Are you currently reentering the workforce?
It’s an exciting prospect, but you may feel a bit nervous about it, too. Even when you’ve recently graduated and have a resume that speaks to your skills and training, it can still be a little intimidating to think about becoming a full-time employee again.
However, you’re far from alone. Countless people have felt the same way and managed to successfully reenter the workforce without issue.
5 Ways to Make Reentering the Workforce Much Easier
Fortunately, there are five things most people have done when reentering the workforce. Follow their footsteps and you should find that you follow them right into a new role.
Best of all, these tips are incredibly easy and simple to implement.
1. List All of Your Relevant Skills on Your Resume
Obviously, it will help a lot if you’re able to show potential employers that you have an education relevant to the field in which you’re applying. Aside from the fact that this speaks to your skill set, it also shows you are serious about reentering the workforce and know how to take initiative.
Don’t forget about other skills that may be relevant, though. Even if it’s been years since your last job, think about what skills that role required. Then, describe them in detail.
There’s also no law that says you have to list your skills in chronological order on your resume. If customer service is relevant to the employer, list that one first under your “skills” heading, even if you were more recently in a role that didn’t involve any.
You want to make it as easy as possible for an employer to see why you’re a good fit for their business.
2. Reach Out to Your Network
One of the best – if not the best – way to find a job opening and secure an interview is by leveraging your network.
Talk to your friends and family about your intentions to find a job and start working again. You never know who may be able to connect you with someone who is hiring.
Be sure to put the word out on all your social media accounts, as well. You probably don’t regularly talk to everyone you know on a regular basis, so many of your connections may be unaware of your current job search.
Also, don’t overlook your college’s alumni. You may have a much larger network than you originally thought. Speak to your school about those who are currently working in your field.
Another option is to head over to LinkedIn’s alumni page to get a sense for how many people may be able to help you with reentering the workforce. A lot of them have probably been through the same thing.
3. Practice Your Interview Questions Over and Over
You’re probably well aware of the most common interview questions. These include tried-and-true examples like:
- Why do you want to work here?
- What is your biggest weakness?
- Tell me about a time you went above and beyond.
Be sure to practice your answers for these over and over. You don’t want to sound too rehearsed, of course, but you also don’t want to be unprepared for these opportunities to really impress the employer.
That said, as someone who is reentering the workforce, you will probably also get a couple of other questions. These may include:
- Why have you decided to enter the workforce now?
- What have you been doing since you were last employed?
Again, prepare well beforehand so you’re able to give clear answers.
While your response to the first one will be unique to your life, it’s important that your answer tells the interviewer that this wasn’t done on a whim. They don’t want to hire someone who may decide to leave in a month or so when they realize this isn’t for them.
Since you’ve gone to college, this will be easier to do. They’ll see how committed you are to reentering the workforce. This will also be a great answer to the second question, too, though you should still prepare a response about any gap that existed before that.
4. Research Your Industry
Showing you went back to school to learn the skills necessary to land a job is a big step in the right direction, but you can do even more to gain interest from an interviewer. In fact, this one tip can differentiate you from other applicants who have been in the workforce for years.
Long before an interview, you should research everything about the employer. This should include the actual industry you plan on entering, as well.
For example, if you’re hoping to work as a computer systems technician, it will help your chances if you can speak to the interviewer on their level about industry trends and other factors that affect – or will soon affect – the work you’ll need to do.
5. Start with an Entry Level Job
You’ll have a much easier time reentering the workforce if you start by applying for entry level positions.
Generally, you don’t need a lot of experience to get hired for one of these positions. Your recent graduation will definitely help, but the employer will also be interested in how trainable you appear to be and what it will be like to have you on staff.
Again, this is why you should practice your interview questions over and over.
This initial entry level position may be the beginning of a long and fulfilling career path with the same company. If nothing else, it will add a very important credential to your resume, which you can then use in the future – when you’re no longer reentering the workforce.
Need Additional Help Reentering the Workforce?
One of the many benefits to attending IntelliTec College is that we have a career services department available. The staff is always happy to help students and graduates with their job searches and dealing with other common challenges.
Reentering the workforce is one of them.
If you’re thinking about doing so, contact IntelliTec College today and we’ll send you information about our programs and can answer any questions you have about this next phase in your life.
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