Restarting your career after a break from the workplace can be a daunting task.Taking a career break is an opportunity many would jump at if it were not for the capitalist society we find ourselves in, that requires us to sweat and toil to afford basic needs like rent, food, healthcare, education, etc.A career restart is wonderful, but the job market is forever changing, hence being updated on industry trends is vital in enabling a smooth return to your career prospects.Taking a hiatus from work is not a new concept. A LinkedIn survey of 23,000 workers found that 62% of people have taken a career break at some point in their career. But how can you take an effective career restart? Here a few tips on how to go about it:
Develop New Skills
With the ever-changing job market, it is imperative to develop new skills. You can start by polishing up areas of your skill set that need improvement, and then look out for the most in-demand skills that employers are looking for that align with your curiosity or inclination. Another great way to develop new skills is taking up short online courses. Thanks to technology, learning has been made easier, as you can learn in the comfort of your home. You could start with soft skills such as communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, etc, and hard skills like data analysis and project management as a way to enhance your skill set.
Assess Job Market Calendar
Assess the job market calendar to understand seasonal recruitment trends and insights so that you know when is the best time to apply or position yourself for your desired jobs. Understanding seasons also allows you to take your time and comprehensive preparation.
Revamp Your CV
It is always essential to keep an updated CV that is a true representation of your experience and skills. Sending an outdated CV will do more harm than good in your job search. Remember your CV is what recruiters get to know first before meeting you; hence it should be a true representation of you. Don’t sell yourself short. You can start with researching what makes a good CV, and how to make it easier for hiring managers to read, etc.
Create A List / Vision Board
Once you decide to take a career restart, you need to create a list of what you want to achieve. A vision board is a brilliant idea to start with visualising your vision. Be creative, and thorough in laying out what you want, how you want, etc, make it detailed to make it easier to pursue your vision.
Research & Explore Possibilities / Opportunities
To make informed decisions, research to get a feel of what is out there and how to approach opportunities. It is essential to understand what possibilities and opportunities are out there in your field of expertise, in order to prepare how to approach them effectively.
Networking
Networking remains one of the most important tips to making an impactful career restart. Living in a digital village has made networking easier; you can start on social platforms like LinkedIn and share with your community about career restart. You can also attend relevant industry events to learn and see what’s out there. When networking, try to be as genuine and true to yourself as possible. This will help you make real connections that will serve you in the long run as a source of learning and inspiration; and in order to achieve this, you will need to create a networking plan that outlines your objectives for networking.
Summary
To ensure that you are developing new skills, assessing the job market calendar, revamping your CV, creating a list/ vision board, researching and exploring possibilities / opportunities, and networking effectively will require you to take ownership of your career. After all, this is YOUR career, thus taking it seriously is your responsibility in realising an effective career restart, so own it.
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