Make a coffee or lunch date once a month with someone who works in your industry.

Recently, I Am Modern consulted with career expert Tory Johnson about her take on what women can do to survive the tough economic times. Tory, who is the founder and CEO of Women For Hire, is also the Workplace Contributor on ABC’s Good Morning America, and the anchor of Home Work on ABC News Now, the digital channel.

In addition to her television and online segments, Johnson writes columns for ABCNEWS. com and Yahoo! HotJobs and Shine among others. Her most recent book, Will Work From Home: Earn Cash Without the Commute, was published in 2008 and became an instant New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller.

What advice can you give to women who, because of necessity or desire, are reentering the workforce? What can they do to compete successfully, given the current environment?
Focus on transferable skills. Have a good story to address what you’ve been doing. Don’t apologize for time out of the workforce. Lean on your networks. You won’t find success through online job boards; opportunities will only come through face-toface contact among people who know you or can introduce and vouch for you. A resume with a big gap is overlooked online, so get beyond that.

For women with no college degree, but years of on the job experience and training, what can be done to improve the odds when competing for employment in this environment against those with college / master’s degrees?
A track record of success will always trump credentials, so that’s what you must market about yourself. Don’t leave it for an employer to guess about your success. Be clear on your resume and in all communication about not just your skills and knowledge, but most importantly, about your record of accomplishment.

What sectors can we expect to see the greatest number of new jobs in the next few years?
Healthcare, education and green jobs. Is it still true that the Washington Metro area is fairly insulated from big swings in unemployment? Are there other parts of the country where you’re seeing employment not being hit as hard? Not insulated by any means. The latest revised DC stats show unemployment in the metro area exceeds the national average. (9.3% for DC -- and could hit double digits but some predictions.) The federal government is hiring, which is good news for organizations that work with and for the government, as well as the ripple effect. There are definitely cities that are worst off but in this economy, I wouldn’t say anyone is truly insulated.

What about running a home-based business, such as pet walking or daycare?Could this affect future job market possibilities and will this experience count?I’m all in favor of doing whatever it takes to generate an honest wage to support yourself and your family. Home-based businesses are great because you can bootstrap, you’re close to the customer, and there’s no red tape. Many people start a business thinking they’ll only need it during a downturn and they wind up sticking with it forever -- and then truly thriving, as things pick up. What can a woman who has decided to stay at home do to remain ‘in the game’, in order to make the smoothest transition back into the workforce 3-5 years from now? (I guess this kind of goes hand in hand with “what do I say on my resume to account for my time off?”)
Stick with your network. Keep it touch with colleagues via LinkedIn and similar professional networking sites. Make a coffee or lunch date once a month with someone who works in your industry. Subscribe to industry publications. Focus on one volunteer initiative and really stick with it so you show longevity and success that you own over time. Keep up with technology. Take a class here and there.

Any suggestions for the mid-level manager who has lost her job after 20 years with an AT&T or IBM? Where do they look to replace the 120K job and how long do they hold out before taking a job at 1/2 the salary they used to make?
The hold out question relies exclusively on your finances. Some people can’t hold out for months because they have no savings. Others have planned well and can hold out for a year. Instead of holding out, try lining up consulting work which enables you to generate some income, but doesn’t poorly impact your salary history to the next employer, and it keeps your foot in the game while minimizing any gap in unemployment.

Check out Tory Johnsons website, Woman for Hire (www.womenforhire. com), for tons of career advice and ideas or make plans to attend her webinars, Career Expos, and/or Conferences