Photo by Gemma McGuire
Finding a new job can seem like a daunting and even overwhelming prospect when you are currently out of work.
In our experience, a lack of self-confidence is the biggest single hurdle in achieving new employment after a career break. Many of our customers, who are returning to work after a break, no longer believe in their own abilities and find it hard to see what they can offer to a new employer. It is easy to get bogged down in explaining away several years out of the workplace, focusing on making excuses rather than drawing out the positive.
Let’s liken these inner demons to the troll who lives under the bridge in the tale of the Three Billy Goats Gruff. You can either listen to your doubts, or charge them down like the third goat in the story, who crosses the bridge and gains access to the greener grass beyond.
Whether you have taken a short or extended career break, have recently been made redundant or have been unemployed for a while, a well written and well presented CV is an essential tool to raise your confidence and get you back to work.
So, how should you best go about writing one?
Sink or swim
The most important thing to bear in mind when writing any CV is that it needs to demonstrate how you meet the requirements of the role. Imagine the recruiter sitting with a checklist in one hand and your CV in another.
Does your CV make it easy for them to tick off their list?
Does it demonstrate you are able and willing to do the job?
If you write your CV with the recruiter’s needs in mind, you will be one step further to ensuring your CV is shortlisted.
Be buoyant about what you achieved before your career break
Although you have taken time out from your career, don’t be tempted to undersell your experience and skill base. Be proud of what you have achieved so far and make sure this comes across in a positive way on your CV. You may be more experienced than other candidates applying for a desired role, even though your experience isn’t totally current.
A good tactic is to imagine that you are actually still in your last role and draw on that positivity to make your skills and achievements stand out loud and proud. If your last relevant role was a few years ago, and you’ve had other jobs in between, you could present your most relevant experience up front, on the first page, with a ‘Relevant Experience’ section and one on ‘Other Experience’ to follow.
Be buoyant about the skills and experience you gained through your career break
A career break can be a very positive experience which enhances your CV.
Before you begin writing your CV, take some time out to consider the transferable knowledge and experience you have developed during a career break, which would be appealing to a potential employer.
Desirable workplace competencies such as organisation, administrative skills, marketing, fundraising, event organisation and team work can be developed through voluntary roles, personal projects, travel experiences and outside interests.
Whether you’ve been a member of a PTA committee, have an active involvement in local community events or have recently returned from a personal travel experience, you will have used a number of skills which may be relevant to your desired job.
It is essential to look objectively at what you have achieved, draw out the skills which are relevant to your desired job or sector, and present your message in a clear way to maximise your chances of selection.
Recognise what you have to offer and then SELL IT!
Don’t burn your bridges by using ambiguous explanations
It is important to be clear about the reasons for your career break. A cloak and dagger approach could leave the recruiter’s imagination running wild with potential reasons for your leave of absence, with ‘detention at Her Majesty’s pleasure’ among the possibilities that spring to mind. With a pile of applications to evaluate, recruiters are likely to discard any CVs that raise questions and hint at issues in favour of those that read like an open book and tick all the boxes.
If you are currently unemployed and seeking a return to work, one option is to outline your career break in your Objective section, to be included straight after your Profile. For example:
Having enjoyed a rewarding career break during which I took time out to look after my children, I am now seeking a new and challenging role to recommence my career. I am keen to use the highly transferable skills and experience I have developed through my career to date and through various voluntary activities.
If your career break was a while ago, you can simply list it in one line as part of your employment history. There’s no need to make a song and dance about something that can now be considered as ‘water under the bridge’ – long winded explanations can lead you to dig holes that are hard to climb out of.
A simple and clear one-line explanation is best. Further explanation may be required at interview, but the purpose of the CV is to pique the reader’s interest sufficiently that they want to find out more.
Further explanation?
Well – you can cross that bridge when you come to it.
Lis McGuire
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