How To Re-Enter The Workforce
Going back to work after a career break can be challenging but there are some things that can help you with this transition. Just follow these set of steps and whilst it won’t be easy it is possible:
Assess Your Marketability
Assessing your skills and marketability is one of the first things you can do to prepare after a career break. It allows you to determine which employers may be most interested in you. To do this make a list of some of the most valuable skills that used when you were in employment.
Determine Your Expectations
Determining your expectations is essential, you need to assess your situation and establish your needs. Can you work full time or would a part-time position suit you better? Given the costs involved in going to work how much do you need to earn?
Start Your Job Search With Focus
Focus on what you want from a new position, it may be that your needs have changed since you last had a job. Narrowing your job search to fit your needs should minimize the chances that you’ll job-hop and increase your chances of being happy in a new role.
Update Your Knowledge
This is an important step if you have been out of the workplace for some time. Think about your basic skills i.e. data inputting skills, IT system knowledge etc. and seek out online courses that could help you to get on the job ladder again
Update Your CV
Don’t send out a CV with just your work experience on it. Make sure your CV is updated with what you have been doing since you left the workplace. This could be raising a family, caring for a relative or whatever, but this gap in employment does need an explanation.
Start Networking
You may begin the active stage of your job search by networking with former colleagues, employers and friends. You never know they may refer you to someone who is looking for employees or even offer you a job at their Company.
Consider Temporary Work Or Part-Time Work
Transitioning from not working to returning to the workplace can be a challenging experience for many people. It can also be daunting for an employer to consider someone who may have not worked for several years. Get something positive on your CV by doing part-time, temporary or even voluntary work.
Get Your CV Out There
Start applying for jobs but be realistic, if you have not worked for several years you are not going to start at the top you may have to work your way up again. Providing you have produced the best CV possible with an explanation for the gap in your employment there should be no reason why you shouldn’t get an interview.
Prepare For Your Interview
You are in a competition now, I promise you there will be other applications for the role you are after and your background won’t be best. So prepare, prepare and prepare. Do your research, study the job description and be prepared to explain why you haven’t worked and what you’ve been doing during the time out of the workplace.
Be Prepared For Rejection
It is a very difficult job market at the moment so it’s very important that you are realistic and are prepared to receive a lot of ‘no thank yous’! Perseverance is the name of the game here, don’t give up, keep trying and eventually you will get a role, but it will take effort.
So to conclude re-entering the work place is not easy no matter what anyone says but if you are determined and focused you can make it happen!
Good Luck