Know which steps to take when re-entering workforce

Employment representative Heather Brown helps improve job seekers’ chances of finding employment at Nevada Job Connect on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2011.

The October jobs report had more good news for the nation’s economy and the millions of Americans looking for work. The unemployment rate was 5.8 percent, its lowest since 2008, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. And more than 2.6 million jobs were added over the past 12 months, the best period since early 2006.

Nevada ranked second in the nation this year for job growth.

The brightening economic picture should encourage those who have been unemployed for a long time. But that optimism may be tempered for some by the reality that there are sizable gaps in their resumes, a potential roadblock to employment.

“Time off work may be necessary at some point in your career for maternity, taking care of a sick relative, postoperative leave for yourself or pursuing a degree,” said Janelle E. Taylor, who writes about workplace issues. But, “the reality is that time has passed since you last applied work-related expertise. And your resume, although impressive, may be old news to recruiters seeking to fill positions with today’s requirements.”

The good news — which you should highlight to employers ­— is that you might be more eager than other job seekers to perform.

Taylor offered more tips to help workers with gaps in their resumes show prospective employers they have what it takes:

• Tell your story. Employers want to know why you haven’t worked for an extended period. In your cover letter, along with key achievements and what you can offer, explain your situation and outline the responsibilities you maintained outside the corporate setting. Life doesn’t stop after office hours.

If you chose to leave the workplace, explain why. Such a decision exhibits leadership and unselfishness — traits that make a great team member.

• Demonstrate new skills. Show employers that you are up-to-date in your field and have developed new skills.

Volunteering in your industry also is an effective approach to transition back into full-time employment. The most important detail is to show you were out of the office but not out of sync with your profession.

• Show your face. Even with multiple modes of social media, face-to-face interaction always will reign supreme in making solid, genuine connections. Go to job-related events, meet new people and network. When someone hands you a card and tells you to call them, open your briefcase and pull out a crisp resume package.

• Be yourself. Telling your unique story and verifying you’re still an asset is a winning strategy. Making a comeback and competing with the current workforce shows tenacity and confidence. That is the type of resiliency hiring managers want.

Seven suggestions for preparing yourself for re-entry into your field

Regardless of the reason for your absence, the greatest challenge is figuring out what you want to do when it’s over, said Carol Fishman Cohen, co-founder of iRelaunch, a consultancy for people returning to the workforce. Cohen and her partner Vivian Steir Rabin, both Harvard MBAs, returned to their jobs after 11- and 7-year career breaks, respectively.

“You need to figure out if your interests and skills have changed,” said Cohen, who stayed home to care for her children before returning to Bain Capital, an asset management firm. “Sometimes a career break is a gift because it is the first time people have the chance to sit back and reflect, to figure out if they were on the right career path before they left. Success in returning has less to do with age or the number of years you were gone and everything to do with figuring out exactly what you want to do and being relentless about going after it.”

Here are a few tips from Cohen:

• Look at current job descriptions in your chosen field. See what the requirements are and whether they have changed.

• Seek out strategic volunteering opportunities, roles that are in line with your career goals. Two great sources are volunteermatch.org and idealist.org.

• Consider going back to school, even if it’s just for a single course at a community college. Look for courses that have a field study component, because that gets you to a real-world employer.

• Academia is a great place to relaunch a career. The website hercjobs.org is a great resource for administrative and teaching jobs at academic institutions.

• Check with your alma mater to find out if it offers career services for alumni.

• Try to go through the return-to-work process with another person or a small group of people. That keeps you accountable, motivated and moving forward.

• Enlist working friends to do mock phone or Skype interviews with you.

Four suggestions for touching up your resume and pitch

Deborah S. Hildebrand, a writer and human resources consultant with a business degree and 20-plus years of experience, said it’s not a matter of “just dusting off the old resume and sending it out to potential employers.” Looking for work after a long absence, she said, requires forethought, time and energy. She offered four suggestions:

• Update your wardrobe. Be sure your clothing hasn’t gone out of style while you’ve been out of work. It doesn’t take a huge amount of money to supplement a wardrobe; it’s just a matter of shopping wisely.

• Brush up old skills. Anyone who has worked in an office environment knows how quickly technology changes. Taking computer classes is a great way to learn. Classes on resume writing, job searching and general business topics can be equally helpful.

• Fill in the gaps. There was a time when resume gaps were an immediate red flag, but more employers today understand that sometimes even the best candidates have been out of work. Be sure those hiring know you haven’t been idle during your time away; emphasize skill sets over work history, and capitalize on how your time unemployed was spent on relevant activities.

• Accentuate the positive. Job seekers who have been out of the workforce need to demonstrate they have valuable experience, are excited to be returning to work and are eager to learn new things. Doing it right is all about preparation.

Businesses can benefit from hiring long-term unemployed

Patricia Nelson, a career counselor for Nevada JobConnect in Las Vegas, believes there are good reasons to hire someone who has been out of work. Employers should realize:

• Going back to school makes a person more employable and more valuable. If the subject matter expands the applicant’s skill set and can be applied on the job, that’s beneficial to the employer.

• Volunteering and on-the-job training increase a candidate’s marketability. Volunteerism is a strong testament to a person’s character and work ethic.

• Employers can take advantage of incentives, such as the Work Opportunity Tax Credit and Silver State Works incentive through Nevada JobConnect and Platform to Employment internships and incentives through the agency.

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