Released on: October 2, 2007, 4:03 pm

Press Release Author: Shannon Cherry

Industry:

Press Release Summary: Women are arguing about the next question-can mothers get
back to work if they want to? Certified personal coach Hallie Crawford says yes and
offers some advice on how mother\'s can return to work after an absence.

Press Release Body: Opting In After Motherhood
Certified coach offers tips on going back to work after an absence

ATLANTA (OCTOBER 2, 2007) - It has been one of the most contested questions of the
feminist movement of the 1970s and \'80s-should mothers work? But now, on blogs, in
op-eds and a host of new books out this year, women are arguing about the next
question-can mothers get back to work if they want to?

"Much of the debate over whether women should become stay-at-home moms is focused on
what is best for the child. But little thought is given to what is best for mom,
especially when it comes to her future career, economic and personal well being,"
says Hallie Crawford, a career coach specializing in helping job seekers find a
career they love. "After the mommy track and the off-ramp, there\'s a bracing
reality: the empty nest and bank account. That's when many moms decide it's time to
find a job. But often mom's hit roadblocks getting back onto the on-ramp."

Crawford points to a study by a Cornell University professor that found mothers are
44 percent less likely to be hired than nonmothers with the same résumé.

But according to Crawford, women can re-enter the job market. "But you have to
brush aside your fears, be extra savvy and in some cases be willing to take
entry-level gigs in order to learn and to get back on the paid-work track."

A Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC), Hallie Crawford
(www.halliecrawford.com) is an experienced coach and trainer who helps people change
the way they feel about work - from just a paycheck to a fulfilling endeavor that is
an extension of their purpose and passion. Based in Atlanta, she offers, career
coaching, teleseminars, audio recordings and a free ezine to help people across the
country find a career they love. Crawford has earned undergraduate and graduate
degrees in Communications from Vanderbilt University and the University of Illinois
at Chicago.

To help moms get back in business, Crawford offers the following advice:

1. Know Why you want to go back to work. Engagement, purpose, money, status,
validation, and social environment are just some of the motivations for going back
to work.

2. Clarify Priorities: For young families with school age children career and family
demands often are at odds. Define your working parameters to protect those
priorities and keep reminding yourself of why you chose those priorities when
confronting choices.

3. Do it for You: When going back to work especially after a newborn, explore
opportunities for flexible work schedules and telecommute. Design your own job and
claim it at a company nearby. It is easier than you think! Don't get back into
working because someone wants you to!

4. Avoid Sudden Change: After many years of being out of work, develop a phased
approach to the transition. A sudden change can be difficult to manage and can
create disharmony in the family and stress in your life.

5. Manage Expectations: Going back to work implies a significant change in a family.
Make sure that members of the family are willing to accommodate this change. Create
clear expectations from each family member and manage those expectations. Show your
appreciation for this accommodation from time to time. Expect others to show their
appreciation for what you do as well!

For more information on finding an enjoyable career or for a free 30-minute phone
consultation, contact Hallie Crawford at 404-228-6434 or email at
hallie@halliecrawford.com.

###
Contact:
Shannon Cherry
PR for Hallie Crawford
518.248.6592
pr@cherrycommunications.com



Web Site: http://www.hallie@halliecrawford.com

Contact Details: Shannon Cherry
PR for Hallie Crawford
518.248.6592
pr@cherrycommunications.com