Returning to full-time employment after a long absence can feel daunting. This can be especially true if you’re looking to change careers or enter a new industry for the first time.

There’s many reasons for long absences from employment too. This could be due to redundancy from your last role, going self-employed, becoming a stay-at-home parent, or maybe you simply wanted a career break to travel.

Whatever the reason and your own personal circumstances, you’re not alone, and there’s thousands of opportunities in front of you to re-enter employment.

In this short blog, we provide six simple steps you can take to prepare for re-entering work and some tips on how to maximise your overall employability.

1. Focus your job search

The first thing we’d recommend doing before looking for a new job is to focus your search.

What type of working environment would you most enjoy working in?

This could be in an office, a warehouse, a shop, café or supermarket, or even working from home.

Assess your current situation, what working hours can you commit to?

Would you prefer weekend and evening work as opposed to the regular 9-5 during the week?

You should also focus on your strengths and what you most enjoy doing.

Key questions to ask yourself:

Do you enjoy helping people in a customer service type of role?
Would you enjoy working in an office setting?
Are you more practical and enjoy working in a busy environment such as in construction or in a warehouse?
Is working from home something you’d be open to?
Would you feel more comfortable working as part of a team or alone?

These are all questions you should ask yourself before looking for a new role.

2. Update your CV

Your skills and overall experience may have changed since you last worked, so it’s a good idea to update your CV to actively reflect your current situation.

It also goes without saying that you should always be honest and open about your situation – be prepared to explain any gaps in your work history or periods where you weren’t in full-time employment.

This isn’t a bad thing! Employers will appreciate your honesty and being able to explain the reasons why you weren’t in work.

3. Attend local job fairs

Visiting a local job fair is a great way to meet potential new employers and ask any questions about their job vacancies.

It also presents an opportunity for you to learn about different industries and narrow down your search for a new role if you’re still unsure about the type of job you’d be interested in pursuing.

Employers attend these events to meet potential candidates for their vacancies, so by attending yourself, you’ll be showing a real willingness to learn as much as possible about one of their roles, which is always a good sign for an employer.

If you’re unsure about where or when an upcoming jobs fair might be, a quick online search for “Jobs fairs near me” should help provide you with a list of events that are scheduled in your area.

Top Tip: If you’re thinking of attending a jobs fair, it’s a good idea to bring along a friend or family member for support.

There can be a large amount of employers and other job-seekers in attendance which can be quite overwhelming, so having the support of someone close to you can add extra confidence when speaking to hiring managers for the first time.

4. Reach out to friends, family and former colleagues

Your job search doesn’t have to be something you do alone!

By letting others know that you’re searching for a new role, you’ll be doubling your efforts in your search, as they’ll keep you in mind for any vacancies they hear about.

They can also help spread the word for you that you’re actively looking for employment, which could potentially lead to employers getting in touch with you.

5. Consider part-time or voluntary work

An easy transition back into work is to take a part-time or voluntary role to begin with.

This shows a willingness to want to work and prepares you the daily routine of going to work during the day or in the evenings.

You’ll also have some time spare to continue your search for a full-time role and plan any interviews you get invited to around your part-time work commitments.

6. Complete a pre-employment training course

A pre-employment training course is a great way to learn new skills and gain relevant and industry recognised qualifications before you attend any interviews in the sector of your choice.

At Back2Work, we have many different pre-employment training courses available with the option of being introduced to an employer on completion.

These courses also provide you with accredited Level 1 certificates and awards that are specific to the type of role you’re interested in – which demonstrates that you’ve learnt the skills required for the job you want.

Each of our courses are fully-funded, meaning they’re available to complete at no cost to you, and are delivered online, so you can learn from the comfort of your own home.

Looking to get back into work?

If you’re currently unemployed, we can help you get back into work with a wide range of fully funded training courses.

All of our pre-employment training courses play an important role in preparing you for the world of work, and deliver key skills that are specific to the employer who could be interviewing you upon course completion.

Each of our courses run in various locations throughout the UK on a weekly basis, and include training in:

To find out more about our fully funded, pre-employment training courses, simply fill out one of our contact forms. One of our friendly advisors will then get in touch to discuss our courses in more detail with you.

Alternatively, you can call us on: 0161 474 7603, or email: [email protected]

Back2Work Complete Training provide Pre-Employment Training throughout the UK.

Pre-Employment Training works great as both a recruitment service for employers and an employment service for those who are unemployed.

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0161 474 7603
[email protected]

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Universal Square,
Devonshire Street,
Manchester,
M12 6JH