with the fact that you left work to get married and/or be a stay-at-home mom for awhile. It's very important for you to get into a professional 'head-set' on this subject so you don't go into any interview with apprehension about your explanation. Many women make this choice with no ill consequences upon returning to the workplace. Write a short script for yourself and rehearse it - e.g. 'My husband and I decided it would be good for me to stay at home during our children's earliest years. And, now I'm ready to resume my career fulltime.' Be prepared to present any of the things you've learned or acquired in those years such as better organizational skills or more patience that might be applicable to your area of expertise, industry or the general workplace. If you held any volunteer positions or did any part-time work, make note of it. Otherwise, present yourself confidently as someone who has stayed in touch with your industry and is ready to return to a challenging, new job.
Also see: Disclaimer: The information in this column is intended to provide the reader with general ideas or concepts to be used as part of a broader base of knowledge they collect to determine their own best course of action and solutions most suitable for solving their workplace challenges. The information in this column is not guaranteed to be the appropriate solution for each individual.
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Joyce K. Reynolds is an expert Business Coach who works with CEOs, Sr. Execs, entrepreneurs and countless others providing knowledge, solutions, motivation and support that assist her clientele in successfully meeting workplace challenges. 