How to Return to Work After a Career Break
How to Return to Work After a Career Break
Taking time away from work is common. Whether planned or unplanned, you may take time off due to unemployment or a personal factor. Either way, returning to the workforce after an extended period can be challenging. Some recruiters and hiring managers will be understanding about years away from work, but others may feel apprehension about hiring you. With time away from the workforce, be sure to update any skills or qualifications you may need for your next job search to feel confident about the value you could bring to your next workplace.
Tips for Getting Back into the Workforce After a Career Break
Before you start your job search, do you feel overwhelmed? Nervous? Do not be: Here are three tips to help you ensure you have a successful job search and transition back to employment after a career break.
Assess Your Job Wants and Needs
Before starting your job search, do not immediately dive into searching on job posting websites. Instead, consider what you want: What type of job will be fulfilling and gratifying? And do you want to go back to a role like the one you had before your career break, or do you want to explore something new?
Make a list of the “must-haves” for your next job that includes what you would like to get out of a job, your salary requirements, any schedule flexibilities, and anything else you feel is important. At this time, you can reflect on your career break or sabbatical to see if there was a new skill, volunteer opportunity, side hustle, or class you would like to explore more of.
Re-Learn Your Industry and Network
If it has been quite a while since you worked, you may need to re-familiarize yourself with your industry and any job opportunities available. You may need to:
• Research your industry: Spend some time researching top-performing companies and your industry. You may be particularly interested to find out the salary range for roles that are of interest to you. You may also find companies you would like to apply to during this process. Always note specific aspects that intrigue you or any questions you may have for each company you are interested in to later bring up during the interview process if you decide to apply.
• Network: Reach out to former colleagues to let them know you are returning to the workforce. Not only can you get potential job leads, but these contacts may also be able to update you on the latest industry outlook. You may also ask your connections for advice and tips on getting back into the workforce. Or you may also join LinkedIn and Facebook groups related to your industry to interact with other professionals in your industry.
• Attend Conferences/Webinars: What better way to be up to date in your industry than attending conferences and webinars? Attending conferences and webinars can help you get up-to-speed on how your industry is innovating and growing. This is also a great opportunity to introduce yourself to others in your industry and expand your network.
Briefly Explain Your Career Break
If you have had a long career break, you will have to discuss it during your job interviews. No matter the reason for your extended leave from the workforce, keep your explanation brief with a simple sentence. Here are some examples:
• I have spent time caring for a sick relative.
• It was important to me to be home with my child until nursery school.
• I have been volunteering at a homelessness charity while returning back to school to finish my degree.
• I have spent the past few years traveling throughout the world, working on my language skills.
Whatever your reason for being away, try to distill it down to something brief and redirect the conversation back to the work you did before your time away. Your experience remains relevant, even if some time has passed.