Have you taken a career break to start a family, taken time out following a redundancy or temporary retirement? Have you decided to step back from work to reassess? Has COVID impacted your employment? Or have you taken some time off to simply enjoy a break and to rediscover yourself?
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, you’re not alone. Around 4% of employees have taken a career break of six months or more. This research also revealed that 73% of women took a career break for ‘family reasons’, whereas 47% of males took a break for ‘personal reasons’.
Whatever motives you have had for taking a career break, there may come a time when you decide to jump back onto the career ladder. Getting a job can be daunting enough, but it can be even more unnerving once you’ve taken a break from work. You may you feel anxious about starting a new job or you may worry that your skills are a little rusty because a lot has changed since you’ve been away from the workplace.
If you feel you’re in this situation, here are six effective tips to help increase your chances of getting hired following a career break.
- Assess your situation
Open your mind and remember, what was right for you before your career break, may not be what the best fit is for you now.
- Update your CV with your career break
A break can provide lots of benefits that can make you just as, if not more hireable, even if it’s just been a chance for you to take a step back and re-evaluate your future career.
Add all the new skills you may have developed during your break, and explain how these can relate to the job you’re now applying for.
- Network
When looking for your first job after a career break, don’t forget to use your existing connections.
- Be prepared for your interview
Before you attend your first interview, make sure you’re prepared to answer questions about your career break.
- Look for career returner programs
As well as using job boards to search for jobs, research the various career returner programs that may be available.
- Be confident
Whether you’ve been away from work for 12 months or 2 years, getting back into the hiring pool can be nerve-racking. However, the most important thing is that you remain confident in your abilities.
So if you’re feeling apprehensive about jumping back into workforce after a career break, remember these tips to put you on the right path with renewed confidence.
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https://www.roberthalf.com.au/blog/jobseekers/6-tips-getting-hired-after-career-break
