Catherine Tanelli
Project Manager, Independent Contractor
5 year career break
"I left a successful 16-year career in financial services to spend almost four years in Paris when my partner transferred overseas. Due to normal visa restrictions, I could not work for pay in France and instead did pro bono project management.
When we returned to New York, I worked diligently to restart my career without success. Finally, I enrolled in the Dartmouth “Back in Business” program for professionals seeking to return to the workforce following a career break. As a result, Citigroup hired me as a Senior Vice President and Senior Project Manager - a role where I interacted regularly with colleagues throughout North America and Europe. I was able to demonstrate that my years living abroad on career break actually enhanced my qualifications for this position.
After two years, I changed roles within Citi only to have the position eliminated after one year. I attended the iRelaunch Return to Work Conference in New York and secured an offer for my dream job as a result, but my partner again transferred – this time to Houston. I turned down the role and rather than restart my career, I did paid and pro bono project work, while managing the project of building our dream home.
After nearly three years on career break, I returned to New York and am now working as a Project Manager for Barclays – but as an independent contractor on a renewable contract potentially convertible to a permanent role. Employers increasingly utilize this strategy to manage headcount and related costs, but there is also an upside for me. The work arrangement gives me the opportunity to prove myself as well as the ability to assess whether the organization and role are the right fit for me.”
Background: Financial Services, Financial Services Industry
Relaunch Connection: Friend of iRelaunch
Key Job Search Factor: Career Reentry Program