Finding a job always takes effort, but it can be even more of a difficult thing to tackle if you have been out of work for a long time. There are various reasons you might be out of a job, from illness or injury to becoming a parent, caring for family members, or just being made redundant or let go and struggling to find a new position. No matter what the reason for your absence is, it can be difficult when you want or need to get back into work. Employers often don’t look favorably at long periods out of the workforce, and it can be difficult to get them to take a chance on you. If you want to get back to work, there are some things you can try to make it easier.
Focus Your Search
When people are desperate to get back to work, they will often apply for any and every job that they can find. Anything that they think they might be vaguely qualified for, and even some things they’re not, will be added to their list of jobs to apply to. However, this method of applying for jobs can mean that any application you make seems half-hearted. It’s much better to focus on the jobs that you know you’re qualified for and that you’re interested in doing. They don’t have to make you feel really excited, but if a job intrigues you, it’s better than one that doesn’t interest you at all.
Update Your Resume
If you haven’t worked in a while, you might think that you can just use your old resume to apply for work. But just because you haven’t been working, it doesn’t mean that updating your resume isn’t necessary. For example, you might have gained additional skills or spent some time volunteering. Additionally, it’s always smart to tailor your resume to the job that you’re applying for. Some skills and experience will be more important to highlight for some jobs than for others.
Connect and Network
Having a network of professionals and working people can really help you when you’re looking to get back into work. People often say that it’s who you know and not what you know. While this isn’t always entirely true, it does have some truth when you’re looking for the right work. Knowing the right people is unlikely to get you a job that you’re wildly unqualified for, but it could help you to hear about job opportunities before other people or find the right roles to match your skills and experience. Try connecting with the people you already know who could help you, as well as networking to meet new people/
Get Support for Any Adjustments You Need
Going back to work when you require adjustments for an illness or disability can make things a lot more difficult. Employers are required to make reasonable adjustments for you, but many can be reluctant to hire someone who may be absent more often or might require very specific adjustments. You might also need to make your own adjustments, such as making sure you have a reliable way to get to work or the right equipment to work at home. Some people who have suffered injuries are able to get the money they need for these things through car accident lawyers who can help them bring a legal case against negligent parties. Getting compensation after an accident could help you to pay for things you need at home or to help you get around. It could also help you to cover retraining costs or anything else that you might need.
Transition Into Full-Time Work
Finding a full-time position might be a little tricky if you’ve been out of work for a number of years. Employers can be reluctant to take you on full-time when there’s no recent evidence of your skills or reliability. It can be helpful to look for a part-time position or some contract or temporary work before you start looking for a permanent and full-time job. It can give you flexibility, allow you to build some new skills, and ensure you can provide evidence of recent work to employers. These positions can be easier to get for many people who have been out of work for long periods.
Learn to Promote Yourself
Knowing how to promote yourself is really important if you’re trying to find work after a long absence. When you know how to sell yourself and your skills, it can get you far. Something that may help is being able to show the positives of your time out of work. What have you used this time to do? Perhaps being a parent or caregiver has given you new skills. You might have used the time to educate yourself or return to school. Being able to talk about your soft skills and positive qualities is important too. If you’re motivated and willing to learn, employers can look at you more favorably.
Find a Coach or Mentor
It’s always useful to have help from other people, and one of the people who can help you in your job search is a career coach. They can do everything from looking at your resume and making recommendations to helping you to develop your interview skills. They can also teach you how to network and improve your job searching skills. Someone who can mentor you in a specific role or industry might be able to help too, and could perhaps offer you some work experience.
Work on Your Interview Game
Being able to give a good interview is really useful if you’ve been out of work for a while. If you don’t have recent work experience, it helps if you can talk yourself up and perform well in interviews. You already know that the employer or their recruiters are willing to give you a chance, but the interview will allow you to prove yourself further. Work on your interview technique and practice some common questions so you can answer them confidently.
Getting back to work after a long period away can certainly be tough, but there are various things you can do to find a new job.
