Resources

Returning to the Workforce After a Break

You’ve been out of the workforce for awhile now, but you’re ready to make your big return. Whether leaving your last job was a voluntary move — i.e., to care for young kids or go back to school — or not your choice — i.e., you were fired or laid off — you feel like it’s time to make a fresh start.

While exciting, you’re also probably a bit nervous, as you’ll be competing for jobs alongside candidates who don’t have an employment gap. The good news is, if you prepare properly, hiring managers won’t think twice about choosing you.

Use these tips to make your comeback a success.

Be Honest

There’s a reason you left the workforce. If you’re not proud of something — i.e., you got fired — you might think it’s best to try to cover it up. However, lying is never the right answer. You will get caught and you definitely won’t get the job.

Reach Out to Your Contacts

Who you know can help you get hired, so let your network know you’re ready to get back to work. This is a great way to find out about opportunities not listed on job boards and/or get a personal introduction to hiring managers in your contacts’ network.

Update Your Skills

If you’ve been out of the workforce for awhile, your skills might be a little rusty. Show potential employers you’re serious about returning to work by taking a course to refresh your skills. This will ensure you won’t be passed up, because your skills aren’t as updated as another candidate who is currently employed.

Choose a Functional Resume Format

In the past, you likely used a reverse chronological format for your resume. However, this probably isn’t the best choice now that you have an employment gap. Instead, choose a functional format, as this emphasizes your skills more than your work experience.

Prepare an Interview Response

You will be asked about your break from the workforce when you go on job interviews. Anticipate this and prepare a response in advance. Keep it short and be positive about your time off — even if the break wasn’t something you wanted. This will give the interviewer the information they need, so they can simply move on to the next question, making your employment gap a non-issue.