JENNIFER RITCHIE
GETTING back into the workplace after a break need not be a traumatic experience.
In fact, if handled effectively, it can be the start of renewed self- belief, motivation and financial independence. Before you start looking for a job, you need to work on your mental attitude, as the biggest obstacle is frequently lack of self-belief or self-worth, which leads to negativity or fear.
Susan Jeffers, in her book Feel the Fear and Do it Anyway, points out that every time you feel afraid, you need to remind yourself that it is simply because you are not feeling good about yourself.
To diminish your fear is to develop more trust in your ability to handle whatever comes your way and work on yourself to the point where you can say “whatever happens to me, given any situation, I can handle it”.
Everyone experiences fear and self-doubt at some time, and the way to get rid of this is to go out and just do it. Another important skill to master is the ability to switch off the negative voice in your head, the voice of past conditioning, which undermines your self-belief.
After spending time at home subsequent to a retrenchment, or years spent caring for children, or an extended illness or personal trauma, it is natural to question your ability to function in a competitive work environment.
But the reality is often that this period has grown you in ways that are beneficial to any employer. For example, coping with a baby is likely to have taught you a variety of skills such as multi-tasking, time management, adaptability and initiative and often, after this, a work environment with clear-cut deliverables will be a relief.
Practical advice includes the following:
l Make a list of your technical and behavioural skills, and practise communicating these confidently as you will undoubtedly be asked what they are.
l Brainstorm formal and entrepreneurial options in a structured way, and investigate related opportunities.
l Keep yourself stretched and useful. Take your talents and passions, find a target market or market gap in your neighbourhood and get engaged.
l Define your career goals for the next year, as well as the next five years, and draw up appropriate action plans.
l Be aware of your values and your interests, or what you really find as meaningful and fulfilling work, and ensure that your five-year plan allows for this.
l Do your research on job sites and check career supplements.
l If circumstances allow, look at international work opportunities in fields such as TEFL English, au pairing, caring or jobs related to your qualifications and experience. Be flexible and open-minded.
l Market yourself professionally by ensuring your CV is impressive and by networking. Prepare thoroughly before a job interview or meeting related to opportunities.
l Persevere and be willing to start small and build your way up in a company. Finally, never underestimate the power of maturity in the workplace.
l Ritchie is a career coach who specialises in assisting clients with career transitions. Visit www. jenniferritchie.com