Have you recently decided to rejoin the job market after a career break? Does the thought of doing this leave you nervous because, let’s face it, the job market is ever-changing?
Whether you previously stepped back from a career in the corporate world, public service, or even the police association, returning to work after an extended period can be daunting. Not sure where to start? Keep reading.
What Exactly is a Career Break?
As the name suggests, a career break refers to an instance when an individual takes an extended break from their existing career. The reasons for taking this break can be either professional or personal.
Some reasons why you may consider taking extended time off work include the following:
- Mental health break
- Exploring a passion such as travelling
- Health reasons
- Pregnancy
- Skills development (to study or learn a new skill)
- Spend time with family
- To establish work-life balance
Stepping Back Into the Job Market
Sometimes, in instances such as illness, career breaks aren’t planned. Other times, an individual may plan for their career break and even save money for it. Despite this, there may come a time when you need to get back into working life.
This can leave you feeling anxious, especially if a lot has changed in your specific industry. We’ve got a few tips that will help you make the jump back into the job market.
1. Decide on What You Type of Career or Job You Want
When you first decide to get back into the job market, you may be feeling overly anxious. It’s normal for you to feel as though you won’t get a quality job because you have been away for an extended period. This often leads people to gabbing the first job that comes their way.
It’s important to avoid doing this. Going to a job that you don’t feel a connection to may see you leaving sooner than you had anticipated. To avoid this, take some time and assess what your career goals are. You will also need to consider your financial requirements and how much time you’re prepared to spend at work. Do you want to work full-time, part-time, or even remotely?
2. Update Your CV With Your Career Break Information
There’s a common misconception that a gap in your CV will prevent you from getting a job in the future. However, it’s important to not view this as negative. Firstly, never lie on your CV and list something that you haven’t done. Secondly, be sure to list any new skills that you may have learnt while on your career break.
This can include learning to use a new skill or even a new language. If you did any volunteer work, you’ll want to add it to the list. Be prepared to tell a potential interviewer why you stepped back to re-evaluate your career and what you have learnt from the experience. Keep a copy of your updated CV in your inbox and have it ready to send at a moment’s notice.
3. Work on Boosting Your Network
The next step in getting back into the job market involves reviewing the connections in your social circle. Reach out to people who are working in the industry or company that you would like to work.
Knowing you’re looking for work means that they could put you in touch with someone in HR, advise you of vacancies or even arrange an interview. It’s also a good idea to speak to previous colleagues or supervisors for reference letters that you add to your CV.
4. Start Setting Up Interviews
You will also need to start preparing for potential interviews. Do this by asking a friend to help you practice with a few mock interviews. Include questions about the reasons behind your career break. Be sure to emphasise how your return to work will benefit any company. It’s important to focus on the characteristics that make you an asset.
5. Build Your Confidence
If you feel your confidence waning as you start the process, remind yourself of the work you did, or the career you had before you took your career break. Remind yourself of your strengths, technical skills and abilities. Remember that an interviewer will sense if you aren’t confident, and this can affect the outcome of your interview.
It’s all about marketing yourself to be the strongest candidate for the position you’re applying for. Experts recommend designing a captivating elevator pitch. This means, being able to sum up in a short speech why you’d be good for any position. Practice your elevator pitch and be ready to use it. You never know when you will meet a potential employer.
Final Thoughts
Taking a career break and then returning to work thereafter is more common than you may think. This means that you’re not alone, and it is possible to do this successfully. Working on your confidence, practising mock interviews, and updating your CV are only a few of the simple things you need to do to get back into the job market.
Lynn Martelli is an editor at Readability. She received her MFA in Creative Writing from Antioch University and has worked as an editor for over 10 years. Lynn has edited a wide variety of books, including fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, and more. In her free time, Lynn enjoys reading, writing, and spending time with her family and friends.
