Breaking up is hard to do – but coming back is harder! How to return to work after a career break.

Career breaks are becoming increasingly common. Gone are the days of working for one company from school to retirement to make way for late gap years, travel breaks, time off after having children and career switching. Consultancy and campaign group ‘She’s Back’ state that “women who left to take a career break represent the biggest single source of untapped potential in the market today.” But its not just mothers who represent candidates getting back to work after an extended period of time out of their career. Changing priorities of a more dynamic and goal-focussed workforce across Europe is leading a trend in job hopping also.

All this creates a challenge for those who have taken a career break – what to do next? How can you get back into work? Getting back into the routine of applying for and working in a new job can seem daunting. We’ve created a handy ‘How to Guide’ for those trying to start work again after time away.

Connections

“It’s not what you know, but who you know” – a phrase that often disheartens candidates, but you may be surprised by what even a small circle of friends and relatives can provide. If you still speak to old colleagues or have a good relationship with ex-clients, talk to them. Underestimating the power of a handy connection can mean the difference between landing a great new role or passing the chance by.

What have you leant?

Since you were last at work, what transferrable skills have you pinned down? For some, this is an easy question to answer – volunteering skills (which can often be overlooked) provide some key chances to show new or refined talents that you can bring to a role. For others, particularly those who have taken time off to spend with young families, realising that you have skills you can transfer can prove to be harder. She’s Back conducted a survey of over 1,000 women and found that “84% of women wanted to go back to work after having children.” Yet another study revealed that just 8% of parents note their experiences raising children on their CVs, but “69% of employers say parenting skills can be relevant experience in the corporate world” with skills like ‘patience’, ‘time management’ and ‘multi-tasking’ proving popular key words in applications.

Upskill yourself

The longer you’ve been away, the more that is likely to have changed; that’s unavoidable. Technology and required skillsets may well have advanced and there will be candidates who are up-to-date on latest processes and have not had a career break applying for the same role as you. The competition will be tough, but proving you’re eager for the role by taking refresher or ‘teach yourself’ courses shows dedication and will make you a more attractive candidate.

A trip down memory lane

For those who have taken career breaks later in life, worked at the same company for years or have been away from a normal work routine for a long time, being an applicant can feel like a long and foggy trip down memory lane. Take a look at our blogs on the perfect cover letter, managing LinkedIn and utilising your social media and our top tips for all types of interviews for a comprehensive candidate catch-up.

Returning to work after a career break can, understandably, be a daunting and often challenging process – but it need not be. Naturally, whilst the same hurdles that all candidates have to overcome will present themselves as an obvious part of the process, being out of practice can affect your chances when applying for new roles. Maintaining connections, spotting your weak areas and taking time to improve them and realising that the experience you have gained away from work is just as valuable as experience in work can all help get you back on your career path. As we enter the new year, with many of us looking towards new starts and new opportunities, the most important thing to remember is employees are looking for good quality candidates with varied experiences.

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