A comeback from career break

Are you one of the women who left your job and are looking forward to get back to work? The reason can be any – marriage, relocation, childbirth, taking care of children or aging parents, ailment, travelling, lay off etc. A career break can be a rewarding time in your life. Enjoy this time. Returning to work after your break can be scary at times. The fear is of rejection, that you won’t be able to pick up a similarly skilled role to the one you left, struggling to do a good job. Do not be scared as a research has revealed that 73% of women take a career break for ‘family reasons’, whereas 47% of males take a break for ‘personal reasons’. So, you are not alone.   

 Some tips to overcome your career break:

·         One of the biggest hurdles will be your confidence, your self-belief. Many people feel that they have missed too much, that their skills are no longer relevant. Describe your career break in your CV in detail. What were you doing? What skills did you learn? List the projects you took on, if any. That can be of managing your kitchen extension, run a parenting group, organize parties, volunteer work etc. You must have done many activities that could really enhance your skills within a workplace. These are not worthless and should proudly showcase them.

·         Many people make a mistake of jumping into the first job they can find. Take some time to assess your situation first and decide what you want to do. Think, what was right before your career break may not be the best for you now. Look for a suitable job. Do not be nervous as you’re not alone as it’s becoming more common place for women to take a break from their careers to attend to family matters. Reevaluate your situation especially if you are a new mother, you would need a different work schedule, so apply accordingly.

·         Look for career returner programs. Example, Deloitte provides this kind of scheme which provides tailored support and experience to help you readjust to being back at work. Companies are recognizing the need for re-entry programs.

·         If you think you are no longer up-to-date, take a refresher course. When you have to go for interviews, look for employer’s website and social media channels. Read about latest industry news and trends.

·         Don’t be apologetic, embarrassed and don’t discount the value of your career gap. In our society, it is easy for a woman to think if she is not working means she is not contributing, but get out of that thought and replace it with self confidence. Just because you had a gap in your career does not mean you’re not as fit, qualified and capable as the next candidate. And, if an employer judges you harshly for your career gap, you probably don’t want to work for that company anyway.

·         Do invest in a few new outfits which fit you well and show you are serious and professional. It would give you more confidence. Some employers still judge by race, gender, age and their physical appearance.  

·         During your break, keep in touch with your colleagues and professional contacts. If your profile allows, take up freelance projects, even if the pay does not seem worth it. To stay up to date, if you are ‘between jobs’ take online courses, join discussion forums, do your research and keep learning.

·         Don’t shy away from being flexible. Especially, when it comes to salary. Initially, the compensation can be less since you have been stagnant for a while but once you pick up the pace, the pay eventually gets better. Try for smaller and medium firms as they offer more opportunities to grow.

·         Switch profile or be your own boss. You can always return in the field you were working before, you can always make a switch from your old job profile to a new field that interests you. Use this phase to evaluate other positions and opportunities available in the market like running a franchise, starting your own business or reseller program.

·         The average job search takes 10 weeks and 3 failed interviews. If you don’t get the role, don’t be disheartened and don’t fall into the trap of blaming your career break. There are numerous factors that contribute to a job search, so make sure you retain your enthusiasm.

So, if you are non-working for now or want to start working after a gap, these tips will be useful. It is important to keep your enthusiasm high and stay motivated.

                                                             Happy Living!