Getting Back To Work Isn't Easy

Maybe you took some time off to raise a child, travel, or just figure out what you want in life. No matter your reason, getting back into the swing of things after time away can seem daunting, at best.

Re-entering the work force after a long hiatus can make any woman nervous. Your apprehension is not entirely without reason. There will soon be complex questions staring you in the face. Are you up-to-date with new practices and policies? Do you know how to use the updated technology? Do you remember all of the basics?

Although you may have been an expert in your field way-back-when, things might have changed - and it's good to be aware of this.

As a first step in your preparation you need to assess what may be awaiting you. Think about these points:

1. Are you too old for the job you are seeking now? Even if you're young at heart, chasing around 5-year-olds in a kindergarten class may not be your speed these days. Job profiles keep changing and if workloads are heading north, the average employee age for any job is dashing south. This may not have been the case when you first started your career or left it.

2. Has your lifestyle changed drastically? Your values will have changed with your part time or stay-home job which is definitely unsuitable for a full time day job. You need to change or improve your adaptability, which will in turn improve your chances of landing a new job.

3. Realize that you are being perceived as having lost skills when you were out of the job. Be realistic; things naturally change in all areas, such as working styles, technologies, your own confidence level, etc. Consider taking a few classes to brush up.

4. Most new mothers who want to re-enter the workforce may think that their appearance hinders them. It isn't right, but unfortunately, that's the reality. Weight gained over the short period is unavoidable, so make sure you buy work appropriate clothes that suit your shape as it is today, not how it was before.

What you must remember at this point in time is that it probably won't help having job interviews without confidence, regardless of your prior experience. Do everything that you can to boost your confidence; keep fit, brush up on your knowledge and relevant skills, dress neatly, etc.

5. Know what you want. If you have to accept a job with a smaller salary in order to get your foot back in the door, do not hesitate to do it. Starting at the bottom isn't easy, but your previous experience should help you move up quickly.

Style Lisa
		About the author:
		I love fashion more than life itself.  My mother says my first word was Gucci!  When I'm not sitting front row at FashionWeek, I'm blogging, reading and watching my favourite TV show, Gossip Girl.
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