I’m not a whiner, but lately I find myself venting about mommy guilt alot. Guilty about going out after work for social cocktails. Guilty about taking a 1/2 day kayak trip (my “try something new” shoes). Guilty about attending a NAFE board meeting or anything really which pulls me from the kids.

Then a friend said three magical words that snapped be back to reality.

“Be selfish sometimes”.

It’s true, I’m ready to burn out on mommy & me play dates across the state of NJ and NYC. For most of the year, I’m a good mommy, right?

So last weekend (yep an entire weekend that started with Friday night!) I saw an inspiring Manhattan play on Motherhood with my bff: Motherhood Out Loud. I laughed, I cried. I walked away with a slap in your face kind of mortality. After we raise our children, we find ourselves raising our parents and worrying about their every move. The circle goes on and on.

The next day I attended an all day Alumni event at NYU, my former grad school. I met more inspiring people and closed the day with some powerful tips from their career workshop, which I share with you here. Enjoy.

I’m not Jewish but this is after all their New Years. It seems fitting then to make some resolutions in the spirit of such a worldwide religious celebration. I resolve to be selfish more often because guess what?

When I returned from my “selfish me weekend”, my kids were just fine.

Job Search Tips:NYU School of Continuing & Professional Studies

Write it down. Yep, to the bones. What do you want your dream job to be? For me, my background is in IT, I’m a breeded developer, PM and Systems Implementor. But wow wouldn’t I love a career where I could let my writing shine too? There, I just wrote it down.

Ask your colleagues what they feel stands out about you. Leverage this list when you go into an interview. Show them why you’re the shining star that twinkles above the rest.

What is your Value Add? What do you bring to the table that would make me want to hire you?

When needing help from others, use the words “Can I ask your advice?” instead of “Can you help me?”. The former will always seal the deal.

Handwritten notes are still classy. After the interview send one out. Think pretty stationary, curvy script, personalization!

Become a facebook fan, follow the tweets of a website or company you want to work for. When in the interview, you’ll have cool up to the minute tidbits of info that can spark a clever conversation.

Google yoursef. Do you like the hits you receive? Hope so, if someone wants to hire you, that’s the first button they’re pressing.

Build your personal brand. Develop your personal mission statement and create a web page that summarizes who you are professionally and personally.

Set up Google Alerts on industries and companies that interest you.

Linked in – this was by far the most powerful tool you can use in your hunt for a new job.

Grow at least 100 connections by hook or by crook – this is a must.
Make frequent updates to your profile to keep you front and center with the people connected to you.
Connect to Alumni groups and any organizations you are a part of.
Linked in is a searchable database, therefore use the right key words in the summary section of your profile so the managers you want to attract can find you!

Advice from Pamela Weinberg, a career coach, co-founded Mind Your Own Business Moms a business dedicated to helping moms re-enter the workplace.