4 SIMPLE STEPS YOU CAN TAKE TODAY TO

Land Flexible
Meaningful Work
LEE KOLES, PH.D.
I know what it’s like to go back into the workforce after years of being
at home with your kids.

It feels like a big risk. So many thoughts hold you back: What kind of job is
right for me? Will interviewers respect me? Will they recognize my value?

Sitting frozen in front of my computer, I tried to figure out what I should

say about the decade+ unemployment gap on my resume — the precious
time I dedicated to raising my kids.

I wished I had someone who could guide me towards making the “right”
decisions.

To help get myself in gear, I went back to my pre-career break roots as an

Industrial/Organizational Psychologist where I conducted job analyses for
organizations, designed interviews for companies and created personnel
selection practices.

My efforts paid off: I landed the job.

But what about other moms just like me? They needed support and a
strategy too.

That’s when I delved into researching the field of employee selection

for return-to-workers. I interviewed leaders of staffing organizations to
discover exactly what recruiters want and don’t want from applicants
who are transitioning back to the workplace.

Then, I became a certified life coach to help moms deal with the anxiety,
lack of confidence and overwhelm that so often accompany stepping back
into the workplace.

I founded CareerSequel to help moms like you bridge their career gaps
and land flexible, meaningful work. And, I developed a 4 step system to
get you there:

1. Decide What You Really Want

2. Restore Your Confidence
3. Tap Into Your Community
4. Fortify Your Job Search Skills

Ready to take a few simple but powerful steps?

Read on!

© 2020 Lee Koles - CareerSequel.com 2

 STEP ONE

1 Debunk the
Re-Launching Myths
How are you feeling about going back to work? Are you plagued by worry or negative thoughts?
That’s normal. I struggled with stress and apprehension when I decided to re-enter the workforce.

Here’s the good news: Many of your worries are actually just myths.

These are the top 4 re-launching myths, along with the REAL story for each:

Myth #1: My resume gap will scare off potential employers.

Career gaps have become far more common in recent years and return-to-workers are earning the reputation of
being focused, productive and adaptable employees.

Discuss your gap in the same way you would discuss a previous job. Normalizing it projects an image of
someone who has a renewed excitement about returning to the workforce.

Myth #2: My dated technical skills will prevent me from getting a good job.

Focus on the core skills you have, not the ones you don’t. The skills you had prior to your break haven’t
disappeared and you’ve gained new ones since then.

Need to refresh your skills or learn new ones? No problem! Check out what’s available online (many tutorials
are free!), look into continuing education programs or do some “strategic” volunteering. You’ll be back up to
speed in no time.

Myth #3: No one wants to hire someone my age.

Make your age an advantage. Research the industry and organization where you plan to interview.

What are the key phrases and terminology used on their website and in media coverage? Be ready to discuss
these freely and your knowledge, not your age, will be what gets noticed.

Myth #4: I’m going to have to take a huge pay cut.

Returning to your former job or industry? Your former coworkers will remember the “professional” you. If you
do take a pay cut, negotiate for more flexible hours, reduced stress levels or less travel.

Embarking upon a completely different career path? Know that your pay will increase as you gain experience.

Now that you can separate reality from myth, let’s think about what you really want for your
career sequel.

© 2020 Lee Koles - CareerSequel.com 3

 STEP TWO

2 Name Your Dream Makers

& Deal Breakers
Let today be the start of something new.

You’ve decided that you want to head back to work and now your head is swimming with the options available
to you. This can be both exhilarating and overwhelming.

Don’t worry – it’s perfectly human to feel this combination of emotions when embarking upon something new.
Take a deep breath.

To gain some fast clarity, consider what you want and don’t want in a new job. This may have changed from
when you first entered the workforce. It may have also shifted since you began your career break.

Take this quick step to get your job search going in the right direction.

List your top 3 Dream Makers — the things your future job MUST have.

1.

2.

3.

Now list your top 3 Deal Breakers — the things that would make you turn down a job
without hesitation.

1.

2.

3.

Look at your lists. How does it feel to know what’s really important to you?

Now, it’s time to address the negative thoughts in your head.

© 2020 Lee Koles - CareerSequel.com 4

 STEP THREE

3 Find Your
Confidence
It’s human to question yourself, but you must find your confidence and present that confident self to your
friends, community and potential employers.

If you believe in yourself, they will too.

Confidence in your career sequel stems from the belief that you have the ability to transition back to the
workplace. Take inspiration from the many women who have done this successfully:

Sandra Day O’Connor, one of the United State’s most influential female leaders, took a five year break from her
law career to stay home with her three sons.

During that time O’Connor volunteered in various political organizations and served on Barry Goldwater’s
presidential campaign. She returned to work and went on to become the first female Senate Majority Leader
and the first female Supreme Court Justice.

More recently, Brenda Barnes famously quit her job as CEO of Pepsi North America to spend time with her three
grade school-aged children. She was a stay-at-home mom for seven years, a move that she said she would do “a
million times over.”

“It was exactly the best thing I could have done,” exclaimed Barnes. “It gave me perspective on everything.”

Barnes returned to work as COO and then CEO of the Sara Lee Company. Later, she implemented a “Returnship”
program for women re-entering the workforce following a career break. Barnes’ advice:

“Never apologize that you took a break.

You are the same talented woman that built a career.
You got value from the time you took off.”

Imagine your own back to work story. What will your proud friends, family and colleagues say about your career
sequel?

Now that you’ve envisioned yourself beginning your career, you’re ready to take the next step…

© 2020 Lee Koles - CareerSequel.com 5

 STEP FOUR

4 Go Public With
Your Job Search
Want to make a life change? The key is to share your intentions with those around you … and beyond.

Release your plans from the confines of your own mind and bring them forth into your community.

List 5 people you can reach out to today and then do it. Tell them of your plan to re-enter
the workplace. You will set the ball in motion and begin building a support system.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Write a short announcement letting people know you’re looking for work. Name your Dream Makers and
Deal Breakers from Step 2.

Reach out to:

• Friends
• Family
• Former colleagues
• Former classmates

Mention your job search on social media.

Consider new opportunities for branching out to meet new people, like community networking events or
university lecture series.

© 2020 Lee Koles - CareerSequel.com 6

Are you ready to begin
your Career Sequel?

Next Steps
You could continue to put off your own ambitions and struggle on your own.

But why wait any longer to step into your exciting future? You don’t have to do this alone.

Working one-on-one with me will give you the guidance, insight and confidence you need to find a job that’s
just right for you.

I help moms like you bridge their career gaps and land flexible, meaningful work.

Are you ready to begin your career sequel?

Let’s talk! Tell me about your dream job ideas, the obstacles that confound you, and what you’re
seeking to get you where you want to go.

To get started, tell me a little more about yourself here.

I’ll be in touch soon to schedule your complimentary 45-minute discovery session.

You’re going to love beginning your career sequel!

Lee Koles
Career Strategist

© 2020 Lee Koles - CareerSequel.com 7

Meet Lee Koles, Ph.D.

Your kids are getting older. They don’t need your attention the way
they once did.

You can feel your focus shift back to yourself. It’s time to delve into
something meaningful that’s just for you.

But you’ve been out of the workforce for years. Today’s job search
landscape feels like alien terrain and nagging doubts are stopping
you from taking solid steps forward. Is there a career that will suit
your skills and life?

I know what you’re going through. When I became a mom, I

stopped working to focus exclusively on my family. Shuttling my kids
to their activities, cheering them on at sporting events and working
tirelessly for their school was my job.

I treasured that time … yet, I no longer felt interesting at dinner

parties. My advanced degree wasn’t being put to use. I felt the pull to
return to work. But I didn’t know how.

I decided to transform my doubts into certainty. I learned how to

consider my career gap from a new perspective. I leveraged my skills
as an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist to identify the skills and
abilities gained during my time away from the workplace.

It was easy then to bolster my resume to fit my potential job’s

requirements. And I designed an interview strategy based upon a
breakdown of the job position.

I know that other moms need support and an intelligent process to

find work they love. So, I honed new skills as a Certified Life Coach and
founded Career Sequel to help moms like you bridge your career gap
and land flexible, meaningful work. You don’t have to do this alone!

Lee’s professional background and education:

• Over 20 years of experience in interview design, employee

recruitment and selection processes at independent, private
and government organizations.
• Ph.D. Industrial/Organizational Psychology, George Mason
University
• Certified Life Coach, The Life Coach School
• B.A. Psychology, Williams College

© 2020 Lee Koles - CareerSequel.com 8