Sometimes…we need a break. Whether the temporary pause in your career was a few months, a few years, expected or unexpected, returning to the workforce can be a tricky transition. See our tips on how to return back to the workforce after breaking up with your career.
Reflect and Reassess
Take some time to figure out what you want to do going forward. Ask yourself if your previous career path was fulfilling or if you would like to peruse something different. Acknowledge what you would like to gain from a position and why you are interested in that field. In addition to figuring out what you would like to do, look at reasons why you felt like you needed to take a break. Was it the job? Or was it the industry?
Relearn as Much as You Can
No matter the duration of your break, it’s important to catch up on what you may have missed. Take the time to research your job or industry for they both could have made advancements from when you were last employed. In some cases, it’s beneficial to attend conferences or schedule informational interviews for a deeper understanding.
Refresh Your Skills
Whether it’s new programming or new content, it’s important to acknowledge the changes. Utilize the sources you can find online to refresh your memory or to pick up on some new material. In some cases, you may find that you are well behind the times and need to consider taking some courses to bring you back up to speed.
Rework Your Interviewing Materials/Skills
Take a look at your resume or LinkedIn profile. Do either of these need updating? If your resume and LinkedIn is still in a chronological order, it may be time to rework your resume into a functional version instead. By making the switch, it takes the emphasis off the gap in your employment history and focus’ on your skills.
Begin to prepare for interviews by contemplating common interviewing questions and how you would answer them.
Refrain From Over-Explaining
If you’ve had a lengthy time away from your career, more than likely your absence will be a topic of discussion. Instead of over explaining, keep your statement short and sweet. Stating “I wanted to take a few years to travel and learn of other cultures” or “I took some time to take care of my children until daycare” are both acceptable examples for answers.
Focus on steering the conversation back to your skills prior to your leave or things you have accomplished during your time away to gain experience.