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Education, Careers & Professional News

Second Chance

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I am trying to get back into the workforce after having raised my two kids for 10 years. I don’t know where to begin.

You haven’t mentioned what you were doing before the break, so let me give you a few general guidelines.

The prospect of going back to work can certainly be daunting and strike fear in the hearts of even the most seasoned moms. But let me assure you, there’s never been a better time to do so. The most important thing individuals need to focus on when re-entering the workforce is that it isn’t so different from the regular job seeker’s focus -figuring out your potential employers’ needs and what you’ve done in your past that demonstrates you can meet those needs.

Volunteer experiences, committee work, part-time jobs and leisure pursuits can all be used as experiences to draw from. Taking a group of kids on a field trip sounds a lot like special-events management. Establishing a sanitation drive for your neighbourhood has a lot in common with programme management. When you break down the tasks, roles, responsibilities and functions of any given accomplishment the similarities between paid and unpaid work are easy to see.

If you don’t have any volunteer or leisure experiences to draw from and want to get back into the workforce, try pitching how you can solve a problem for, say, a local business you frequent. Sometimes the most difficult aspect of going back to work is figuring out what you want to do. Focus on your interests and the skills you’ve developed.

For example, an avid home decorator might apply for a stint as a window displayer starting out with a local showroom or retail store. If you are academically - oriented, Knowledge Process Outsourcing (KPO) is the next boom after BPO. Read up on the possibilities and identify the area where you could fit in. From editing and designing to creating instructional design packages to online tutoring - there are countless opportunities to be explored.

Meet up with those working in the fields you have identified, Scan the appointment ads and browse some of the leading jobsites to get a feel of industry trends. Check if you need to sharpen and upgrade your skills. Find out about prospective employers and contact them directly.

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