Going Public: Strategies for Career Re-Entery
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I recently attended a conference where I had the pleasure of listening to one of the keynote speakers, Carol Fishman Cohen, co-founder of iRelaunch. As the name of her organization suggests, Ms. Cohen addressed the topic of how to best “re-launch” oneself after a career break. As a career coach, I have worked with clients who have articulated this very challenge—how to get back in the game with a significant employment gap on a resume. While the reasons for a career break often vary (e.g., a parent taking time off to care for their children or handling a family member’s health issue), reconfiguring one’s job search strategy is a must.

Here are some practical strategies that Ms. Cohen suggests:
  1. Carefully evaluate your decision to re-launch into the marketplace. It is vitally important for you to examine what your current interests and skills are, and then determine if they have changed since your last position. This is particularly true for individuals with lengthy career breaks.

  2. Utilize your online profile. First off, if you do not have a LinkedIn profile, you will want to create one. Then, you will want to utilize your online presence to connect with other professionals in your field of interest by requesting informational interviews. If you are attempting to return to the same field, reach out and connect with people from your past. In addition to connecting with former supervisors, don’t forget your former peers and employees. While you might have been on a career break, these contacts have been steadily being promoted to positions of authority and influence. This method allows you to make a connection by discussing pertinent information about how market trends have changed, or discovering how a professional’s career path evolved over the past decade, while not directly asking for a job. Even though this contact may not lead to an open position, he or she may be able to refer your name to someone who is hiring. You may also want to consider utilizing Twitter in your search, as well. Simply follow those companies of interest so you receive up-to-date alerts on job opportunities.

  3. Explore experiential education. No matter what your age, you are never too old to pursue an internship or an internship equivalent such as volunteering. Keep in mind however that it is vital to only take on those volunteer roles that align with your career goals. Key Websites you can utilize to search for opportunities include Idealist.org, catchafire.org, or probono.net. You may also find that some companies are offering “returnship” programs, which allows re-launchers the ability to gain work experience while the company “test drives” the individual.

  4. Get out of the house. It is difficult to effectively network from the comfort of your home. Thus, consider joining professional associations connected to your field. This may then open up an opportunity to volunteer within the organization. Another option to consider is attending a lecture series at a local university to connect with other professionals. Overall, the most crucial message you want to be sending is that you are eager to return to work!