Starting a new career is always going to be an exciting and stressful time in life, but for mums who are re-entering the workforce after being away for a period of time, it can be even more scary and daunting. It’s quite normal for many mums to stay home with the kids while they are young, but then when they hit school age, it’s an opportunity to get back into the workforce. But just because you had a thriving career before, it doesn’t mean you can automatically step right back into those shoes.
Depending on the industry and job, time away can have a huge impact on how hireable and qualified you are. So, if you aren’t willing to settle for any old job, and you want to in fact get back to a career job, here are five essential tips for mums re-entering the workforce.
Update Your CV
Feeling overwhelmed with where to start? Updating your CV can be an excellent first step. Not only will it give you something to hand out, but it will also help you to get back into the working mindset and think about how you plan to market yourself. Sometimes having the most creative resume will get you one step in the door!
Get Some Help and Advice
Another great tip is to get some professional career help and advice. Refreshing a Career is a great place to get just that, as it offers advice, guides, and tips for individuals who want to build on their current skillset, change their career completely, and even re-train.
As Refreshing a Career points out, even if you think your CV looks amazing and is filled with skills, any time away gives those skills a chance to become stagnant and even irrelevant. The Refreshing a Career website is filled with information just like this topic, and provides you with the steps you’ll want to take.
Narrow Down the Options
Now that you’ve got your CV in front of you, and you’ve been working to get career advice, this step can happen more naturally. Narrowing down the options of what you want to do and what you’re qualified to do can help you to find that perfect position.
Don’t Be Afraid to Go Back to School
If you’re not exactly satisfied with the options that exist for you, then it may be worth your time to look into furthering your education, skills, and training. That could mean heading back to school as a full-time student, or just enrolling in a few courses to beef up your skills and get you back up to speed on the industry you are eyeing.
Make Finding a Job a Priority
Then there is your mindset, which can take you far. You need to be focused and have the available time to put into finding that perfect job. It probably isn’t going to fall into your lap, which means you need to get yourself out there and start searching.
It Doesn’t Have to Be Overwhelming
Following these tips will help you to stay organised, focused, and realistic about getting back into the workforce after an extended period of time spent away.