As many parents will attest, returning to work after raising a family can be a daunting task. How can you get your foot in the door and convince a recruiter or employer that you can be an asset to their organisation after a long break from the world of work? Whether you have been out of work whilst raising a family or due to other circumstances, going back to work after a long break can feel like an uphill battle. Lets look at some ways we can overcome some of those obstacles.
Skills Update
When returning to work after raising a family , think about updating your skills. These skills maybe related to your job prior to taking a break or the area you want to get into now. Or it could be brushing up new skills. Do you need to improve your I.T skills? Or perhaps you need to refresh existing skills and complete some courses to achieve that. It’s important to show prospective new employers or recruitment agents that you are eager to learn and your willingness to update your skills after a break shows that you will be a great asset for the company. Search all available resources for courses in different areas , from I.T to social media management.
Confidence
After a long time away from the world of work it is natural that you may feel a little less confident than you used to.You can improve your confidence by updating your skills as mentioned above. You should also think about the skills you may have picked up during your break. Think about volunteering, this is a great way of boosting your confidence and dusting off those skills.
Update Your CV
Ensure you update your CV. You may think you don’t have anything new to add but you may find that during your time away you have acquired some new skills that potential employers may find invaluable. Make sure you update your CV and use the most appopriate format. You may find for example, that a Functional or Skills CV is the best way forward for you.
If a careers coach is not an option, make a list of where you want to be and define the required steps to get there.
Where do you want to be?
This is the perfect time to think about where you want your career to take you. Do you want to go back what you were doing before you took a break or start something new? Do you want to build on a passion you’ve always had? Speak to a careers coach, who can help you make that decision. If a careers coach is not an option, make a list of where you want to be and define the required steps to get there.
Network,network,network
Make arrangements to see old colleagues, go to networking events and try and meet as many new people as possible. You need to make new contacts and look at new opportunities that could be open to you.
