When Life Happens

I’m a pretty plugged-in professional: Blackberry, laptop computer, cellular modem … But the most important piece of hardware to keep me on task is on my keychain: a little electronic photo album my family got me from Brookstone. On there are photos of my wife, my kids and even a selection of our favorite pets. After all, they’re the people (and critters) I share my successes with and my single best reason to stick with it when the going gets tough.

I know a lot of us feel that way about the balance of work and the rest of our lives. So what happens when personal circumstances and professional pressures converge? Illness, marital strains and other demands are tough to handle all by themselves; what happens when these circumstances arise during your job search?

Debra Donston-Miller starts the conversation with this special report, as TheLadders speaks to real job seekers and career experts about how to strike a balance when you’re buffeted from both sides. TheLadders’ editorial team wants to hear your stories, too; please write in to matthewr@theladders.com to tell us what work/life issues strike closest to your home.