Entering the workforce for the first time can be an intimidating experience. Entering the workforce after a long career break can be just as intimidating. While you might have paused your career, the work industry continued to flow in motion. Things might have changed since you last worked, but that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare for your return. 
A career break isn’t a bad thing. There are various reasons why you might have taken a sabbatical, but employers will likely question the gap in your resume. Knowing how to prepare for an interview after a career break will help you gain more confidence and determination. 
Here are six tips for getting hired after a career break:

Update Your Resume 

It’s most likely been a long while since the last time you put a resume together. According to an employment agency in Toronto, updating your resume is crucial in looking for new work. Spend some time updating your resume. It’s imperative that you keep it updated with any new skills or experiences you retained during your break. 
For example, perhaps you took a course or participated in volunteer work. Adding recent skills will show employers that you continued to develop new skills and shows you were enterprising while away from work. 

Start Networking 

While you’re busy looking for new career opportunities, don’t forget your existing connections! Reach out to your old colleagues, clients, and friends. Let them know that you’re looking to get back into the industry, as they might know somewhere or someone that’s looking for a new employee. 
Networking also provides the opportunity to collect new references for your job applications. 

Stay Current With Industry-Related Trends 

Perhaps you’re planning on returning to the same industry you originally worked for. Do some research into different companies, job opportunities, and salaries. If you’ve been away for a while, the industry has likely changed, whether you worked in real estate, financing, or network security services
Researching the industry in today’s world will keep you up-to-date with the latest trends and impress your potential employers when you bust out your extensive knowledge. In addition, researching your industry can help you find other potential opportunities of interest.  

Get Your Skills Up to Date

Job skills and requirements are always changing. Even those that don’t go on career breaks are constantly updating their skill set. Look into the requirements from some jobs you may be interested in and determine whether you need to add some new skills to your resume. There may be courses available to collect certifications and knowledge to accumulate to make you an ideal candidate for the job.
Learning new skills is also one of the best ways to become more successful in your career. You’ll find that the more skills you obtain, the more self-confidence and resourcefulness you’ll possess. Employers will see you as an asset in a sea of competitive applicants. 

Prepare for Interviews

Before attending your first interview, take the time to prepare yourself for questions about your career break. It’s not that employers are nosey, but they will most likely want to know about the timeframe of your resume. 
Interviewers may ask about what you did during your time off. Take the opportunity to sell yourself. Tell them about the new skills you’ve learned or the volunteer jobs or classes you participated in. Show them that you used the time wisely to benefit the job position you’re applying for.  Suppose that you are submitting a job application to Best Buy. Along with getting ready for the typical Best Buy interview questions, be sure to discuss any experience or abilities you gained while on leave.

Stay Confident 

It shouldn’t matter how long you’ve been away from working full-time. It’s paramount to be confident and optimistic about your abilities. Go over your skills and past experiences and identify the aspects you’re most confident about. Don’t let yourself get bogged down by the stress of returning to the workforce. People take time off all the time, and if you can back up why you decided to give yourself a break, you’ll be fine. 
Everyone has their journey, especially when it comes to career paths. A gap in a resume is a perfectly common occurrence. If you’re feeling stressed or defeated over entering the workforce again, remember the simple tips above to help guide you toward success. 

WRITTEN BY

Sophie H.