THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 2008

Getting Back in the Game After Having Kids

Q: I have some college experience in the accounting field, and I worked in accounting for seven years. I then took 12 years off to be a stay-at-home mom because I wanted to be with my children while they were young. I am ready to look for a job now, but I feel I will be overlooked because of the gap in employment. How do I explain the 12-year gap? During those years, I handled the bookkeeping for my husband's business, but I don't know whether I should include that on my résumé. How do I make myself marketable compared to other potential job candidates?

A: Absolutely include your bookkeeping position for your husband's business. He would have had to hire someone if you hadn't done the work for him, so don't negate your worth. If you put in part-time hours, then list it as a part-time job for those 12 years. Nothing is wrong with working at home so you could be with your children until they all reached school age. The only change you need to make is your attitude about it. If you would like to make yourself more marketable, consider taking more accounting and business courses, and perhaps you could finish getting a bachelor's degree in accounting. If you do well, you will want to sit for the CPA test, as you will make far more money as a certified public accountant than as a bookkeeper. Many stay-at-home moms go back to school and invest in themselves once their children can function more independently.

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Underlying Effects of 'Right To Work'

Q: You addressed the meaning of a "right-to-work" state as one in which employees are not forced to join a union. I live in Florida. A "right-to-work" state leads to very few union jobs in the state, even in industries in which unions are common, such as manufacturing. If unions can't get enough paying members to support the union, it takes the teeth out of any bargaining chip or power a union might have. It's then good for employers, not the employees. My brother is in a union job. He earns $30 an hour in Nevada and receives health insurance and paid vacation. In Florida, he would be lucky to make $15-$18 an hour. My advice is to research salaries, jobs and industries in an area, state taxes, real estate values and property taxes, home and car insurance, availability of public transportation, and school districts before moving anywhere. Many people move places only to find out they can't afford to live there, and they end up moving back home.

A: You've covered nearly all the areas that should be researched, though people often consider moving because of job offers or for emotional reasons, such as to be nearer to family members or to what they perceive as a more pleasant, easier lifestyle. If everyone conducted comprehensive research on areas before moving, including weather histories and neighborhood demographics, it's likely that fewer people would move as easily as they do. Hard research is critical when considering moving a family, but for individuals, comparing all the facts and weighing the pros and cons might be just enough work to change a person's mind about moving anywhere. Sometimes you've got to go with your gut feelings and try something new. If it doesn't work, you will return home a happier person than when you left.

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