5 STEPS TO STARTING OVER
1 IDENTIFY YOUR TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
These can be things you learnt in a previous job, degrees, diplomas and qualifications, or even skills you’ve picked up from parenting (think of yourself as the family CEO). Consider how they might fit your chosen career. If you’re stuck for inspiration, try talking to recruiters, head hunters or career coaches – they can look over your CV and experience, and recommend roles that will suit you.
2 GIVE YOUR CV AN OVERHAUL
Rather than simply listing your responsibilities, take the time to think about and identify your achievements. And make sure you tailor your CV to the job you are applying for instead of going for a one-size-fits-all approach.
3 GET THE KNOWLEDGE
Look for courses that’ll get you back up to speed. Sites such as mooc-list.com have a database of free online courses, for example in tech developments. You can also look for professional courses offered by industry associations – and check out talks, seminars and conferences in your chosen career. All of these can go on your CV and will show you’re committed to returning to work.
4 LOOK OUT FOR FLEXI OPTIONS
These can be very competitive. In 2015, research from the Timewise Foundation found that 46% of UK employees want to work flexibly but only 8.7% of jobs that pay over £20,000 are advertised with flexible working options. Even if you’re applying for a job that doesn’t advertise flexibility, it’s worth bringing it up at interview stage, as there may be room for negotiation. And remember, once you’ve been in a job for 26 weeks, you have the right to request the ability to work flexibly. Find out more at gov.uk/flexible-working/overview. There are recruitment websites that can help, too: Further&more (furtherandmore.com) is a recruitment consultancy specialising in job sharing, while Workpond (workpond.co.uk) helps people (especially women) find flexible working opportunities.
5 WATCH THIS SPACE
We’re putting the finishing touches to an exciting new event in the GH calendar: the Good Housekeeping Careers Masterclass. We’ll hear from inspiring women who’ve made their own fabulous comebacks, and there’ll be career coaches on hand to give you tips on rebooting your career. Register your interest by emailing us at hearstevents@hearst.co.uk.