Family Friendly Career

I read another article about the debate sparked by the recent Pew Research study I mentioned last week. (See article from the Indianapolis Star) Cathy Benko from Deloitte pointed out that the debate is short sighted in that often part-time work, or even staying-at-home is just one point in time. Stepping back for a bit may slow your career progress, but it does not need to stop it.

I agree and believe that your decision to pursue family friendly work should be part of a long-term career plan. If you scale back and work part-time, or if you choose to stay-at-home, you must consider what you can do during that period of time to make sure you stay on your planned track.

There are many things you can do when you scale back your career to help move it forward later. For example, if your plan involves changing your career, part-time work or time at home may give you an opportunity to take a class or start networking to make a career change. At the very least, you must stay up to date in your field, and keep certifications current if applicable.