12 Tips to Boss your Career Break & Return to Work in Style!

It’s no secret…

…that despite the popularity of career breaks among working professionals (61% of us choose to take one), the return to work afterwards can be a challenge to say the least.

This is partly due to the fears that candidates have about re-joining the corporate chaos, topped with insecurities about marketing themselves and re-establishing themselves as in-demand professionals.

But in addition to this, other barriers from companies such as how they view career-break candidates, what they assume about their motivation, skills and how up-to-date they are following a career break, all add to the pot.

But despite all of this, it doesn’t mean you should give up on the idea of taking a career break! It can be a wonderful thing to experience and all it takes is a little extra thought and preparation to make things easier on yourself upon returning to work.

The truth is, regardless of your profession, your experience or skills, it is very normal to feel a little ‘out of touch’ and anxious after taking time out from a fast moving job or industry. It’s to be expected, in fact.

I’ve written about career-break’s before and shared different ideas and developments on this area, looking at why companies fear hiring career break candidates, as well as sharing an insightful TED Talk, but today I want to share something practical with you.

I’m talking about some actionable tips you can start doing right now to make your career break transition even smoother.

So, to help you stay at the top of your game during your time-off and maintain a modern and in-demand professional profile, here are 12 of our Top Tips!

Lead from the front! Share this article “12 Top Tips to Boss Your Career Break & Return to Work with Style!” with your colleagues and friends! 

1. GO PUBLIC WITH YOUR JOB SEARCH

Reach out to your network, that is, your colleagues, ex-colleagues, clients, friends and family. Learn how to network effectively with old and new connections.

Tell everyone you know you’ll be returning to work following your time off. While most of these conversations may not directly land you a job, a handful of these could lead to new opportunities.

Start making connections early, don’t leave it until you’re already job hunting.

2. BE CONFIDENT

Whether you’ve been away from work for a few months or a few years, getting back into the workforce can be nerve-racking.

If you’re interviewing at a new company, remember that a confident demeanour can go a long way towards making a positive and lasting impression. Or if you’re looking to return to your previous employment, they’ll remember you for the good work you did and the personality you had before your career-break, so remind yourself of those good things too!

If all else fails, consider these words from just about every coach on the planet: Fake it until you make it! Or as Amy Cuddy said it, ‘fake it until you become it!’

Act confidently and soon enough you’ll naturally begin to feel confident. If you need a little help with this, hire a coach to help you transform your confidence and achieve your goals even quicker.

 

3. KNOW YOUR STUFF

One of the biggest concerns that employers have with regards to returning professionals is that they won’t be up to date with the latest industry or technological advancements, processes and practices.

This could mean that interview questions might be a bit more difficult, as the hiring manager will look to see if you still know your stuff and if your knowledge is current.

The best way to prepare yourself is to stay connected and on top of the latest industry trends and news throughout your career break. Or go a step further and do additional courses to keep improving your professional profile (e.g. Business English). 

4. ASSESS YOUR SITUATION FIRST

Although you may feel ready to return to work, it is important that you take a step back to evaluate specifically what you are looking for, and whether your professional interests, career objectives and requirements have changed.

Also, does the job you are applying for suit your new lifestyle? Have a clear sense of what your job ‘deal breakers’ are to help you narrow down your search and avoid wasting time.

Don’t simply jump straight back into the first job you find!

 

5. TRANSLATE & MODERNISE YOUR CV & LINKEDIN 

Modernise and translate your CV and LinkedIn into 2 or even 3 languages for multinational companies. Plus, avoid leaving gaps in your CV, even if your career break was for a long period of time.

Be open about your career break, you’re not the only person returning to work. Include a ‘relevant experience’ or ‘key expertise’ and experience section that highlights how you have developed characteristics that are considered desirable within your industry.

If you are uncertain how to do this and would like some help, check out our CV & LinkedIn Service here.

6. CONSIDER ‘RETURNSHIP’ PROGRAMS 

Around the world, ‘returnships’ or re-entry programs have become increasingly popular, creating a bridge back to senior roles for experienced professionals who have taken a career break.

This is something that we are likely to see growing tremendously in the coming years.

These offer a win-win solution for both parties, giving for example, new mothers a chance to see how they will balance work and home life while giving employers an opportunity to ‘test the water’ before offering a full-time contract.

 

7. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED

The workplace may not look or feel the same when you return!

Even after just a few months out, many things could have changed, from management styles, working hours, responsibilities, pay, dress code or even the entire corporate culture.

So be flexible, open minded and adaptable to the new way of working. Embrace it!

 

8. TRAIN YOUR INTERVIEW SKILLS

Returning to work after a career break is more than just finding a job vacancy online, you’ve got to impress in person, too.

First impressions really matter and they really stick! That’s why it’s crucial to practice and refine your interview skills, particularly if you’ve been out of the game for a while and even more so if you’re interview will be in a second language.

Practice, practice and practice some more, or even better, join an interview training course to perfect your skills and increase your confidence in the interview.

 

9. TRAIN YOUR PRESENTATION SKILLS

From large presentations to small workshops, presentation skills are increasingly in demand in the corporate world.

Plus, employers don’t always want to wait to hire you before knowing if you have these skills. That’s why many interviews require short presentations.

So keep your skills in check and learn how how to deliver outstanding presentations using professional English!

10. GET HEADSTRONG

Returning to work can feel scary at times. That’s normal. You may feel as though you don’t fit in or simply feel a little uncomfortable rejoining the corporate world.

New beginnings are always a little daunting, so don’t be hard on yourself. Be aware that some companies may still see a career break as a negative thing, so be ready for that.

Prepare in advance how you would overcome this objection, so you can confidently and positively demonstrate why you’re as good any other candidate out there!

 

11. SEE RECRUITMENT FROM THEIR SIDE

Something we work on in our interview training course is how to see the recruitment and selection process from the employer/recruiter’s point of view.

Why? Because this gives you power in your preparation, confidence and negotiation leverage, not to mention an advantage over other candidates.

You can arrive prepared for their concerns and ready for their objections and challenges, so you can give them every reason to hire you instead of excuses not to. Make it easy for them to want you!

 

12. EXPAND YOUR OPTIONS

Be flexible. Don’t limit your options by narrowing your job search too much.

Consider these 3 variables as a minimum: Job, Salary, and Location. Decide what you want for each and how flexible you are for each.

For example, if you found the perfect job/company in the perfect location, but the salary was less than you wanted, would you accept it? Or if the salary and job were perfect but it was located in another country, would you consider moving abroad?

Remember, don’t confuse being flexible with undervaluing yourself or settling for less than you’re comfortable with!

PLUS! Be open to new industries, company types, or career paths that interest you and where possible, increase your employability by building on your professional profile with additional courses.

 

So there you have it.

12 top tips to get you started on your career break AND prepare you for your return to work.

Which of these tips do you like the most? Can you think of any other tips you would suggest for professionals looking to rejoin the job market?

Is there anything else companies could do to help candidates that are returning to work?

Share your ideas and experiences here in the comments box below!

PLUS! If this article resonated with you, or you know someone who could benefit from hearing this message, then share this article with your friends and colleagues via Facebook & LinkedIn.

 

Best,

Adam 

For the definitions of the highlighted words check our Glossary. 

*Adapted from original article at entrepreneur.com