Are you one of the many women who took a break from work and are now eager to return? You're not alone, though. Because of the high expense of child care and the general absence of adequate maternity leave in the United States, many women quit their employment for a period of time to care for young children. Other women quit their jobs to care for aging parents. Caring for family members is the top one reason women quit the workforce for a period of time.
Many of these women may seek to re-enter the workforce later in life, but this is not always an easy task because a career gap may be a challenging barrier to overcome in the job-search process. However, it does not have to be if the problem is addressed upfront.
Here are some fantastic pointers for ladies who want to return to work after a professional break:
Tip 1: Be open about your career hiatus.
Tip 2: Exude confidence.
Tip 3: Reconsider your resume.
Tip 4: Get ready for your interviews.
tip 5: Rebuild your network.
Tip 6: Update your clothing.
Tip 7: Use certification to demonstrate your seriousness.
1. Be open about your career hiatus.
You aren't the only one returning to work after a vacation, so be open about it. Many individuals leave the employment for various reasons, some deliberately, such as caring for small children or taking a six-month vacation, and others involuntarily, such as caring for a dying parent or being laid off. You don't have to disguise your professional gap, and doing so will make you appear peculiar. You merely need to explain that it is unrelated to your job search with this organization.
Be prepared to answer questions and to be honest and upfront when questioned about the gap (but be aware of inquiries that become too personal if an interviewer crosses the line and asks too deep questions). At the same time, frame your professional hiatus in a favorable manner. For example, if you took time off to be at home with small children, express your appreciation for being able to do so at such an important period in their lives.
2. Exude confidence.
Make no apologies. Don't be ashamed. Also, don't underestimate the significance of your professional break. That is admirable if you were caring for tiny children or elderly parents. Good for you if you were laid off and returned to school. And, furthermore, you're back on the job market, aren't you? It is easy for a woman in our society to believe that not working implies not contributing, but get that concept out of your head and replace it with self-confidence. One interview coach claims that self-confidence is the most crucial thing you can bring to a job interview!
Just because you didn't work over the weekend doesn't imply you're not as fit, qualified, or talented as the next job prospect. And, if a potential employer dismisses you because of your career gap, you definitely don't want to work for that firm in the first place.
3. Reconsider your resume.
Your confidence should be shown in your CV as well, so revise it to ensure it shows your belief in yourself. Also, ensure that it employs current industry jargon and highlights any former skillsets that are still in demand. To do so, look at job qualifications on a job-searching website like Glassdoor to discover what companies are looking for now and how it compares to your previous experience. Then, modify your CV to reflect this.
This includes reconsidering the format as well. You don't want to hide your career gap, but you may make it less noticeable by using a non-chronological resume structure. Vault listings functional and newsletters are two more methods to display your qualifications without highlighting the timeframe.
Furthermore, the typical resume has evolved away from basic written text on a page, and it's critical that you select a resume style that allows you to play up your strengths while downplaying any gaps. Go to Pinterest and search for resume designs to discover all of the alternatives available to job seekers today. To be sure, you can't just pick any design. The sort of CV you may utilize is heavily influenced by your industry. Someone working in digital marketing, for example, may get away with a more creative approach, but someone working in Big Data will most likely choose a more traditional strategy. You may, however, use a somewhat different technique to minimize the period you were unemployed.
Whatever strategy you use with your resume, make sure it highlights the talents you have as a possible employee. Include successes that occurred during your gap as well. People refer to it as a professional gap, yet you most likely filled it with useful activities worth noting. Did you attend school? Volunteer? Do you want to get a certificate? Have you ever worked as a freelancer on the side? Include those actions in your employment history.
4. Get ready for your interviews.
In an industry, a lot may happen in a few months, let alone years. You don't want to appear out of touch during your interviews, so do your research to ensure you're up to date on your sector. Look for sample interview questions, such as this collection of 50 SEO analyst and manager interview questions. This may provide you with insight into parts of your profession that have changed, allowing you to know where to brush up on your expertise ahead of time. If you've done your study, you'll feel more confident coming into an interview, and that confidence will rub off on the interviewer.
5. Rebuild your network.
If you were too busy to remain in touch during your career gap, chances are you haven't kept up with your professional network, either in person or online. Now is the opportunity to reconnect with those individuals. Set up some coffee dates and begin following individuals on LinkedIn. Join a new LinkedIn group or reconnect with an existing one. Attend association meetings once more.
6. Update your clothing.
Unfortunately, as much as your appearance should not matter, it does. According to the Fairygodboss study, hiring managers continue to judge job prospects based on their ethnicity, gender, age, and physical attractiveness. When you arrive for your interview, make sure you seem professional and current. Furthermore, it demonstrates that you are taking the job interview seriously. Don't replace your entire wardrobe, but do invest in an outfit that fits well and conveys your seriousness and professionalism. You'll also feel more confident, which will show during you guessed it your interview.
7. Use certification to demonstrate your seriousness.
If you formerly worked in a quickly changing area, such as IT or digital marketing, you will almost certainly need to gain new skills before returning to work. There is also a strong possibility that technology and best practices have evolved. Earning a certification can help you get back on track while also demonstrating to a future employer that you are proactive in remaining current with the business. Certification may provide you a competitive edge over a rival job candidate who does not have a career gap but lacks the legitimacy and currency of a certification.
If you've been out of work for an extended period of time, for whatever reason, you may be apprehensive or have worries about how to address your career gap when you dust off your résumé and begin your job hunt. The good news is that you're not alone, since women are increasingly taking time away from their work to care for their families. And with these seven recommendations, you may better prepare yourself for the real interview when the ideal job position comes around.
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