Last updated on Dec 11, 2023
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Assess your goals and needs
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Revamp your resume and online presence
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Reconnect with your network and expand it
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Prepare for the interview and follow up
Be the first to add your personal experience
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Be flexible and resilient
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Here’s what else to consider
Taking a career break can be a rewarding and challenging experience, whether you do it for personal, family, or professional reasons. However, re-entering the workforce after a hiatus can also be daunting and stressful, especially if you face a competitive job market, a skills gap, or a change of direction. How can you make the transition smoother and more successful? Here are some tips to help you prepare, update, and showcase your value as a candidate.
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- Brenda Adanga Recruitment Consultant | Head Hunter | Executive Search | I Connect Talent for Value-Driven Success | Talent Pipeline…
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1 Assess your goals and needs
Before you start applying for jobs, take some time to reflect on your career goals and needs. What kind of work are you looking for? What are your skills, strengths, and interests? What are your priorities and preferences in terms of salary, location, flexibility, and culture? How can you align your expectations with the reality of the market and your industry? Having a clear vision of what you want and what you can offer will help you narrow down your options and focus your efforts.
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Start by introducing structure to your day. The same way you would with a new role. It allows you to see progress against your day/week/month as you search for your next opportunity. Allowing too much fluidity in your day will leave you unsatisfied with the results at days end.
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Re-entering the workforce after some time may be challenging but with a little patience and some strategic planning, considering your current career goals, it is an exciting journey that with a positive mindset, will surely give way to a successful transition back into the career that you are looking for.
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- Dr. Masroor Hussain Shah CHRO | HR Consultant | OD | Cultural Transformation | Change Management |Talent Management
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Few tips are necessary:1. Stay connected to your networks.2. Keep your relationship positive and active with peers, supervisors and likeminded people.3. Keep writing or sharing about your skills, competencies 4. Keep learning though small yet every day.6. Maintain your identity through your work.
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2 Update your skills and knowledge
One of the main challenges of re-entering the workforce is keeping up with the changes and trends in your field. You may need to refresh your skills, learn new ones, or acquire new certifications or credentials. You can do this by taking online courses, attending workshops or webinars, reading books or articles, joining professional associations or networks, or volunteering for relevant projects or causes. These activities will not only boost your confidence and competence, but also demonstrate your initiative and commitment to potential employers.
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- Arunav Tiwari Product | AI/ML | IoT | AR/XR | IIM Bangalore - NSRCEL | The Product Folks
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First, take stock of your skills and identify any gaps. Enrol in relevant courses and certifications, especially those with a practical component, to refresh and enhance your expertise.Networking is another crucial step. Reach out to former colleagues, join professional groups, and attend industry events to make new connections.Craft your narrative to explain your career break positively, focusing on any new skills or perspectives you've gained. Be ready to articulate this in your resume and interviews.Finally, consider part-time or contract work to ease back into the professional environment. This can lead to full-time positions and reduces the perceived employment gap on your resume.
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- Anshu Bhojnagarwala Author | Certified Brand Strategist - MICA I Entrepreneur | Social Media Marketer | Content Creator |
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In my experience, the most important thing that takes a hit when you stop working full time or you desire to have it back when you want to resume work is your self confidence. You are not sure how the industry has gone ahead while you were stuck in your well. The best way to tackle the problem is to find out if you are ready to resume in your old work expertise field or you would like to start in a new work area. Anyway, in both cases, you need to identify the gaps between your skills and the required skills. Find a relevant upskill course online, attend workshops, read books. It is okay to start as an intern to test the waters and gain confidence.
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3 Revamp your resume and online presence
Another important step is to update your resume and online presence to reflect your current skills, achievements, and goals. You may need to tweak your resume format, style, and content depending on the length and reason of your career break, the type of job you are applying for, and the expectations of the employer. You may also need to create or update your online profiles on platforms like LinkedIn, where you can showcase your portfolio, network with other professionals, and search for opportunities. Make sure your resume and online presence are consistent, relevant, and professional.
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My active online presence actually helped me to get back into the corporate workforce after a huge gap owing to motherhood and a six-year stay in the US on a dependent visa. Interim freelancing gigs and teaching professionally further helped me switch my desired career path. I signed up on LinkedIn, which helped me get back into the workforce.
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- Anshu Bhojnagarwala Author | Certified Brand Strategist - MICA I Entrepreneur | Social Media Marketer | Content Creator |
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After a 13-year break from full-time job, when I thought about resuming work again this year, I not only joined an online course from a reputed education brand to upskill myself, but also revamped my resume. There are many paid online resume building sites that do quite a great job. In my case, as I had pursued the course from MICA x Upgrad, the career counsellor from Upgrad helped me rebuild my resume, update my LinkedIn profile.
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4 Reconnect with your network and expand it
Networking is one of the most effective ways to re-enter the workforce, as it can help you access hidden or unadvertised jobs, get referrals or recommendations, and gain insights and advice from others in your field. You can start by reconnecting with your previous colleagues, managers, mentors, or clients, and letting them know that you are looking for work. You can also expand your network by attending events, joining groups, or reaching out to new contacts who share your interests or goals. Be proactive, polite, and genuine in your interactions, and offer value and support as well as asking for help.
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Expanding my network helped as I took proactive measures to connect with new people and bring in new opportunities for myself. Maybe, now I need to dig into my past and connect with old connections as I seek new goals.
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5 Prepare for the interview and follow up
Once you land an interview, you need to prepare well to make a good impression and convince the employer that you are the best fit for the job. You should research the company, the role, and the industry, and anticipate the questions and scenarios that you may encounter. You should also prepare your own questions to ask the interviewer, and practice your answers and delivery. During the interview, be confident, positive, and honest, and highlight your skills, achievements, and value proposition. After the interview, send a thank-you note, reiterate your interest, and follow up politely until you get a response.
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6 Be flexible and resilient
Finally, re-entering the workforce after a career break requires flexibility and resilience, as you may face some challenges, rejections, or setbacks along the way. You may need to adjust your expectations, adapt to new situations, or cope with feedback or criticism. You may also need to balance your personal and professional responsibilities and obligations, and manage your time and stress levels. Be open to learning, growing, and improving, and celebrate your achievements and progress. Remember that re-entering the workforce is a journey, not a destination, and that you have the skills, experience, and potential to succeed.
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It’s important to have a lot of self-belief, discernment, and patience if you have certain expectations from your work. Learning is a lifelong activity, and that’s both the fun and frustrating part if you want to grow in your career. Closing the doors on work that’s long-lived its expiry date, and looking ahead with a fresh perspective, are important. And always, always, celebrate the small and big wins along the way.
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7 Here’s what else to consider
This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?
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- Brenda Adanga Recruitment Consultant | Head Hunter | Executive Search | I Connect Talent for Value-Driven Success | Talent Pipeline Management | Global Talent Sourcing Specialist APAC: Malaysia, Philippines, India and EMEA
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Seek Support: Reach out to career coaches, job placement services, or support groups for advice and guidance.Be Flexible: While on the break the job market changed, Be open to different job opportunities, including temporary positions or contract work, as it can be a stepping stone back into your career.
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- Abid Niaz Khan Experienced Consultant | Certified HRM Professional
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Having attained a certain height on your career ladder, don't loose the height that you have already gained.Embrace the break with positivity, keep polishing yourself skills, expand your professional networks, show your expertise through social media platforms, keep an eye on the opportunities and pitch your candidature to where you could contribute the most.
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I’d like to add to never lose your enthusiasm despite the tough circ*mstances. Be fearless in treading new terrains, even the less travelled or unexplored ones, if you have a strong gut feeling about it. While it’s good to have a close network of people whom you can trust with discussing your career, it’s finally up to you to know what’s no longer working and decide what’s exactly right for you.
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