After years of unemployment, you might be thinking about re-entering the workforce soon. After so many years off, the job search could make you feel anxious, fearful, and nervous. You might be worried about your job prospects. You might not know where to turn in order to get started and successfully find a job.
It can be hard to return to the workforce after years away. Whether you left your job to take care of your children, to care for an aging family member, to travel, or for any other reason, you’re likely going to face some obstacles on your job search.
Changes in Technology
Technological advancements can quickly make your skills obsolete. Things move at a quick pace, new programs are constantly being developed and implemented, and before you know it, companies in your industry have thrown out all of the programs you used to be a pro at and replaced them with new ones that you’re not familiar with.
Being out of date with technology can make it hard for you to return to the workforce. Employers don’t want to spend time and money training new employees on the basics of the technologies and tools they use. They expect new hires to be familiar with them already.
Before going out on your renewed job search, consider updating your tech skills first. You can find a lot of free online tutorials that can help you get up to speed with the newest tech.
Work Experience
Previous work experience matters. Potential employers may see the lengthy time gaps on your resume as a red flag. Most hiring managers won’t even give your application another thought once they see the big gaps in your work history. And considering most people post their work histories at the top of their resumes, organized by dates, this can stop hiring managers dead in their tracks, making them ignore all of the skills and talents that are mentioned below.
To combat this issue, avoid chronological order. Place your skills and talents right at the top, with your work history at the bottom. You can also organize your work history by title progression instead of by date, with the most impressive jobs first.
In addition, if you did anything worthwhile during your time away from the workforce, like blog, work freelance, take part in clubs, or volunteer,add it to your resume to fill in those gaps.
Industry Knowledge
Potential employers will also expect you to stay on top of best practices, trends, and news in your industry. You’ll be expected to know relevant information and knowledge about your job and sector. To ensure you don’t freeze up during the interview when asked about the current state of affairs, read trade publications, take classes, get new certifications, and do research online. By putting in the effort to stay abreast, you’ll also find yourself with an easier return to the workforce.
Support
If you’re not sure where to start your job search or how to prepare, or if you’ve been sending out endless resumes online and haven’t heard anything back, consider getting some additional support.
Applying to a staffing agency might be just what you need to return to the workforce. Find a staffing firm that places candidates in your industry of choice, and let its recruiters help you on your job search.
Its recruiters will be able to give you career advice, help you fix up your resume, and give you interview tips. They’ll be able to give you access to the hidden job market, so you can find work that you’ll love. Working with a staffing agency can also increase your chances of landing a job because its recruiters will go to bat for you, offering personal recommendations and making hiring managers really pay attention to your application.
Ready to return to the workforce? Contact Liberty Staffing to get start on your new job search.
