Taking a career break is thrilling as it is often planned and eagerly anticipated: A trip around the world, a maternity leave or a preferred sabbatical. In some cases though it could be the result of laying-off or sickness. Whatever the situation, there is always a point in time when you have to return to work and this in itself can invoke a mixed bag of emotions that one has to deal with.
So, you’ve taken the career break, you’re feeling relaxed, rested and ready to plunge back into the grind. And then, panic sets in! The economy’s been down; you have hardly heard of any of new job prospects. And, the percentage of the unemployed start to make your palms sweat. Going back to work after a career hiatus can be hard in the present climate. Your skills will be rusty, people and technology might have moved on and your own approach to work could be different. But a little groundwork and the right approach can let you to deal with the obstacles and launch you into an enriching new phase of your career.
So if you are getting ready to jump back into the professional world, our tips will help you ease back in:
Stay connected:
Most employers hire people they know through networking. Being on a career break can sometimes throw you out of the networking loop so you need to make new or re-establish your old connections. If you are contemplating working again, join some professional associations or groups and go for the meetings at least once in a month. This way you will not only stay abreast with the industry changes but might even discover some hidden opportunities that will work well with your plan. You could also consider getting a subscription to professional magazines to re-familiarise yourself with the latest industry trends.
Communicate the reason for your break:
You should never be apologetic for your time off or feel embarrassed about your sabbatical. There was a reason why it happened! So, talk about it and clarify the reason for your break during your job interview or while talking to your future employer. This will help put things in perspective and will not impinge negatively on your career building journey. Popular myth is that when professionals take a time off in their careers, they get busy with their personal lives. So focus and talk more about the professional skills that you’ve developed during the interim or any voluntary assignments that you have taken. If you have done any freelancing or taken up any voluntary work, convey that during the interview. Explain the reasons for taking up such assignments, the accomplishments and the learning thereof. This could be crucial to jump start your career once again and lure employers to explore more facets of the professional in you.
Exude Confidence:
This is something that is hard to define but is a crucial ingredient of the interview process. You need to convince your employers that you are highly stimulated, driven and devoted to bringing value to the new role and organisation. That you are somebody who can immediately hit the ground running! You body language needs to emit this energy and passion! Typically, if you have been on a career break for a while, your confidence might be low and you might have problems promoting yourself. So it would be a good idea investing in a professional interview coaching session to quickly discover the areas you need to work on to get you over the line.
Career break or no career break, changing careers can take any amount of time! So before you take a career pause, let people in your network know about your plan. Also keep a support network, preferably a person or professional to help you maintain your “professional intelligence” that will help you get back. Re-entering the professional world after a break can get taxing. You will not taste success almost immediately! But by taking a planned, prepared approach you will be soon on your way to a gratifying new career. Some employers might see such breaks in a dim light so do not give them a reason for concern. Speak about it with confidence and show a good enough reason for the break even if it wasn’t your own doing.
