Your Back-to-Work Success Guide

Vicki's Take-Away Tips

Expert's Advice: Though her lack of a B.A. hampered her job hunt, "Vicki did a lot of things right," says Shirley Porter, president of WorkVantage, a career consulting firm in Danville, California. The following strategies served Locricchio well and, Porter says, could work for you:

1. Conquer the computer. If your skills are rusty or nonexistent, take a tutorial or ask your children to teach you. The Web is an indispensable tool for any job hunter, and you can't afford not to stay current. "Answering online postings is one way to use it," Porter explains. "There are also online hubs, like Rileyguide.com and Jobhuntersbible.com, that offer links to resources, from tips on résumés and interviews to up-to-date forecasts for different industries."

2. Be persistent. No matter how many times you're turned down, keep focused on specific daily job-hunting goals -- such as making 10 phone calls a day -- and stay positive.

3. Stress your strengths. In her job interview at Franco, Locricchio emphasized the personable manner that made her stand out -- an asset that hadn't diminished during her time off.