Comments on: Quit work for a while to have kids. Your career will be just fine http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/ Advice at the intersection of work and life Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:29:23 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Warda Zaman http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/comment-page-1/#comment-265084 Warda Zaman Sat, 03 Dec 2011 13:16:12 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/#comment-265084 It's interesting reading your article. I am living in Pakistan at the moment and have taken career breaks to raise kids. After my third kid, I decided to start my own training business and currently work from home. My advice to people is that they should plan their future with kids while they are still working. Network extensively and equip yourself with the skills you will use later. You can only expect the job market to welcome us with open arms but if it doesn't, you are in trouble. Therefore, I believe one should start one's own line of work rather than thinking of going back to work. The customers today are demanding uniqueness and clamoring to be delighted--maybe you can offer them a product no other company can. It is possible that entrepreneurship is not the answer for everyone but in my opinion, it is an option worth exploring and working towards in the 21st century. It's interesting reading your article. I am living in Pakistan at the moment and have taken career breaks to raise kids. After my third kid, I decided to start my own training business and currently work from home.

My advice to people is that they should plan their future with kids while they are still working. Network extensively and equip yourself with the skills you will use later. You can only expect the job market to welcome us with open arms but if it doesn't, you are in trouble.

Therefore, I believe one should start one's own line of work rather than thinking of going back to work. The customers today are demanding uniqueness and clamoring to be delighted–maybe you can offer them a product no other company can.

It is possible that entrepreneurship is not the answer for everyone but in my opinion, it is an option worth exploring and working towards in the 21st century.

]]> By: Children/Career | Maryland Mel http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/comment-page-1/#comment-264578 Children/Career | Maryland Mel Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:25:53 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/#comment-264578 [...] career” by Penelope Trunk.  I recently re-read this article as well as another post by her: “Quit work for a while to have kids.  Your career will be just fine.” I’m not saying that I agree 100% with these opinions, but I do think it’s an [...] [...] career" by Penelope Trunk.  I recently re-read this article as well as another post by her: "Quit work for a while to have kids.  Your career will be just fine." I'm not saying that I agree 100% with these opinions, but I do think it's an [...]

]]> By: Employment Gaps | Hiring Technical People http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/comment-page-1/#comment-261417 Employment Gaps | Hiring Technical People Wed, 28 Sep 2011 00:12:09 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/#comment-261417 [...] I just read Penelope Trunk’s Quit work for a while to have kids. Your career will be just fine. [...] [...] I just read Penelope Trunk's Quit work for a while to have kids. Your career will be just fine. [...]

]]> By: newdaysun http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/comment-page-1/#comment-256142 newdaysun Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:47:33 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/#comment-256142 No, your career will not be just fine, at least not in the short term. You could take a huge hit financially and professionally - I did. I have a BA in finance and an MBA from a top ranked business school. After 12 years out of the 'work force', it took me a year and a half and having an "in" to land an Admin. Asst. position making $16K less than what I was making when I left my 5 year career for the stay-at-home mom role. (And that’s even with purchasing and working a franchised business for 2 years prior to looking.) Rapid advancement is not promising and humble pie is a main course. Current economic conditions in the US have significantly impacted my ability to get back in the game. I’m definitely paying my dues all over again; and while I don’t regret my ‘time away’, I never thought my return would be quite like this. If you do take time off - keep connected to old colleagues and don't stay out too long. No, your career will not be just fine, at least not in the short term. You could take a huge hit financially and professionally – I did. I have a BA in finance and an MBA from a top ranked business school. After 12 years out of the 'work force', it took me a year and a half and having an "in" to land an Admin. Asst. position making $16K less than what I was making when I left my 5 year career for the stay-at-home mom role. (And that’s even with purchasing and working a franchised business for 2 years prior to looking.) Rapid advancement is not promising and humble pie is a main course. Current economic conditions in the US have significantly impacted my ability to get back in the game. I’m definitely paying my dues all over again; and while I don’t regret my ‘time away’, I never thought my return would be quite like this. If you do take time off – keep connected to old colleagues and don't stay out too long.

]]> By: the modern mom dilemma « Kat Cox's Blog http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/comment-page-1/#comment-242575 the modern mom dilemma « Kat Cox's Blog Thu, 03 Feb 2011 00:04:48 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/#comment-242575 [...] it is hard to get back on the career track once you’ve pulled yourself out of it. However, some people disagree that this is the case for various reasons. You may not be as tied to mommyhood once you [...] [...] it is hard to get back on the career track once you've pulled yourself out of it. However, some people disagree that this is the case for various reasons. You may not be as tied to mommyhood once you [...]

]]> By: Self Employment, Meet Family Planning | Release Notes http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/comment-page-1/#comment-233198 Self Employment, Meet Family Planning | Release Notes Sun, 10 Oct 2010 21:31:17 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/#comment-233198 [...] really a remix of previous posts (I’ve been a read of hers for a year or so) about how women do not need to put off children for their careers, plus news about her startup’s recent move, wherein she chose to stay put and be with her [...] [...] really a remix of previous posts (I've been a read of hers for a year or so) about how women do not need to put off children for their careers, plus news about her startup's recent move, wherein she chose to stay put and be with her [...]

]]> By: Ice Cream Supplies http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/comment-page-1/#comment-231727 Ice Cream Supplies Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:50:44 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/#comment-231727 Would your advice hold true in this economy? If I left my job after my leave, I would think that everyone would be wondering (1) was I involved in the law firm layoffs or (2) if not, what kind of idiot would leave? This is only relevant if the earth shatters and I can't make a career change go at some point and have to re-enter the legal profession. Would your advice hold true in this economy? If I left my job after my leave, I would think that everyone would be wondering (1) was I involved in the law firm layoffs or (2) if not, what kind of idiot would leave? This is only relevant if the earth shatters and I can't make a career change go at some point and have to re-enter the legal profession.

]]> By: Paper Mache Masks http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/comment-page-1/#comment-231726 Paper Mache Masks Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:49:39 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/#comment-231726 A bold topic! Going from your first item on the list, do you think that this ability to restart a career after long-term parental leave (2+ years) is a quirk of the current decade or indicative of a substantive change in the workplace? A bold topic! Going from your first item on the list, do you think that this ability to restart a career after long-term parental leave (2+ years) is a quirk of the current decade or indicative of a substantive change in the workplace?

]]> By: Tiny House Plans http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/comment-page-1/#comment-231725 Tiny House Plans Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:48:34 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/#comment-231725 When my daughter was 4 I decided to start my own business and work from home. I have a great network thanks to strategic planning, LinkedIn and a local networking group specifically for mothers who have their own businesses. When my daughter was 4 I decided to start my own business and work from home. I have a great network thanks to strategic planning, LinkedIn and a local networking group specifically for mothers who have their own businesses.

]]> By: Tiny House Plans http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/comment-page-1/#comment-231724 Tiny House Plans Sat, 11 Sep 2010 21:47:49 +0000 http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2008/01/28/quit-work-for-a-while-to-have-kids-your-career-will-be-just-fine/#comment-231724 When my daughter was 4 I decided to start my own business and work from home. I have a great network thanks to strategic planning, LinkedIn and a local networking group specifically for mothers who have their own businesses. I still cultivate my career on my own terms, schedule my own hours and take her to and from school every day. Honestly, I would be completely bored if I weren't working at something in addition to parenting–so I am very happy with my decision to become self-employed. When my daughter was 4 I decided to start my own business and work from home. I have a great network thanks to strategic planning, LinkedIn and a local networking group specifically for mothers who have their own businesses. I still cultivate my career on my own terms, schedule my own hours and take her to and from school every day. Honestly, I would be completely bored if I weren't working at something in addition to parenting–so I am very happy with my decision to become self-employed.

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