Return To Work Confidently After A Long Break! Here are the 9 Ultimate Tips

Are you one of those who took some time off in your career and are now looking for a job? Whether it was planned or unplanned, our careers may be disrupted for some reason.

You are not alone. According to the Harvard Business Review, 43% of highly qualified women with children are leaving careers or taking a career break. Moreover, 24% of women reported off-ramping to care for an elderly parent. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, around 4% of employees have taken a career break of six months or more. This research also revealed that 73% of women took a career break for ‘family reasons’, whereas 47% of males took a break for ‘personal reasons’.

Taking extended time off from work can be equal parts exciting and terrifying and when you set your mind. The reasons may vary – moving to a new city or town, having a baby, building a business, traveling around the world, separated because of redundancy, getting sick, or taking care of a sick family member. After a break, you may still have doubts about how to get back to work.

It may be hard to feel confident and qualified too. Moms who took time off to deliver a baby and take care of growing kids are vulnerable to this. What if nobody hires me?

Where should I start?

You may feel that you are too old to start a career. Can I re-enter the workforce when I am 50? How will I fare when I go back to work after taking 10 years off? What if you were somebody who is returning to work after 20 years off?

After an illness, my friend Julia who is a nurse has to take some time off after suffering a stroke. It took her almost a year to fully recover most of her motor skills. She was only 49 when she begins to doubt how she will thrive in her remaining productive years. Going back to work after an illness is never easy.

As you get yourself back to work remember that the harder you work in this life, the higher your chances are of becoming successful.

Getting a job can be daunting enough, but it can be even more unnerving after taking a break from work. You may feel anxious about where to begin. You may worry that your skills are a little rusty because a lot has changed since you’ve been away from the workplace.

Some recruiters and hiring managers may be understanding on why you took some time off from your career. But not everyone is open-minded. Some may have some reservations and unfounded fears about hiring you.

Before Starting your Job Search

If you had a career gap and would like to reenter the workforce again, here are six effective tips to help increase your chances of getting hired following a career break:

1. Know why you are going back to work

Do not dive into applying to job sites yet. Examine your motives. Are you set to really go back to work? Many people make the mistake of jumping right on the first job they can find.

Assess your situation as a whole. Know what you can do and what you cannot do.

2. Assess the job you want

Do you want to go back to a similar job like what you had before? Or do you want something new? Do you want to enter a new field? Are you open to get a part-time job? Do you want to be a freelancer in your field instead? Do you want flexible hours?

Keep your needs in mind too. What is the salary range acceptable to you? Have a checklist of what you want your new job to be.

3. Reflect on your career break

Did you learn a new skill? Did you do volunteer work? Have you attended some training that may enhance your career?

Even if you weren’t actively working, you may have noteworthy accomplishments to mention during interviews or add to your resume.

4. Re-learn your industry

If it’s been a while since you worked, you need to familiarize yourself again with the industry. Start researching companies in your industry. Do market research of what is happening and new technology especially if you took a break for a while.

5. Network

Reach out to former colleagues, clients, friends, and family. They may have the perfect job for you or be able to point you in the right direction. This is also a good opportunity to prepare for any potential references that could support your new job applications.

You may hear of some job opportunities during your conversations. And other potential job leads. Ask your former colleagues for some tips and advice on how to go back to work.

6. Freshen your skills

If you can, take a diploma course specializing in new technology. Get certifications on your new skills. Attend classes. It may be an in-person course or an online course. Add it to your resume. Subscribe to newsletters and listen to podcasts. Today there are tons of available books, audiobooks, and other resources you can utilize online to learn or freshen your skills.

Do volunteer work even if it is unrelated to the work you were re-accustomed to. Volunteer work may ease your way to a structured organization and help you develop your leadership skills.

7. Refresh your resume

With time away from the workforce, you need to update your resume. Dealing with resume gaps may be as simple as changing the format of your resume. Instead of the chronological format, highlight your skills and achievements.

You may need to update your Linkin profile too. De-emphasize the gap in your employment history. Remember though that it is not a good idea to lie on your resume.

After updating your resume, do not wait to be found. Put yourself out there. Make the market know that you are available for hiring and actively looking for a job.

8. Polish your interview skills

Before you attend your first interview, make sure you are prepared to answer your career gap. Be prepared to answer why you took time off and why you are returning back to the workforce.

Keep your explanation brief and gear the interview toward the job you had before the break and the skills you learned during the career break. A simple sentence will do. Try, “I’ve spent time caring for a sick relative,” or “It was important to me to be home with my growing child.”

Be honest about your career gap but put your career gap in a positive light.

9. Convey confidence

Getting back into the hiring pool can be nerve-racking. However, the most important thing is that you remain confident in your abilities. Don’t underestimate yourself. While it is understandable that your confidence level may diminish because of the career gap, do not forget what you have achieved in the past. Do not undervalue your strengths and skills.

Remember the skills you have achieved while on your break: communicating, negotiating, organizing, budgeting, etc.

If looking confident would require you to visit a beauty salon, then by all means do so. You may also need to update your wardrobe.

If you put your heart, mind, and soul into your work, success will find you wherever you are. Welcome back. You’ve been missed!

Prepare mentally as well on what your life would be once you are hired. Be ready to make the adjustment so that the transition will be as normal as possible.

Conclusion

You are not alone who wish to re-enter the workforce. Many have been in that situation in the past and now have thriving careers.

Bonus tip for you: do not give up. It may take some time to land the job you want. It may take months to get that first interview. Yes, a career gap can be a stigma and a difficult hurdle to overcome in the job-hunting process. However, getting a job is not an impossible quest. You will be selling yourself short if you just quit. Give yourself the opportunity to succeed.

So if you’re feeling apprehensive about jumping back into the workforce after a career break, remember these lessons and tips to put you on the right path with a renewed belief in yourself and confidence.

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