Career Advice

Satisfied Employees Share Their Secrets

November 2003 - Today’s career women are continually challenged by the demands of full-time work and when the day is done at the office, they carry more of the responsibilities and commitments at home. A recent QuickPoll conducted by CareerWomen.com™, discovered that the majority of women are working 40-50 hours per week and 53% of the respondents report that they are struggling to achieve work/life balance.

"Women report that their lives are a juggling act that includes multiple responsibilities at work, heavy meeting schedules, business trips, on top of managing the daily routine responsibilities of life and home," said Jan Donnelly of CareerWomen.com. "Successfully achieving work/life balance will ultimately create a more satisfied workforce that contributes to productivity and success in the workplace."

CareerWomen.com viewers were asked about their job requirements. 14 percent responded that their job was perfect, while 20 percent stated that their job was too demanding. 43 percent said that they thrive when they have a lot to do, while 24 percent responded they are working too hard. Additionally, the QuickPoll provided the opportunity for women to offer their insights and advice on achieving the elusive work/life balance. The results clearly point to planning and personal effort.

What do satisfied working women know about work/life balance that the rest of us can learn from? CareerWomen.com has identified five top strategies based on advice from their viewers.

• Budget your time both in and out of the office - Schedule your time efficiently at work. Put yourself on your calendar and take some time for you and your family/friends.
• Leave work on time at least three days per week - There are times when working late just can’t be helped, but schedule your time to leave on time three days per week.
• Control interruptions and distractions - Stay focused while in the office, and budget your time effectively. Try to schedule a block of time during the day without meetings when you can focus on your tasks with minimal interruptions.
• Explore the availability of flex-time - Research flex-time options within your organization. If available, it may be a helpful solution.
• Seize the weekend - Plan your time off as you plan your work week. Schedule activities with family and friends, a weekend trip, or just something fun. Make your time away from work count!

For working women, getting caught in the work/life balance trap will continue to be an ongoing challenge. Careful planning and personal effort is the advice from those who have found balance in both career and home life. As one respondent summarized, "Plan, prioritize and schedule as efficiently as possible.... And don’t be afraid of hard work!"

About CareerWomen.com
The Career Exposure Network™ is a women-owned e-Recruiting network of premier niche sites that has been helping Fortune 1000 employers find top quality Women, Diversity & MBA candidates since 1996.