by Rilind Elezaj
Career breaks are normal in the corporate world. Sometimes you plan your break, other times you’re forced by circumstances to take a break. Either way, you will need to prepare yourself thoroughly for a comeback to your stagnated career, otherwise, you’ll struggle to get your vibe back.
When this happens, it’s understandable you might feel a rollercoaster of emotions. Maybe you are very nervous right now, maybe you are excited, maybe you’re overwhelmed, or a little bit of everything. Now that you’re reading this post, don’t allow anything to distract you from making your dream comeback.
Here are five tips that will help you transition smoothly back into the world of employment:
Transitioning back into work tip #1: Take a job that is both fulfilling and gratifying Having been employed before, you are no longer the greenhorn that you were when you first joined the workforce. You now have a clear idea of what you want, which industry offers you the best chance of growth both as a person and as a professional and you know where you’d thrive. In a nutshell, don’t be in a hurry to jump back in. Take all the time that you need to find the best available job opening for yourself.
Transitioning back into work tip #2: Be confident: Whichever the reasons that made you take a break from work, don’t be ashamed or feel the need to apologize. Were you laid off? Did you quit in order to concentrate on raising your kids or look after your old or sick relative? Whatever the reason, don’t be embarrassed to tell the interviewer about it. And even if they refuse to hire you for owning your career gap, maybe that will be for the best. They definitely don’t deserve your services.
Transitioning back into work tip #3: Work on your resume: It is time to polish your resume and update the career gap. While at it, try to display confidence, honesty, and commitment. Let the interviewers see the potential in you and the learning process that you’ve been through during your break. Maybe you toured the world and now you’re here and have gained a deeper understanding of an overseas business or culture that the company can benefit from. Or maybe you were nursing your sick parent and that has taught you the art of patience and empathy, which can come in handy when handling different clients. If you went back to school or volunteered with an NGO, mention that in the resume and make your case on how those skills will help the company.
Transitioning back into work tip #4: Work on your wardrobe and polish your interviewing skills: What is the latest trend in the job market? Will you fit in it as you are or do you need some polishing? These are the questions that you need to ask yourself before you start knocking on office doors. Do your homework and ensure that you understand any potential questions that may pop up during interviews or the professional dress code that is expected in today’s market. Bottom line: Get up to speed with everything relevant to your job application.
Transitioning back into work tip #5: Leverage your connections and networks: If you were a high-level business executive before you took the career break, then you probably have a few of your former associates working in high offices today. And even if you were a junior officer, some of your former peers must have grown in the profession and furthered their professional development and are now in respectable offices. Leverage the connections you have with them. Call them and ask them to offer you job opportunities, or at the very least recommend you to their friends. You have no idea how far those connections can take you.
