Career Advice By Randy

How To Get Back In The Job Market

So, you’ve been out of the job market for a while due to working from home, contracting, being a stay at home parent, or you’re coming out of retirement. You may be looking to get back into the swing of things. It can be incredibly intimidating to start over this way. Just remember that you’re hardly the first person to do this, although you may feel very alone right now.
Here are a few pointers to get you on your way.
1. Reconnect with old colleagues. Remember, the number one way of getting the job is by having a personal connection with the hiring manager, or even with someone they know. It’s all about connections.
No less important, old colleagues can tell you what has changed in the business since you’ve been gone. You can bet your bottom dollar that new tools are being used. So find out what training you’ll need to get back in the game, and get it done.
2. Don’t insist on starting out at the same level, professionally. Since you’ve been out of the game for a while, it may take a while to get up to speed, which makes you a less attractive prospect to employers. There are a lot of people looking for jobs right now.
One way to get back into things quickly and easily may be by picking up some contract work here and there. That way you can make some new contacts, get up to speed, and potentially even find out about new job openings before you’d know otherwise.
If you do an especially impressive job, who knows, someone may ask you to stay, or just write down your name for later. A good reference in the biz is nothing to ignore.
3. Be prepared to explain what you’ve spent your time doing. If you took time off to spend with your kids, be aware that employers have no guarantee you won’t do this again.
If you’ve been doing massive amounts of volunteer work, get recommendations from the appropriate organizations. They’ll give an up to date idea of what your work ethic is like, and show your potential boss that you’re a go-getter.
If you’re taking the job for monetary reasons, as most are, (as opposed to personal fulfillment) potential employers are likely to ask you if you’ll leave when your home finances stabilized. Be prepared to answer them.
4. Dye those gray hairs. They may never admit it, but your interviewers are looking for someone who’s going to stick around, so they’re likely to be less interested in someone who looks too close to retiring.
5. While there are any number of online application processes, these days, don’t let that fool you. The best way to make contact is in person. This is for the same reason that people like to hire some kind of an acquaintance — they want a known entity. Furthermore, showing up in person show that you have enough interest in the job to get off your duff and get down there.
Don’t show up in a baggy shirt and sweatpants, either. Show them you’re serious.