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Health & Fitness

Counting Down to a Career Re-launch

In my opinion, returning to the workforce after an absence isn’t something that’s discussed nearly enough. It’s a very real consideration for people of all ages, because there are so many reasons people leave the workforce, and why they return.

Military service, childcare, pursuing an advanced degree, illness…these are all valid reasons to take a detour off of the career fast lane. Financial concerns, a move, or simply the desire to return to work are popular motives behind why some resume a well-heeled career or even start a brand new one.

Still, re-launching a career after an absence can be a big worry. We might ask ourselves: Are my skills too rusty? Am I still relevant? Can I jump into a new job as easily as I did five, ten or twenty years ago?

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As with any life planning decision, asking these questions can be daunting, but it’s a great place to start. The next step is to use the information we glean through those questions to plot a course for the future. Here are five tips for reigniting a career, and ensuring the “launch” goes smoothly:

1. Prepare for Launch
Even before you're fully ready to re-enter the workforce, a few proactive steps each year can help to significantly ease the difficulty of re-entry down the road. Keep up with industry trends, attend a networking event or two, and stay in touch with colleagues and mentors. Then, when the time comes to consider returning to work, analyze and consider all facets of your decision to return to work: What is your appetite for a career? What are your childcare or elder care responsibilities? What sort of support do you have from your spouse, family and friends? Some people may need to accept a cut in pay and title – are you prepared to move down a few rungs on the career ladder, to move a step back in order to take two steps forward? As the right time approaches, immerse yourself more fully in your field of choice. Subscribe to industry publications, browse professional websites, sign up for a college class or two, attend conferences and lectures in your field – do everything you can to amass the knowledge, skills, and professional vocabulary that will mark you as a serious contender for top jobs. 

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2. Create a "Re-entry Resume"
Many people find it challenging to prepare a resume after being home for several years. The key here is to develop a “re-entry resume” that highlights strengths, downplays chronological breaks in work experience, and addresses unique challenges head-on. In other words, a “re-entry resume” focuses on skills and experience rather than using the dates of past employment to organize important information. Include volunteer work, project work, freelance work, or anything that shows that you are using skills that are valued in your industry or in the workplace, and include information that can communicate that you have improved skills and stayed current on your industry. Make sure that you are up to date on the technology required for your field, check to see that you are not using outdated terminology, and ensure that you are including updated industry language. 

3. Develop your Flight Plan
The notion that there's only one way to enter (or re-enter) the workforce is a thing of the past. For example, even internships have evolved to include “returnships” for those returning to the workforcfe. Essentially, returnships are offered to experienced workers who have taken time off as a way to reintroduce them to today’s workplace and buff their skills. Like most internships, returnships are usually short stints at a company for little or no pay, which serve to build important resume skills. If such a position isn’t available, volunteering for a cause that you’re interested in or passionate about is another way to put your existing skills to work and learn new things. Finally, if you’re not already using social media to fuel your job or volunteerism search, start as soon as possible. Sites such as LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter are key to making connections and learning about new opportunities in today’s workforce. Your savvy in this area is one more important bullet point to mention on resumes and in interviews as well. 

4. Maintain Communication 
Experts estimate that as many as 80% of all job offers are the result of networking activity rather than the traditional job application process. Some people who’ve been absent from the workforce for some time may think their network has disappeared, but most people have one. Remember to reach out to friends and contacts from many different sectors of your life, including former colleagues, but also school contacts, college or graduate school alumni groups, places of worship, extracurricular activities for yourself or children, sports teams, neighbors, and even the local coffee shop. Learn from those who have made a transition to the workforce and talk with others who are in the same stage as you. Have business cards printed up – contact cards with a little flair are fine if you're not comfortable claiming a specific title for yourself. Develop a brief elevator pitch and begin to look for industry events in your area to test it out. Essentially, you’re making it your job to find a job. 

5. Make Contact
It is a great idea to practice interviewing if you have been out of the loop for a while. Remember to be positive about your experiences and your excitement about returning to work. Do not apologize for being away, but rather be confident about the timing of your decisions to focus on family and return to outside work. Make sure that your interview attire and attitude are both current. An applicant should be able to explain a break in their job experience, and how that break might actually enhance their resume. A candidate with military experience, for example, may have gained management, procurement, logistics and technology skills. Someone returning to work after rearing a family can bring communication, organization and marketing experiences. Charitable work can encompass financial management, budgeting, public relations and fundraising. All of these skills are transferable, and all of them can benefit any organization. 

More Resources: Websites

www.irelaunch.com - Supports mid-career professionals, as well as the companies and organizations that want to hire them. They offer programs, events, and content for individuals and employers. It also includes a list of companies and colleges/universities that offer specific programs for women returning to the workforce.

www.encore.com - Devoted to supporting boomers who wish to combine personal fulfillment, social impact and continued income, so they can put their passion to work for the greater good. This includes job listings and links to other job listing sites.

www.retirementjobs.com - Free to jobseekers and aims to identify and qualify companies most suited to older workers. It includes job listings and articles of interest.

www.aarp.org - Contains a “work and retirement” section with helpful articles on finding a job, life at work, and re-careering.

www.workforce50.com - Job listings and resources for career transitions for those over 50.

More Resources: Books

Back on the Career Track, by Carol Fishman Cohen and Vivian Steir Rabin

Off Ramps and On Ramps: Keeping Talented Women on the Road to Success, by Silvia Ann Hewitt

Work + Life and Finding the Fit That's Right for You, by Cali Williams Yost

Portfolio Life, by David Corbett

The Big Shift, by Marc Freedman

The Third Chapter: Passion, Risk, and Adventure in the 25 years after 50, by Sarah Lawrence Lightfoot


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