A combination of the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine has driven our current cost of living crisis and rise in energy prices. This has pushed many people into going back to work. But if you’ve had a long career break, stepping back into the workplace can be a daunting experience.
Whether you’ve been out of work for a long period of time, perhaps raising children, or if you took early retirement during Covid-19 and now need to get back to work because of current economic circumstances, don’t be surprised if you feel like you’ve lost touch with the workplace. Indeed, out of a poll of 2,000 people who took time off work for three months or more, 36% said they felt left behind and 57% said going back to work felt like their first day all over again.
The good news is that contrary to popular belief, employers are more accepting of people that have had long career breaks. Many are starting to appreciate the talents and soft skills they bring with them to a role and are far more open to people getting back into the workplace.
So, to get back on that workplace ladder and into your first job for a while, we’ve got seven top tips to help you.
7 tips for getting back to work
- Assess your skills and marketability
If you haven’t been in a work environment for quite a while, you may be thinking about what you can offer an employer. In reality, you can offer far more than you realise. So, write a list of all the skills you have acquired during your time off work – flexibility, organisation, adaptability, communication, collaboration and patience – and that’s just the soft skills that employers are looking for today.
You might have done some volunteering during this time, learned a new skill as part of a community club, or helped out with the organisation of the annual school fair. This all goes towards making a good impression.
Do some research on the types of jobs on offer and then match your skills list to the job requirements; you’ll be surprised at how many boxes you’ll be able to tick. Our Jobs Board is the ideal place to start looking at the types of jobs available.
- Update your CV
Next it’s time to drag out your old CV and update it to include your new skills and knowledge. CVs have changed quite a bit over the last few years so before you start, it’s a good idea to talk to a professional and discover what employers are looking for. Check out Really Helpful Club’s professional career development Directory Members who are ready to help you create a CV that will attract attention and get you that interview.
- Update your knowledge and gain new skills, if needed
The world of technology has invaded the workplace ten-fold over the past few years so you may find that you need to update your knowledge, particularly if you are returning to a specific industry or similar role. You may also need to refresh or even gain new skills, such as new software and digital platforms, online collaboration tools or even problem solving skills. There are a plethora of training courses you can do online or evening classes to help you. Our Directory members also offer support and training in key skills that employers want. For example, TechPixies offer social media and digital marketing courses focused on women going back to work, changing careers or even starting a business.
- Work out what type of job is right for you
It may be that jumping back into a full time role is not for you at this stage, and that’s ok. So, take some time to consider what type of job you are looking for, the hours that will suit you and your lifestyle, i.e. around school pick up times, and whether you would like to work in an office environment, work from home or a hybrid workplace.
- Reach out to your network
Get active and start reaching out to your network of friends, former colleagues, families, community groups and any others; they are your vital support network as much as they are an information network. Old work colleagues or friends that are working may know of any job opportunities which is great, but they are also able to share their knowledge and any tips. Join our monthly Member Meet Ups – where we bring together our fantastic community and business owners online to share ideas, helpful tips and offer support to help others achieve their goals.
- Brush up on your interview skills
If preparing to get back into the workplace is daunting, getting ready for a job interview after a career break can be even worse. But our best advice is that the more you prepare, the calmer you will be and be able to make that all important positive first impression. Research the company thoroughly, study the job description and know where your skills are a match for the role, formulate your questions and prepare answers to questions they are likely to ask, such as your previous role, your skills, what you’ve been doing during your career break and what value you can bring to the company. Need some help in interview preparation? Our Directory Members are there to hold your hand.
- Consider a volunteer role
A great way to prepare for the workplace and get back into the habit of working again is to consider a volunteer role. Not only will it enhance your CV, it will also update your recent experience, help you learn new or brush up on your skills, get you back into a social environment and bolster your network. You may find that your volunteer role leads to a more permanent job, too.
Getting back into the workplace can be a challenge but for many people, it is becoming a necessity; but it’s not impossible. In fact, with a little bit of help from family, friends and our community, as well as drive and determination, you will be successful.
Our community, our greatest asset, at Really Helpful Club is about accepting and embracing people from every facet of life, bringing people together in ways where ideas and experiences are shared, offering unique opportunities for people to grow, and empowering each other to achieve what they might have thought impossible.
