Are You Ready to Go Back to Work?

With kids back in school, this is the time of year that many mothers think about going back to work, or "relaunching" their careers as we call it; this year perhaps more than ever before. Although the job market is tight, we've heard from relaunchers all over the country who have found (or created) opportunities in this market, despite the difficult economy. I've been wondering . . . what distinguishes these women from other stay-at-home moms seeking to return to work? Are they extremely brilliant or well-connected? Although some of the women we've heard from do fall into these categories, the majority are regular folks whose qualifications are not particularly extraordinary. But they all shared one important trait: a strong desire to return to paid work, not just a need, not just a whim, but a deep, compelling drive to "get back in the game." How can you tell if you have that kind of commitment? Take Part I of our Relaunch Readiness Quiz to measure your motivation:

I miss working . . .

Not at all Somewhat A lot

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

For the time being, I am very happy being a stay-at-home mother.

Agree strongly Agree somewhat Disagree strongly

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

I have a hobby or volunteer work that substantively engages me.

Agree strongly Agree somewhat Disagree strongly

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

I could see myself going back to work in _______ years
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

(Circle the number in the second row below the answer you choose in the first row.)

The average number of hours per week that I would be willing and able to spend working is . . .
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 40+
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

(Circle the number in the second row below the answer you choose in the first row.)

Our family could materially benefit from my earning money. Disagree strongly Agree somewhat Agree strongly

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Add up all the numbers you circled. This is your score _______________

Interpretation of Scoring

If you score 45 or above, you have a strong desire to relaunch. Your family's financial need may be a major factor, but you also genuinely enjoy working and/or you're bored at home. With this level of drive, you should be willing to invest the time and energy to conduct a strategic and methodical job search or take steps toward securing consulting work or start your own business.

If your score falls between 30 and 45, you currently have a moderate appetite for work. You may get lucky and fall into an opportunity, depending on your experience and contacts; or you may develop a passion for something (whether volunteer or paid) that eventually leads to earning an income, but to secure employment in a competitive corporate environment you'll need to kick up your ambition a notch to communicate the necessary energy and drive.

If you score less than 30, you're not very motivated to return to work at this time. Consider investing more time in your hobbies and volunteer work, particularly those that might open up career options for you later. Also, use this time to explore what might interest you when you're ready to go back to work in the future. If you scored high on question 6 but low on everything else, you need to try to develop a more positive view of work or pursue only those positions that do not demand much intellectual or emotional commitment.

For parts II and III of the Relaunch Readiness Quiz, visit www.iRelaunchcom.

Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin are the co-authors of the acclaimed career reentry book Back on the Career Track: A Guide for Stay-at-Home Moms Who Want to Return to Work , and the co-founders of iRelaunch, the nation's leading provider of career reentry programming. Carol and Vivian can be reached at info@iRelaunch.com or follow us on twitter www.twitter.com/iRelaunch.