9 Tips for Returning To Work
Whether you’ve been on a career break for a couple of months or a couple of years, reentering the workforce can be a daunting experience. While taking a career break may seem like a roadblock to career progression, it can be a very good opportunity to learn new skills and gain a better insight into what you want out of your next job. Here are a few helpful steps you can take to ensure you get hired no matter the circumstances of your break:
1. Take your time
If you've had a short-term or long-term career break, the way you approach your job hunt is everything.
Stressing over finding the ideal role and rushing back into work can lead to accepting unsuitable jobs and burnout. Reflecting on why you took a career break helps ensure you're making decisions based on what's best for you, not external pressures. It's important to recognise what you've learned during your time off. This might include understanding the need for better work-life balance or refining your career goals.
2. Assess your skills and marketability
tart by reviewing your old resume to identify skills you still possess, even if some need updating. Then, consider any new skills gained during your time off, such as those from courses or hobbies turned into ventures. With a list of your skills, compare them to the most sought-after skills in your industry to boost your marketability and potentially increase your earning potential with minimal salary negotiation.
Remember, soft skills are just as crucial as technical ones in today's job market!
3. Work out what YOU Need
Narrow down your non-negotiables. Knowing your worth has always been important within the working world, but with candidates holding more power, it's arguably more important than ever to ensure you get what you need and deserve from an employer.
Take time to have a serious think about what you want from a job, and consider how much flexibility and support you would need. It's important to have those conversations with potential employers upfront to avoid conflict and frustration further down the line. Don't forget that you're assessing companies for their suitability just as much as they're assessing you.
4. Find your tribe - Start Networking!
When you leave a job, it can sometimes be difficult to keep up with colleagues who still work there or who have maybe also moved on to other jobs-but don't underestimate the importance of it. Despite having significant job browsing options available at our fingertips on the internet and across social media, there's every chance that a former colleague of yours may know of a vacancy for you.
Plus, if they've worked with you before, they may be willing to make a recommendation of you or be willing to provide you with a personal reference that stands testament to your work ethic.
5. Research and analyse
Job Descriptions
Once you've thought about the type of work you'd like to do and consolidated your skill set to ensure it matches up with the roles you hope to apply for, you can get stuck in with the nitty gritty of job searching.
At this stage, we recommend simply researching companies you'd like to work with and looking at the job descriptions of open roles for positions you'd be interested in applying for.
By not applying straight away, you give yourself time to see if there's any gaps in your skill set that you could do with filling before applying for these types of positions.
6. Learn New Skills
As well as building on the skills you already have, taking the time to learn new skills can help you to stand out among competition in the candidate market. Think about it: if an employer has your resume and another candidate's, and you have more relevant skills listed on your resume among great experience, they're likely to put you ahead in their shortlist.
While certifications aren't everything, a survey found that 83% of professionals believe they enhance your value as a candidate, and 92% think they increase your marketability.
7. Update your resume and portfolio
Once you've accumulated all the skills needed to get into your desired career, updating your resume with all your new skills and experience is your next port of call. Although you'll no doubt want to fill employers in with every detail of your learning experiences, remember to keep it concise.
If you've got an online portfolio of your work, remember to update that as well. Whether you insert URLs to recordings of your webinars and keynotes at conferences, evidencing this is not just good for validating what you say in your resume, but also shows your dedication to your career.
8. Be as flexible as possible
Your reentry into the workforce may not go exactly as you imagine in your head. And that's absolutely okay! Don't give yourself strict deadlines or become too tied down by your own expectations.
You may go back to your old job and realise that you don't really want to work the same way anymore. Or, as you start your job search, you may find yourself becoming overwhelmed by it. Some days you may even want to give up. This is normal.
Whatever it is, be flexible with your approach. It's okay to try different things and change your mind about what you want from the next phase of your career.
9. Find a recruiter to help
Finding the perfect job can be challenging, especially in a fast-paced industry with constantly emerging roles. Reflect on your skills and typical career paths for guidance. If you're still struggling to find a role that meets your criteria, consider seeking a recruiter. Choose one who understands your needs and specialises in your industry to greatly improve your chances of success.
For example, at Who in the Zoo, we have recruiters specialising in areas like Design, Marketing, Finance, Merchandise, and Digital roles. Each of our consultants is an industry expert, which we believe is a significant advantage in helping candidates land roles they love and excel in, especially after a career break.
Returning to work after a career break can seem scary, but it needn't be.
By following the tips laid out in this article, you should be able to do all the background preparation to rebuild your confidence and maximise your skills and experience before you start applying for jobs again.
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