Don’t Shy Away from Returning to the Workplace Just Because of an Absence.
The transition for returning to work after a long absence can go smoothly if you learn to strategize. These days, it's increasingly common for workers to find themselves with an extended absence [3] from the workplace when they look to return. You may have had a time of unemployment, stepped away from your career for a while to raise a family, took time off to help a sick family member, or went back to school. Regardless of the reasons, there are several strategies you can use to make the transition back to the workplace smoother.
Long Term Absence from Work Tips!
Update Your Skills: In your time away, you may have lost that competitive edge because you haven't stayed up to date on the skills needed to complete your job. These days, employers expect certain level of proficiency on computers, and in some fields, even an advanced degree where a bachelor's degree used to be plenty. Take a look at the requirements for the type of job you're looking to get, and if needed, take some classes to update your skills so you're a competitive candidate.
Fine-Tune Your Resume: Your resume is your chance to get your foot in the door, so it needs to be up-to-date and reflect you well. Instead of pulling out the resume you used last time you got a job and adding that last position to it, focus on highlighting your skills and downplaying your extended absence. Many job seekers returning to the workplace find that a combination format for the resume, which lists skills at the top and work experience below, is an effective approach. In addition, add any education you got during your absence and, if applicable, skills gained while volunteering when you were away from the workplace.
Start Networking: Connections play a big part in landing a great job, so get busy building (or rebuilding) your professional network. Create an account on LinkedIn to connect with people you know professionally, and make sure your profile there is complete and reflects you well. In addition, start talking with people in person to ask about job opportunities in your field they may know about.
Don't Snub Employment Agencies: Sometimes you need to get your foot in the door with some real experience in today's workplace. Don't be afraid to register with an employment agency [4] that can place you in temporary positions to help buff up your resume. These jobs often lead to permanent positions, too, and the companies hiring may not even look outside of their connection with the employment agency because it's easier to have an agency do the work of finding employees for them.
Returning from Work After a Long Absence!
Re-entering the workplace may feel daunting, but there are plenty of small steps you can take to make the process go more smoothly. Even in a tough job market, there are plenty of opportunities for you to use your unique set of skills and experience to land the perfect job. If you don't get the best job right away, don't worry about it, and just enjoy spending a couple of years there building experience before leaping off from there to an even better position.
Related Article: How to tell when its time to look for a new job [5].
Have you had an extended absence from work... we'd love to hear your journey back into the work force? Please comment below!