Most people, at some time in their lives, will be faced with reentering the workforce after an extended time off. Mommies returning to their careers; laid-off workers finding something new; and baby boomers opting to forgo their early retirements. All these job seekers will be faced with a little something called “on-ramping”, which refers to the segue from unemployed to employed.

There are countless paths to gainful full-time and part-time employment, but it all boils down to this: The key to successful on-ramping, regardless of your field, is preparation. Click here to read “Back to Work Wisdom: New Directions” by Melissa J. Anderson on TheGlassHammer.com

I recently spoke with a young woman who was on the job hunt. After hearing about her diverse and very interesting career, she dropped a bombshell on me. Turns out her resume was six pages long. That’s right, six pages… and she wasn’t willing to budge on a single detail. Let me tell you right now, I doubt that Steve Jobs’ resume is six pages long (well maybe, but he is Steve Jobs). A six page resume, unless you are an award-winning molecular biologist or the founder of Apple, is way too much information to serve up to a potential employer.

Even if you are simply seeking a part-time job, a great resume is mandatory. Beyond penning an epic saga, there are numerous other no-no’s in writing and designing a great resume. Click here to read “10 Things to Leave Off Your Resume” by Rachel Zupek on CareerBuilder.com.

We have all been moved by great mentoring relationships on the big screen. Mr. Miyagi and the Karate Kid. Dumbledore and Harry Potter. Mufasa and Simba.

Few things can enhance your career more effectively than a mentor. A mentor is someone who can share with you their path to success; someone who knows the ropes and is willing to teach you how to climb them; someone who, in one way or another, you would like to emulate. A mentor is the Yoda to your Luke Skywalker… and may the power be with you.

Part-time employees looking to make the leap to the big leagues and even those full-timers hoping to blaze their way up the corporate ladder need to think strategically about potential mentors. Is there someone you know that fits the bill?

MySalary.com has posted a great presentation by Ruth Walker on the value of mentorship. Click here to read “Mentor Me: 5 Ways to Make this Free Training Pay Off.”

Everyone who has ever searched for a new position, be it a part-time job or a full-time gig, knows that the quest for employment can leave one feeling drained and full of self-doubt. You submit your resume to a faceless nexus of hiring managers and then you wait. And wait. Then you pretty much resolve that your curricula vitae got lost or forgotten somewhere in cyberspace.

If the normal channels to attain employment simply don’t seem to be working for you, perhaps you should consider “upping the ante” to get the job done. Click here to read “10 Guerilla Job Hunting Tactics” by Amitai Givertz on MySalary.com

While some of the suggestions in the MySalary presentation may get you noticed, keep in mind that there is a fine line between being assertive and being just plain creepy.

Women’s eternal quest for work-life balance usually boils down to one soul-bearing question: Do most working moms need to, or simply choose to, work outside the home? The answer is complicated by the fact that, often times, women’s careers are tied as much to their internal contentment as they are to their ambitions (and need for a paycheck).

Click here to read a great article entitled “Do Moms Really Want Part-time Jobs?” by Sheila Lirio Marcelo on The Huffington Post website.

Click here to read “Advantages of a Part-Time Job in the Workplace” by Pauline Mascarenhas, on Suite101.com

We all face change during our lifetimes; it is simply part of the human experience. Cross-country moves, marriages, divorces… looking for a new career or a part-time job… are all big deals that can throw us into an internal tizzy. Change is scary, so having a road map to help you navigate your journey is invaluable.

Karen Burns of U.S. News and World Report has written a fantastic article on conquering your fears and moving forward on your next big move. Click here to read “How to Take (Smart) Risks.”