Long career break? Here’s how you can get hired again

Finding a job after a chunk of time off is daunting. We find out the best ways you can jump back into work. 

Taking a career break to start a family, travel the world, or just take some time out is completely normal. 

But when the time comes to get back into your job – in the same or different field – it can be hard to know where to start. We asked Kerri Hansen from On Talent for some advice.  

Hey Kerri, if someone is wanting to jump back into the workforce after an extended break, where should they start?

When we are re-entering the workforce after an extended break we need to start at the beginning. On average over our career, we spend 90,000 hours in the workplace so it is important to be truly engaged in our role and have a sense of purpose. Each and every one of us has a contribution to make, it is about finding what this is. 

What if you want to change up your career? 

Identify your career vision, goals and actions. Understand your strengths, skills, and values as this will assist you to identify roles and organisations that are a good fit for you. It is important to ensure your personal brand is substantiated in collateral.  Ensure you have a contemporary resume and professional profile.  

It’s also important to treat your job search as a job. Manage your time effectively and efficiently, set times in your schedule to work on your future career and your career currency.  

Is networking a good idea?

Yes networking is an excellent idea and way to expand your personal reach and understanding of the current market. Networking comes in many forms, make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and you are active with your connections – via phone, email, text or whatever works for you.

And who can say no to a coffee invite? Reach out to people you know – family, friends, past work colleagues and school pals.

What sort of personal skills should you be trying to develop?

Being accountable for your own development and investing in your career currency is powerful. Digital literacy is an imperative for nearly every role because the world is changing so quickly and thus so are jobs. We’ve all read the articles about how a huge percentage of current jobs won’t exist within the next 10 years, so if you are not a digital native then start learning and exploring. There are many free or cost effective online courses to help you upskill. 

With the increase in technology, artificial intelligence and robots there is a greater need for humans to have good soft skills in areas such as customer centricity, emotional intelligence, a positive mindset, and resilience, as some of the top personal characteristics being valued by employers in today’s marketplace.  

Skills are important but attitude is everything.  When you have a great attitude you can learn anything!