How to come back to work from a career break
The question I get most frequently from people who are considering taking a career break is “Will I be able to get a job when this is over?”
And the answer is yes. You will be able to get a job. But a better question is do you want to get another job after your career break? Have your interests shifted? Do you have any idea what kind of job you’re going to want after you haven’t been working for a while?
I always recommend that my clients give themselves the opportunity to start over from scratch. Not that you’re necessarily going to want to do that, but if you stay attached to what you've always known (like your job), you’re not giving yourself the wonderful opportunity to find new things to love.
But if you know that getting back into the job market is right for you, here are five steps to help you get back on the right foot.
Make sure you’re ready
This is of course the most important one. And it’s related to what I said above. If you’re entering the job market after a career break, you’ve gotta be sure that you actually want a job. Being unsure that going back to work, or even a specific job is for you, will bring the wrong energy into your applications and your interviews. You’ve gotta be pumped. positive, and ready to kick ass in every job-seeking communication.
Tell everyone you can that you want to reenter the job market.
Let people know your career break is ending and you’re searching for a job, and connect with new people in your field and industry. When you’re looking for a job, you can’t let pride get in the way of letting everyone KNOW you’re looking. Your cousins, your 3rd-grade teacher, your old boss’ boss - everyone should know. If you keep the job search to yourself, you’re tying one hand behind your back - and this is not the time for that.
Update Your LinkedIn
LinkedIn has a function that allows you to mark your account as “looking for a job” in a way that recruiters can see it. Make sure you turn that on, so recruiters don’t have to wonder if you’re looking or not. Change your headline to clearly state that you are seeking a job. This is another way to let everyone know you’re looking.
Update your resume.
Well Duh! -But it’s a little more than updating your resume to highlight your last role. Make sure you update it with the time you took off, and what you experienced while you were away. Everything you learned, every life lesson you stumbled upon. Add those all to your resume, so when you’re speaking to hiring managers, they will have a clear idea of what you did between jobs.
Don’t stress. If you’ve taken time off to live the life of your dreams, you are someone who GETS SHIT DONE!! The job search won’t be any different. You will get it done, and you will get it done well. Don’t doubt yourself, believe in your ability to get what you want.
For more career break planning advice, grab by Sabbatical Planning Guide right here.
