Whether you’ve been a stay-at-home parent, on military leave, traveling long term or volunteering, re-entering the workforce after a prolonged absence can be difficult. It can take a little while to get your head back in the game, and you may feel lost on how to sell yourself to employers. Let’s discuss some strategies for helping you re-enter the workforce with minimal friction and making the transition a smooth one.
Give Your Resume and Cover Letter a Touch Up
A lot can change during your time away from the workforce. You may have developed new skills or had new experiences that make you more desirable to employers. Before contacting any recruiters, it’s smart to go over your resume and cover letter to see if they need any tweaking. If it looks a little outdated or less than captivating, go ahead and make the necessary changes.
Assess Your Online Reputation
Did you know that “43 percent of employers use social networking sites to research job candidates”? With a quick search on Google, recruiters can find pictures and content you’ve posted on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc. This is why it’s wise to Google yourself to see exactly what potential employers will find. If it’s not ideal, go ahead and clean up your profiles and delete anything that could paint you in an unflattering light.
Utilize Your Existing Network
If you’ve got a list of former colleagues, employers or friends in your industry, you can potentially use them as leverage to find open positions. Reach out to anyone who might know of any openings or have valuable contacts. This will often get the ball rolling and can really streamline your search. You may also want to update your list of references.
Brush up on Your Interviewing Skills
Nailing an interview is essential for converting a job lead and landing a position. If it’s been awhile since you’ve had an interview, it’s recommended that you prepare yourself so you’ll be ready. For instance, you can look over this list of 50 common interview questions to see what might get thrown your way. You can also practice by holding a mock interview where someone plays the role of a recruiter and you respond to their questions.
Re-entering the workforce may seem a little intimidating at first. But with the right preparation, you can move full steam ahead and hopefully land a job fairly quickly.
Looking for work? Contact us today to learn about available positions in your area.