Greater Milwaukee Jobs

Baby boomers have been hit hard by income stagnation, job cuts, career immobility, and re-employment diffi- culty. Add in a labor of love – care- giving – and their strains magnify. Parents of young children get it. They juggle home and work responsi- bilities every day. And the "mommy track" impediment to career advance- ment is well documented. Now, perhaps because the boomer generation is so big, there's increased attention to the juggling act by older workers. Millions are trying to pros- per in the workplace while holding care duties for aging parents, incapac- itated spouses or other loved ones. Some serious findings were pub- lished September 15 from a survey of adults, three-fourths of them women, who visited Caring.com, an informa- tion site for caregivers. Career stress- es included: – About two-thirds said caregiving had a negative effect on their jobs, such as distracting phone calls, emails and emotional distress, and two-thirds said the distractions were "significant." – One-third said they spent 30 hours a week – almost a full-time job – on unpaid caregiving. – Nearly one-third said they often arrived late or left work early because of caregiving. The survey also found personal financial costs associated with care- giving. Out-of-pocket costs related to their loved ones' needs plus delayed saving or retirement planning were common. Eight in 10 of the survey respon- dents said they've told their employ- ers about their situation. That's good. Managers need to know why time and attention are diverted so that they don't assume the caregiver has checked out or lost ambition. Caregivers can't expect to get a pass on work expectations. But managers may recognize best intentions and perhaps allow flexible schedules or work-at-home options if needs are known. 2 GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS • October 2, 2014 "Exhibitions are a key net- working tool, as well as a valuable resource for gain- ing insights in your field, growing professionally through education or train- ing, or simply by observing what other companies and leaders in your field are doing," says David DuBois, President & CEO, Interna- tional Association of Exhi- bitions and Events (IAEE). Whatever your goals are, there are universal ways to maximize your presence at industry events: Be prepared Learn about event atten- dees and engage with them online in advance so that when you meet in person, you're simply continuing the dialogue. Trade show organizers often provide planning resources, like mobile apps and scheduling tools that make these con- versations easier. It is helpful to create a list of who you plan to connect with beforehand and what you want to get out of your experience. Are you starting a busi- ness? See if the event fea- tures a startup session. Most events have space on the exhibit floor dedicated to startups as well. Are you interested in expanding your professional skills set? Look into the education ses- sions available. "The most important thing is confidence and prepara- tion, so engage with your surroundings and ask ques- tions. Everyone there is focused on gaining the most out of their experience, so be sure you do the same," says DuBois. New career path While employment rates are on the rise, they're still lower than prior to the recession. Despite the num- bers, the exhibitions and events industry is thriving, supporting 1.8 million jobs across the country, accord- ing to the Convention Industry Council. Whether your experience is in research, food and bev- erage management, event planning or sales, the exhi- bitions and events industry may be an ideal sector to forge a new career. Learn You may no longer be in school, but that's no excuse to discontinue career training or your education. Take advantage of workshops, seminars and the other opportunities to exand your skills and Network . . . from page 1 Be open about caregiving duties By Diane Stafford The Kansas City Star see NETWORK. . . page 7 Turn being new on the job into an asset By Liz Reyer Star Tribune (Minneapolis) & A Q Q. For one reason or another, I've started a couple of new jobs in the past few years and now am landing in one that I hope will work long term.The problem is I hate change, especially feeling like I don't know what I'm doing. How can I make it through this transition? Liz Reyer is a credentialed coach with more than 20 years of business experience. Her company, Reyer Coaching & Consulting, offers services for organizations of all sizes. Submit questions or comments about this column at www.deliverchange.com/coachscorner or email her at lizdeliverchange.com. A. Make a mind shift to enjoying the freedom of being new. THE INNER GAME First, a question: When you hire someone new, what do you expect? You expect them to need time to learn about the compa- ny and their new role.You expect to provide training and direction while they ramp up. And you expect there to be a transitional period while they get fully up and running. Why do you have differ- ent expectations for your- self? Take some time to think about how it would feel to start up fresh without the i n t e r n a l p re s s u re . Ta ke some deep breaths, and let a sense of anticipation arise. Get curious! Envi- sion your new role with positive questions: I wonder what I'll learn? I wonder what I'll like best? Also prime yourself with recollections of past suc- cesses. Think about things you've learned to do — perhaps you've learned a language, a musical instru- ment, a sport, or a wood- working skill. You've suc- cessfully started jobs in the past, too. Then reflect on what you're really afraid of. If it's loss of control of the situ- ation, consider that con- trol is mainly an illusion anyway, and that the best thing you can bring to your new role is authenticity. THE OUTER GAME As you move into your new role, create a plan to manage the learning curve and develop tactics to manage anxiety about the change. For the learning curve, work closely with your new boss so that you understand the expecta- tions for success in your new role and the struc- tured training that'll be provided. Establish some clear milestones with timing so that you can strive for specific accom- plishments rather than a vague sense of doing well. For example, instead of "understand corporate strategy," consider a goal of "meet with top three brand managers for overview of their brand strategies." Leverage your newness. I've been in many meetings where the new person identifies the barrier to moving forward that other people didn't notice — it's just too familiar.You won't have these fresh eyes for long, so take advantage of them. Also focus on building a sense of community.While you can't necessarily rush it, finding people you res- onate with and creating connections with your teammates will help you feel more settled. Reflect on what you've learned, perhaps setting a weekly time to take stock. It will help you remember how much you're actually taking in, even in a situa- tion that feels very new and complex. Don't live and breathe your work! Avoiding the p e r i l o f o b s e s s i n g ove r your job. It will help you stay balanced. Get enough exercise and eat well. See f r i e n d s a n d f a m i ly, a n d pursue your favorite hobby. Remember to just chill sometimes. THE LAST WORD Turn your newness into an asset, and set yourself up to succeed. A publication of Conley Media Distributed by: Conley Distribution 262-513-2646 ©2004 by Conley Media, LLC Waukesha County Independent and Locally Owned GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS is published weekly by Conley Media – Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS assumes no liability for any error in copy or content. It is the advertiser's responsibility to be aware of the laws pertaining to employment advertising. Subscriptions are available for $34 (non-refundable) for a 6-month subscription. Call 262-513-2698 for information. Call Center Director: Cindy Shaske 262-306-5016 cshaske@conleynet.com Account Executive: Donna Armstrong 262-513-2698 darmstrong@conleynet.com Story Coordinator: Dwayne Butler 262-513-2626 dbutler@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262-513-2690 GREATERmilwaukeeJOBS Volume 17 • Number 4 October 2, 2014 To place an ad: Call us at 262-513-2698 or fax us at 262-542-6082 deadline: Noon on Wednesdays

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