I know you’ve seen the “Hiring” signs in the windows of every business you frequent, and have decided maybe now is the right time to get back into the job market. No matter the reason you left the workforce, these tips will help you get back into the game:
Get your Resume and LinkedIn profile up to date.
It’s very important to have professional documents ready to go when the perfect job appears. Also, recruiters review LinkedIn looking for top talent. Ensure your resume and LinkedIn profile are in tip-top shape. (SL tip: Don’t forget to list volunteer work, part-time, and consulting work you’ve been doing during this time.)
Start utilizing LinkedIn.
Recruiters and Hiring Managers spend a lot of time on LinkedIn checking out potential candidates. Make sure you are connecting with recruiters, previous colleagues, employers, friends, etc. You want to be active on the #1 site for professionals. Reshare interesting articles, comment on posts, and research roles and companies. Make sure to download our free LinkedIn Tips.
Assess and set goals.
Spend time determining what role you want to focus on. Do you want to go back into the role you left? Same industry? Something new? You need to know where to focus your efforts going forward.
Research companies and roles.
Evaluate what your perfect role/company is. Maybe perfect doesn’t exist, but you can list the values you are looking for in an organization. Research to identify companies that align with your goals.
Update your skills.
Once you start researching your roles, you will determine if you need to brush up on specific required skills. Consider taking a class online, earning a certification, or completing a course at the local community college.
Practice your interview skills.
Chances are, you haven’t been interviewed in a long time. Practice makes perfect. We recommend practicing with someone, recording yourself, or practicing in front of a mirror. The main thing is to practice out loud and listen to your answers. Hearing how your answers sound out loud can help determine what answers need work.
Be ready to talk about:
- Why you took time off?
- What you’ve been doing to keep skills current during your time away?
- Why you are the best person for the role?
- What are the transferable skills that you had or developed during this time away?
Reach out to your network
And let them know you are ready to go back to work. Many people make big transitions by using their network of people who know them and can vouch for their skills. Reach out to people you used to work with. Get on your social sites and let people know that you are looking for work, and what type of work you are interested in. The more specific you can be in telling people your goals and interests, the more they can help.
This is a great time to jump back into the workforce. With many companies looking for talented people, this is your time. If you are feeling overwhelmed by this big transition, Skills Lab has coaches and resume writers that can give you a boost. Reach out and let’s talk.
