Many folks find themselves out of the job market at some point or another, sometimes for just a short amount of time and other times for longer. Reasons range from starting a family to health concerns to family and personal obligations, going to school, travel and more.
Whether you’ve taken a break from the job force willingly or not, it can be tough to head back to the full-time grind.
Resume Revamp
Regardless of the reason for your hiatus, your resume will need to reflect the gap. Though you can go further in depth on your time away from the workforce, your resume and cover letter should explain what you did during your time away. You can also highlight any transferable skills you may have gained during your time off.
It may be worthwhile to seek out a resume writing professional to help you organize your resume in a logical fashion — for example, a functional resume instead of a chronological resume based on your individual circumstance. While functional resumes tend to focus on your skills as opposed to the dates that you were employed, they can also be a red flag to potential employers who think you might be trying to hide a large gap or a series of jumps. For this reason, a hybrid of the two resume formats has sometimes been the best answer for some of my clients.
Interview Prep
Once your resume is completed and put out there, it’s wise to take some time to prepare for any interviews you may land. In addition to preparing answers for common interview questions, it’s also wise to print out five copies of your resume to bring to an interview (because you never know who is going to show up, it’s better to have too many rather than not enough).
Additionally, you should put some time into your appearance, because when we look our best we feel our best. Choose a professional-looking outfit that is freshly cleaned and pressed, along with clean shoes. Women should consider minimal jewelry and a natural-looking manicure while men should be clean shaven. Remember, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.
A New Approach
Before jumping in head first to a new job, consider what best fits your current lifestyle. For example, if you quit your previous position because you didn’t enjoy it, now is as good a time as ever to choose a new path.
Today, more than ever, options for non-traditional or remote working opportunities are available. For example, Amway offers a unique way to generate income on your own time and your own terms. This can be particularly helpful for folks who have an entrepreneurial spirit and seek greater flexibility.
This comprehensive education program is a great way to sharpen your job skills while also generating income on your own time. Furthermore, Amway offers top-notch education and training to help get your business off the ground. The intensive curriculum was created to put Amway Independent Business owners at the forefront of success from the time they join, as well as a focus on communication, building your business and more. The training program can help folks gain valuable skills both personally and professionally, which they can take with them wherever they go in life.
Entrepreneurship is growing at a faster rate than ever and, according to statistics, millennials under 35 were the most excited to become business owners. Self-employment is a lucrative way to do what you love, when you want and to generate an unlimited income potential. And it shows no signs of slowing down.