Returning to work after long-term unemployment may seem like a daunting task. Whether you take the time to raise a family, or perhaps you took ill, being out of work for a while can make getting back looking more difficult.
Finding a long job can be frustrating, and sometimes you may feel that you will never find a job. But there are some practical steps you can take to get motivated, stay proactive, and give yourself the best possible chance.
With the unemployment rate down to 4 percent, many people who cannot find jobs return to work. If you have been unemployed for an extended period of time, you may also return to the workforce. And if you have been out of work for an extended period of time, you may feel a mixture of emotions about this next step.
It’s normal to feel a mixture of rest and anxiety (as well as excitement and fear) when you return to work after a long period of unemployment. Long-term unemployment can wreak havoc on a person’s sense of self-worth and well-being. Worse, the large gaps in the current CV or unemployment may distinguish the job seeker as “damaged goods” and make the long search for work longer.
You start looking for a job, and – unfortunately – you feel a little confident, not because you don’t think you have any valuable skills or related experience to bring it to the table. Instead, you are concerned about the fact that you have been out of the workforce for a long period of time.
Going Back To Work After Time Off
If you find yourself struggling, know that you are not alone. Returning to work after long-term unemploymentcan be very difficult, but if you follow the right steps and get all the right materials, you can eventually end unemployment. Here’s your guide to all of these things you should know that should be under your belt if you have been unemployed for an extended period of time.
How To Get Back To Work After Long-Term Unemployment
1. Update your skill set
If you have been unemployed for an extended period of time, there is a high possibility that your skill set is somewhat outdated. The most effective way to make yourself employable is to update your skill set. First, you must define the skills employers usually search for (sometimes referred to as hard or technical skills) and work in order to acquire those skills. Volunteering or doing a free workplace is a great way to learn new skills, and it can also be a useful way to get your foot into the company.
2. Update your CV with your career break
It is quite common for a candidate to believe that a gap in his CV will ruin his career. However, instead of seeing it as an obstacle, consider it something positive that can set you apart from other candidates. If you haven’t been working for a long time, do not hide it. Resting can provide many benefits that can make you as if you are not more employable, even if it is just an opportunity to take a step back and reassess your career in the future.
Add all the new skills you may have developed during the break, and explain how they relate to the job you are applying for now. For example, did you take a diploma course specializing in new technology? Have you volunteered and developed your leadership skills, which will help you lead a team more effectively? Or maybe traveling around the world helped give you the much-needed confidence boost?
3. Step out
However, you don’t want to fall into the same trap as many other job seekers: relying only on the Internet. While it can make applying for jobs or communicating with potential employers much easier, you still have to plan to use your traditional communication skills to get there and make some connections. Go to a group meeting or event to connect in your area to remind people that – although you have been out of the workforce for a while – you are now back.
Another great place to start is contacting a previous employer. If you leave on good terms, this might be a great door to open again while you’re re-entering the workforce. You never know where it can lead!
4. Do some volunteering
One of the most difficult aspects of returning to work after long-term unemployment is getting used to being in a specific place at a particular time, and working at someone else’s pace. Volunteering can be a good way to combat this. Whether it is for the benefit of a charity, school or cultural organization, you will return to swing things while contributing to a good cause.
Volunteering will also show to potential employers that you are committed to developing your skills and enthusiasm for returning to the world of work.
CONCLUSION
Usually knowing that you have been unemployed for consecutive years is enough to lower your confidence in some pegs when looking for a job. However, it is important for you to remember that the gap in your work is not something you need to apologize for.
Sure, it will require some explanation – this is to be expected. However, the need to clarify something does not make it inherently bad. Do not beat yourself by thinking that long-term unemployment means that you will not be seriously considering another job. Instead, think about how you want to explain to hiring managers, choose the positive attributes you want to emphasize, and then go.
