Returning to work: setting yourself up for success!
It is true to say we are a long time working - on avergae we spend a whopping one third of our lives earning a wage. No wonder more people than ever want a career break.
Of course, there are many reasons to take time away from employment, most of which are positive. But, however good or not so good the reasons, most of us need to return to work at some stage - if only to meet that ‘third of life working’ statistic!
If you’ve had a good ‘break’ you’re likely to be clear of head, full of positivity and very keen to get cracking again. So how do you go about bagging yourself that dream job?
Think everything through
You’ve been absent a while and life has moved on in many ways, not least for you. The first thing you need to be clear on is the reason for your return to work. Once you’re at peace with your WHY, you’ll be better placed to consider which of the many WHATs can get you there.
Be current
It all starts with making sure your identity is up to date. That’s right: your CV! Even if you’ve been ‘sponsored’ into a conversation with a potential employer, the chances are you’ll be expected to present a current CV with details of all your previous roles and what you’ve been up to during your time out. Explain the reasons for your absence, whatever they might be, to allow those giving your CV the onceover a chance to understand where you’ve been and why.
Do your homework
So, you’ve stumbled across an advert for a job that sounds AMAZING! It’s exactly what you were looking for - from the role’s responsibilities to the location to the salary package, every box presents a huge tick. Job done! But hang on a second. Take time to get to know the company in question and see if they’re really the correct fit. Whether they’re large or small, it’s relatively simple these days to suss out what they’re like as a business and employer, what they stand for and how they like to present themselves through their company’s own website.
Know the process
We think we’re liking this company, which is awesome! All we need to do now is get ourselves an interview and nail it! But…it turns out they’re expecting you to attend several rounds of interviews for this role. This is where a recruitment consultant is worth their weight in gold - they work regularly with the hiring company and know their interview process inside out, from the steps involved through to their interview style. If you’re dealing directly with the company’s hiring manager, don’t be afraid to drop them an email to ask for a full breakdown of their interview process and how you will be assessed.
It’s show time
You’ve made it through to the interview stage. Great! Try to remember, this is a two-way communication and the company is as much on show here as you are. With plenty of preparation reading up on the company and role, and lots of practice answering their likely questions, you’ll be ready for all that’s asked of you. Make sure you have prepared some closing questions - for some roles these are
essential rather than a suggestion - think like sales-makers, where closure is everything!
Congratulations!
You’ve been offered the role! Now the real fun starts! Negotiating your salary package, company vehicle, parking space allocation, number of days annual leave, travel vouchers, in-house gym membership, trial period, start date, on-boarding process, work from home days, core hours… Good luck!
Want some expert help securing your next successful role? Have a chat with the team at 121 - email info@121york.co.uk or call us on 01904 769142.
