Whether you’ve been on a career break for family reasons or, just to discover yourself, remember that sooner or later you’ll need to embrace a career path again. Now, it could be self-employment (if the idea intrigues you), or it could be heading back to a new job.
Whatever the reason is, there might be a time when you will be ready to jump on the career path again. You might feel that it is daunting to return to a job. You may feel anxious since many things will change in that period of time when you are away from the market. If you have ever ended up in such a situation and want to fuel your career again, then you are at the right place. Here we have come up with effective ways to get hired after a career break.
Without further ado, read ahead and fetch yourself with all the answers.
What do you want in the future – You are restarting your career after a break. Spend some time thinking about what you want from your next job. Consider whether you want the same role before you took a career break or a different one. All in all, give yourself the answer to why you want to rejoin the employment market.
What are your needs and requirements for the upcoming job? For instance – you might be having a particular salary range you are looking for in a job. Make a separate list of needs and wants to make the right decision about your future employment.
Stay up-to-date with the current trends in your industry – If you have made up your mind to go for the same profile, it is time to update yourself with the current industry trends. Research about the companies, job opportunities and salary range available for it. This will open up a whole lot of opportunities in front of you. You can also attend some seminars or conferences to make yourself aware of a particular industry.
Furthermore, subscribe to online blogs or top industry magazines. Catch instant information on social media by following the influencers and the industry experts. Or you can also take an online course to upgrade your level of understanding.
Widen your network – It is imperative to use former or existing connections when you are returning to the work. They might help you if you let them know about your job hunt. Maybe they have the perfect opportunity for you. You might also get potential references that can augment your job application.
In case you were too busy in these years to keep in touch with your clients/colleagues, we have a solution. Make LinkedIn your ultimate friend and start planning out the meetings with your friends/clients. Additionally, re-engage with the groups on LinkedIn or join a new group. All you will come to know is the wealth of information and a vast range of experience levels. Therefore, it is needless to say that networking can never go wrong.
Be confident – Don’t be embarrassed by the fact that you took a career break. The reason could be anything ranging from taking care of the children to taking care of the parents, which is admirable. No matter whether you have been away from work for six months or two years, it becomes nerve-racking to get back to the hiring pool. So, be confident in your abilities, and it should also reflect in your conversations too.
Depict and highlight what you can offer to the company. Show confidence with why you took a break, and others will believe you. Write your strengths, weaknesses, and skills on the piece of paper and tell the same while giving the interview. This works like a boost of energy. Hence, self-confidence is the key to pass through the job interview.
Prepare for the interviews – Preparing yourself before going for an interview is always the right thing to do. Mock interviews can help you to practice for the same. You can take a friend or a family member to assist you with the mock interviews. They will assess your strengths and weaknesses so that you can mend the gaps. Moreover, you can also take assistance from the career coach to prepare for the interviews and make this process seamless.
Make the employers believe in how your career break will benefit the role you are applying for. Give proper explanations as to why you want to join the work again, putting emphasis on your passion and focus.
Rethink about the resume – Are you one of those who think that mentioning the career gap in the CV ruins your career? If yes, then you might need to think again. See it in the positive light that differentiates you from other candidates. Mention in the CV what all skills you have learnt in that break. For instance – you can mention if you have taken any diploma course or volunteered any work. Or maybe you have traveled around your country to give you a kick in confidence.
Adding a cover letter with the resume is like the icing on the cake. It briefly summarizes your professional background. Ideally, a cover letter should be between 250-400 words. A good cover letter can entice the HR manager to go ahead with your resume. So, build an impeccable resume plus a cover letter to enhance your chances of getting hired.
To sum it up all
Believe it or not, nowadays, it is pretty common to take a career break. So, if you are one of those, then let us tell you that you are not alone. Each individual comes with a different speed and grabbing capacity to climb the career ladder depending upon their goals.
If you are one of those who are feeling apprehensive about joining the work again, keep the tips mentioned above in mind. Get yourself ready and embark on a new journey of your life with full confidence. Wishing you loads of luck with your career restart.
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