4 Things to Do When You’re Ready to Return to Work
If you're thinking about returning to the paid workforce after a career break, first of all...congratulations!
This is a big decision.
It's completely normal to feel excited about what's ahead while also wondering if you're really ready.
The good news? You don't have to jump straight into applying for jobs. In fact, taking a little time to prepare now can make your job search far less stressful and much more successful.
Here are four things I encourage every career returner to do before they start submitting applications.
1. Take a full inventory of your skills
In the previous post, I suggested doing a mini skills audit.
Now it's time to go much deeper.
Set aside about 30 minutes and write down everything you've done during your career break. Don't stop to decide whether it's "resume worthy."
Just get it all on paper.
Did you coordinate medical appointments? Organize school events? Volunteer? Manage a household budget? Care for aging parents? Complete online courses? Lead community activities?
Write it all down.
Once you've finished, you'll probably have the same realization many of my clients do:
"Wow...I've actually done a lot."
Next, start looking for patterns.
Maybe you've become an incredible advocate while navigating your child's medical care. Perhaps you've strengthened your organization skills by coordinating multiple family schedules or developed leadership experience through volunteer work.
Those experiences aren't "less than" because they weren't paid.
A skill is still a skill, regardless of where you developed it.
When you combine everything you accomplished before your career break with everything you've learned during it, you'll have a much more complete picture of the value you bring to an employer.
2. Create a job search game plan
One of the biggest mistakes I see is this:
Someone decides they're ready to return to work...and immediately starts clicking "Apply."
While that feels productive, it's usually not the most effective approach.
Instead, create a plan before you begin.
Think through your entire job search process. What types of roles are you targeting? How will you network? What needs to be updated before you apply? What will your weekly routine look like?
Having a strategy gives you direction and helps you avoid wasting time applying for jobs that aren't a good fit.
A thoughtful plan almost always leads to a more confident and successful job search.
3. Reflect on what you want next
Career breaks have a way of changing us.
Sometimes those changes are obvious. Other times, they're more subtle.
You may still want to work in the same field, but perhaps flexibility has become much more important. Maybe you're looking for work that aligns more closely with your values. Or maybe you've discovered entirely new interests and want to explore a different career path altogether.
This is the perfect time to figure out what matters most to you now.
Think of it as creating a compass for your job search.
Instead of applying for every position that seems remotely interesting, you'll be able to evaluate opportunities by asking:
"Does this align with the person I've become and the life I want to build?"
That clarity will save you time and help you make better career decisions.
4. Work on your mindset
This is the step that often gets overlooked, but it's one of the most important.
When I first began teaching workshops for people returning to work after a career break, I asked participants what they wanted help with most.
By far, the number one answer was mindset.
Career breaks can bring a lot of self-doubt.
You might wonder whether employers will take you seriously. You may question whether your skills are still relevant or worry that you've been away for too long.
Those thoughts are common, but they aren't facts.
As you prepare to return to work, keep these reminders in mind:
A difficult job search is not a reflection of your worth. Today's job market is challenging for many people. Struggling to land interviews and offers doesn't mean you lack value.
Focus on what you can control. You can't control how quickly employers respond or how many applicants apply for the same role. You can control the quality of your resume, your networking efforts, your interview preparation, and how you show up. Focus on those!
Own your career break. Please don't feel like you have to hide it. Your career break is part of your story, not something to apologize for. During that time, you gained experiences, perspectives, and skills that make you uniquely qualified in ways someone with a traditional career path may not be.
Your career break didn't erase your professional experience. It added to it.
You're more prepared than you think
Returning to work after a career break isn't about trying to become the person you were before you stepped away.
It's about recognizing the person you've become.
And if you're wondering how to best position your unique, amazing and talented self in your job search book your free discovery call to set yourself up for success as you return back to the paid workforce.