Successfully returning to job market after an absence
Q: I decided five years ago to stay home with our first child, and now I am ready to return to work. Ideally, I would like to go for a position where I could work from home and in an office. It is taking longer than I expected to find a good opportunity, and I would like to know if my lack of recent experience could be an issue. When I dropped out of the workforce, I lost touch with my colleagues and was behind on industry trends.
Any suggestions you have for returning to the job market would be helpful.
A: Searching for an ideal position can take more time than expected. However, the good news is that opportunities for finding a hybrid position are more prevalent today than five years ago. One of the most significant challenges people discover when returning to the workforce after an absence is their confidence.
Losing touch with colleagues and the latest changes affecting your industry often adds to the feeling of doubt. One concern people have when reaching out to their contacts is what to say to them. If you focus the conversations on what you are missing, the time away from work, and finding hybrid positions, you could add length to your search.
Think about structuring your conversations on why you are excited about a specific industry, such as the skills you enjoy using in the workplace. Focus on what you have rather than what you are lacking. A major part of a job search is how you communicate your goals and skills to your connections.
Staying at home for a while is not a career breaker. Instead, it gives you an excellent way to rebuild your connections with colleagues. Reconnecting with people and expanding your network is always a good habit throughout your career.
Keep in mind that references will be essential to you. They will help with credibility and ease potential employer concerns about an employment gap.
Here is a quick list of things to do and avoid when returning to the workforce:
• Be prepared to reach out to people you know more aggressively than in the past. Identify key contacts in companies that interest you to discuss with your network. • Develop realistic goals by identifying what interests you and how this relates to your skills.
• Practice answering concerns employers may have about your current skills and employment gap.
• Conduct informational meetings with people you know who are currently employed and who could provide information on what type of skills are in demand.
• Reach out to vendors and suppliers you worked with in the industry to gather updated information.
• Apply for jobs without a focus or purpose in mind.
• Attend professional association meetings in person and online, and join LinkedIn groups and networking events aligned with your industry.
• Consider taking a contract position. It will allow you to network and update your skills.
• Avoid dwelling on the length of time you were out of the workforce.
• Do not sell yourself short by describing your past skills. Instead, talk about what you can do now for an employer.
• Don’t forget to follow up with people you meet and expand your connections.