Consider … Career-Path Navigation

Abstract

In the previous chapter on work-life fit, we discussed the concept of choices in how women approach work-life fit. That theme of choices continues in this chapter. For many women, particularly highly educated women, it’s not simply a choice between working or not working; instead, women face numerous options regarding how much they work, where they work, when they work, and what they do. It’s important to understand the trade-offs among these choices and what you can do to maximize options and choices throughout your career.

Leslie puts Matty down for a nap on Monday afternoon while she straightens up after hosting playgroup with her moms club. She spends 30 minutes responding to emails and gearing up for the next day, which is the first day of her three-day workweek. She is hoping to get dinner on the table and laundry done before Matty wakes.

Amanda gets in the car at 5:00 p.m. to drive home, participating in a team meeting via her mobile phone during her drive. She enjoys dinner with her family and puts her children to bed. Then she fires up her computer at 8:30 p.m. and starts working; she has three documents to be reviewed and is hoping to get at least six hours of sleep tonight.

Alyssa drops Elise off at her neighbor’s house. Alyssa is wearing a new suit; it’s her first job interview since college and it’s been four years since she left her job as the financial manager at a large nonprofit organization. She hopes she can remember all the new health care requirements she reviewed the night before.