I took a break from my chosen field and got a college degree during my prime working years. I weighed the pros and cons and thought it would be a tremendous benefit to upgrade my skills and engage my brain in a different discipline.
It rejuvenated me but it also brought up many questions when I re-entered the workforce.
I had to take my experiences and own them by not shying away from the inevitable questions that would arise.
Some of the dreaded questions:
1) What have you been up to during the last few years?
2) Haven’t things changed a lot since you’ve been working?
3) Aren’t you afraid of being rusty?
4) I am glad you have experience with this industry but I am concerned you are not up to speed with current trends…please demonstrate your understanding of….
5) What caused you to be out of the workforce for so long?
6) Are you afraid of working…is that why you left?
7) How did you manage to get by?
The person re-entering the job market needs to see some variation on those questions coming and they will be judged harshly on their answers.
I did what I always did..I researched and I planned and then I practiced.
I looked at my resume and saw what was good and practiced explaining why it was good and I knew I would need concrete examples to prove I had experience doing the things the prospective employers wanted me to do.
The clutter we all end up putting on our resume I removed because if it didn’t aid me in an interview there was no point putting it on there. I rebuilt my resume with one thing in mind…success. I did not think of me..because I don’t hire me..they hire me..so I thought of THEM.
My focus was how to develop a clear message…and that was “here is what will make your life easier” I learned that my job history was fine but my titles often did not indicate what I did so I either corrected my duties and responsibilities and gave examples or I corrected my job title by streamlining it..or even translating it in parenthesis. Most employers like it when you demystify your job titles and another useful thing is to focus on the job you are filling!People make the mistake of spending too much time discussing their adaptability…do not lock yourself in…if that is a trait that is valuable to them they will lead you there but if you talk about your flexibility in a job that is very routine and structured…you may come across as restless.
Learn to read your audience and carefully and confidently spoon out the pertinent data so you avoid taking back what you said and end up giving lengthy explanations.
It is a very dangerous neighborhood when you try to retract a statement..it makes you sound like a wishy- washy person that doesn’t take a stand.
Career breaks happen but you must make a decision…will you sound ready or defensive..the choice is yours! "Going back to work After A Job break" written by Ken Bownes
