Are you ready to re-enter the workforce but don’t know where to start your job search? Don’t worry. Everything you need to know to start working remotely after the holidays.
When I quit my full-time caregiving job to become a stay-at-home mom, I had no idea when I would go back to work or what my next role would be. But after nine months without pay, I decided to look for a remote job.
Although my career hiatus was relatively short, I was still nervous about returning to work, especially since I wanted to use my talents in a new profession. What occupation? Not knowing that well made my job search even more difficult.
All in all, it took me about 5 months to find a part-time freelance job that I could do from home by following the steps below.
Whether you’re on a short break or an extended break, these tips and a little patience will help you re-enter the job market and find a new role you’re passionate about.
1. Take a personal inventory
The road to finding a job starts with careful planning. To create that plan, you need to take a personal inventory to uncover your hard and soft skills, your reasons for working, and other factors that will help you find the perfect career for this stage of your life.
Start by asking yourself the following questions:
- Interested in a part-time or full-time job?
- Do I need to be a W-2 employee or can I do contract work (1099)?
- What are your skills, passions, training and experience?
- Would you like to start your own business?
- What do you absolutely hate doing at work?
- How much do you need to earn each month?
- Do you want to work for your previous employer?
- Do you need a job with benefits?
- Interested in taking an online course or certification program?
By taking the time to answer these questions, you can begin to narrow down which career path to choose and where to start. For example, if you want to become an RN, you need to go to nursing school and get your license. However, other professions, such as freelance writing, allow you to break into the field more easily if you have a natural talent for the field.
2. Refine your skills
Currently, if I were to go back to work as a nurse, I would need to take a refresher course. It’s natural for your skills to dull if you haven’t worked for a long time. Consider enrolling in a refresher course or certification program. Many courses are available online and are relatively inexpensive. If you have the opportunity to enroll in a class that requires you to be physically present, this is a great opportunity to network and connect with other like-minded people.
Other ways to consider include volunteer opportunities, networking events, career conferences, reading books in your field, and returnships. Yes, many women who have been out of work for a long time find that returning is a great way to gain new experience. For potential companies offering returns, check out iRelaunch, a website dedicated to helping job seekers return to work.
3. Update your resume and LinkedIn profile
If you’re looking for a job, you’ll need to update and polish your resume. Remote work is a highly sought-after position, and employers are looking for top-quality talent. Update and update your resume, letters of recommendation, cover letter, and LinkedIn profile to stand out from the crowd.
Don’t forget to tailor your resume to the specific job you’re applying for. Your resume is first scanned by an ATS (applicant tracking system) to detect keywords and phrases used in the job description. Be sure to incorporate them into your resume. One easy way to do this is to use a service like Jobscan or ChatGPT. Simply copy and paste the job description into your resume and we’ll give you suggestions for keywords to add.
If you’ve been out of work for a while, don’t forget to add any notable accomplishments that could boost your credibility, such as volunteering with the PTA, helping out at the family business, writing personal content, doing bookkeeping for your church, coaching your son’s Little League team, or being the treasurer for your daughter’s Girl Scout troop. The key is to focus on your strengths, skills, and accomplishments rather than stressing about the lack of a traditional job.
Most experts agree that if you’ve been away from work for less than six months, you don’t need to mention it on your resume. If you are on vacation for more than 6 months, please include the dates and title of the gap on your resume.
Here’s an example of how to format a career gap on your resume.
Stay-at-home parent, Austin, Texas, March 2007 to January 2009
- Volunteered with the Parent Teacher Association as fundraising chair and secured $250,000 in endowments for the 2008-2009 school year.
- I completed 40 hours of Digital Marketing and E-Commerce Fundamentals training and earned my Google Career Certification.
If you’re wondering what to write in your resume and cover letter, get the ultimate resume template bundle. We have everything you need to write resumes and cover letters that get results.
4. Leverage your network
Even if you lose touch with your colleagues, as a mother you’ve gained a whole new connection that can be just as valuable.
Talk to other parents around you and let them know about the challenges you’re facing. Some may be able to offer advice, others may know of opportunities, and others may be a source of support and motivation.
Please also talk to your friends and family. I flatly asked friends, family, and former colleagues if they knew of or had any work-from-home roles that I could do. This is how I got freelance work when I was just starting out. You don’t know who knows about the position or has a vacant position.
Be sure to check out resources and professional networks like iRelaunch.com and reacHIRE. It provides workshops, events, articles, and success stories, as well as a list of companies offering return-to-work programs.
Finally, be active on LinkedIn. In addition to connecting with former employers and employees, you can also target and follow companies you’d like to work for. In addition to updating your virtual resume, LinkedIn lets you showcase your work, highlight recommendations, and search a huge bank of available jobs.
5. Where should you start your job search?
One of the biggest challenges for women when looking for remote work is finding legitimate job openings. Indeed and LinkedIn have a wealth of new job listings, but there are also plenty of fake job listings and employment scams, not to mention a huge number of other job seekers to compete with.
Niche job boards like The Work at Home Woman, FlexJobs (paid subscription), The Remote Nurse, Real Ways to Earn, Rat Race Rebellion, and Hire My Mom (paid subscription) can help you connect with more targeted remote job listings, legitimate companies, and less competition.
In addition to looking at job boards, take the time to create a dream list of companies you’d like to work for (be sure to include small local businesses as well). Once you’ve made your list, check out the careers page on each company’s website. This page is usually located in the footer of your website. Understand which companies are hiring remote workers for what types of jobs. If there are currently no openings that match your skills, consider signing up for job alerts or sending us a message of interest.
6. Consider conducting informational interviews
Remember when we talked about building your dream company list? Sending messages of interest isn’t the only way to make connections. You can search for employees at your prospective company on LinkedIn and ask if they would be willing to do an informational interview.
An informational interview is an informal conversation you have with a current employee in the position you want to fill, or with an employee at the company you’re targeting. The great thing about informational interviews is that they give you the opportunity to learn everything about the company and position without actually risking going down the path yourself. Done correctly, informational interviews can lead to valuable new connections and even employment opportunities.
One thing to remember is that this person likes you. So buying them a coffee if you meet in person or a small gift card if you speak on the phone or email is a thoughtful gesture. If you are in a financial position to do so, be sure to send a thank you email.
7. Apply for a job
After you apply for a job, wait a week before sending a follow-up message. If you receive a referral from a friend, family member, or colleague, wait a few days before following up. This will ensure your resume gets where it’s going and show you’re the type of person who takes initiative.
If you receive a rejection email, please take the time to thank the recruiter for their consideration and time, and let them know that you are still interested in our company. This is an easy way to stand out and network during the job search process.
It’s okay to check in periodically if the process is taking a long time, but it doesn’t have to be a hassle. The most important thing is to keep looking for new jobs and keep submitting applications. According to this Career Pivot ArticleIt usually takes six months to two years to find a job. Other things to consider are those who are older (age 55 and older) and looking for a high-paying job ($100,000 or more), which tends to take longer. The key is to be patient and persistent.
Finally, be sure to record your job applications, follow-up emails, interview dates, and thank you messages. Using a spreadsheet or my WFH Career Planner can help you stay organized and on top of what you need to do. It also protects you from unsolicited job offers by clearly distinguishing between fake and real jobs.
8. Prepare to make a call
Even before you sit for an interview, you should practice your interviewing skills. One of the best ways to do this is to compile a list of common interview questions and practice answering them out loud. Repeat this over and over again until you can answer confidently on the spot.
Additionally, you should do thorough research and obtain background information about the company. Many companies ask, “Why do you want to work for us?” And you need to find a good answer. Having this background knowledge will not only help you answer the questions, but it will also show the interviewer that you are well prepared.
Once the interview is over, thank the hiring manager for their time and ask when a final decision will be made. This will help you know when it’s appropriate to follow up. Don’t forget to send a thank you note immediately after the interview. Handwritten notes tend to score the most points for managers, but if managers make decisions quickly or don’t have a physical address, email can work just as well.
9. Exploring a new career path
When I started my remote job search, I expected to work for a company, but my desire to try new things led me to become an entrepreneur. Exploring different roles and career paths, such as freelancing, temporary work, casual work, and side hustles, is a great way to earn money while gaining new skills and connections. You never know when one opportunity will lead to another.
Think outside the box and consider all your options. Try searching for jobs based on your skill set, not just the job category. Your previous experience and passion in a different industry, combined with your passion, may make you the perfect candidate for a remote position in that industry.
Returning to work after vacation: Conclusion
Finding a job after being away from work for an extended period of time can be a daunting task. Try to stay positive and keep moving forward. Your dream job is there!
Good luck with your job hunting!
What are your tips for re-entering the workforce? What advice or inspiration can you offer? Leave us a note. We look forward to hearing from you.
