How to restart a career after a long break? is a question that often crosses a women’s mind while on a career break. Continuing after career breaks can be daunting, challenging and can come with guilt.
It is a fact that women from all walks of life have shattered the stereotypical thought process that women are best suited to take care of the house and the kitchen. But there is also no denying that women drop out of the workforce for childcare or as a caregiver for aging parents.
Many women step back due to overwhelming job responsibilities to juggle between to find work-life balance or for the love of traveling. Ultimately, whatever might be the reason for a career break, rediscovering themselves and deciding to jump back on the career ladder is a challenge in itself. This guide is for women returning to work who might feel anxious about overcoming the fear of a career break.
Let us see how to restart a career after a long break for women returning to work and starting the job-hunting process again.
Tips on restarting a career after break for women
As per reports in Statista, in 2022, 83% of women in India quit their jobs as they required more flexibility in their workplace. We will walk you through practical ways to confidently return to work.
1. Focus on your resume
The first step is to assess and mention the real reason for a career break. So, be very honest about the sabbatical. It is essential to get over the stigma of taking a break. Focus on concentrating on your strengths and weaknesses. You can use good resume designs and layouts to approach potential employers.
You must also concentrate on the updated job skillset and responsibilities required by the hiring employers and emphasize your past experiences as per in-demand skills.
2. Refresh your skillset
Once you have addressed the situation and updated your CV, it is time to motivate yourself and refresh your skillset per current trends and technologies. Spend some time investigating potential employers, your field of expertise, and the range of possible salaries if you intend to return to the same business. It can help you uncover chances that interest you, but it could also take you to a different field where you have more luck with additional opportunities.
3. Update yourself with Certifications
Take up a certification course before you join work. After a career break, you must update yourself with current skills. The best part about a bootcamp certification course is that it allows you to study at your own pace from anywhere conveniently. Examples of upskilling are digital marketing, leadership, AI, social media marketing, web development, etc. Spend time researching online platforms like UpGrad, Simplilearn, and Coursera, which have many programs to learn from.
To be future career ready, you can go through this video by Simplilearn that touches on ChatGPT for beginners.
ChatGPT For Beginners | ChatGPT Crash Course 2023 | ChatGPT Tutorial | Simplilearn
4. Networking
It’s also a good idea to let people you’ve worked with in the past, friends, family, and former clients, know that you’re on the lookout for work. They could have information about available positions or refer you to someone who can.
5. Explore part-time job opportunities
Temporary-to-hire contract roles may appeal to you since they provide you with the flexibility of a freelancer while providing the security of a full-time career with the same organisation. So, for women restarting their jobs after a break, internships and freelancing are great options to get their foot in the door.
6. Mock interviews
Practise giving interviews to gain back your confidence after a career break. This will help you to prepare your answers and assess your strengths and weaknesses during the interview process. Additionally, you can be clear and precise about your explanations regarding the reason for a career break. Equipping yourself with industry-specific questions will reflect your technical skills to the potential employer.
7. Career reboot programs
Many companies, like Accenture, JP Morgan, Deloitte, Amazon, etc., design programs exclusively for women professionals to help them return to work after a career break. Also called Returnships, they offer resources, support, and assignments to relaunch a women’s career.
8. Confidence
Do not let the fact that you have been out of employment for a while affect your self-assurance throughout the interview process. Be sure to impress hiring managers by highlighting your strengths and the value you can bring to the firm.
You might easily undervalue yourself to a potential employer if you need more self-confidence. Do your homework as well. Research the company online and via social media. Feeling prepared for interviews, in particular, may do wonders for your confidence.
9. Use social media
An online social media presence can be a portfolio display for your potential employer. Use the social media platforms to follow your passions. For example, if you have a keen eye for cooking, makeup, knitting, fashion, etc., the social media account can help you portray your strong suits and display soft skills. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram are also great for showcasing Excel, PowerPoint, and other technical skill hacks.
Women are excellent multi-taskers, and you can turn your hobbies and interests into an online business and gain financial independence.
Conclusion
This is the perfect guide on how to restart your career after a long break. These nine tips can help you get back after a long career break with confidence. Continuous learning, upskilling through certifications, and updating resumes, talking to peers and friends will help women boost their confidence and help them explore opportunities and land suitable jobs.
Women’s career advancement is hampered for many reasons, including family, children, or other reasons. But no matter the reason for a career break, women can pay attention to honing their skills with support from family and employers that offer flexibility.
