5 STEPS TO STARTING OVER

REFRESH YOUR LINKEDIN PROFILE

Members with a profile photo have 21 times more views and up to nine times more connection requests than members who don’t have one. Regularly sharing your opinions and things that interest you, such as an engaging video or article, is a great way to stay connected with your professional community.

BRUSH UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Victoria Lindfield of Victoria Lindfield Associates, which recruits candidates for business support roles, says clients expect candidates to be up to date with apps. ‘Companies use social media as a free marketing tool, so even if you don’t use them, it’s important to know your way around Twitter, Instagram and Facebook,’ she says.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Understanding a company’s mission and objectives and being motivated by its purpose is really valuable. Read the company website and follow it on social media to get a feel for its culture and values.

GET COMFORTABLE USING ZOOM

You are likely to be interviewed virtually, so treat it as you would a face-to-face encounter. Find a tidy, neutral space. Dress professionally, use good lighting and find a flattering camera angle. Make sure the technology and wi-fi are working properly. Turn your phone off and don’t let the cat in the room – you need to be as focused as you would be in an office.

CONSIDER RETRAINING

Think about retraining as ‘shifting’ into a new area, because you are still bringing the skills, experience and knowledge you have from before, rather than starting all over again. You need to be really excited about the area you are going to retrain in though, because it will be hard work. However, if you enjoy it, then the effort involved will be worthwhile.