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| Landing a job after a lengthy absence |
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When it comes to describing your strengths and skills
-- whether it's during an interview or on your resume -- be sure
to include what you've learned during your time off. For example,
a mother who is returning to the work force could include all the
organizational and fundraising skills she acquired from volunteering
at her kids' schools, the PTA or as treasurer for the local swim
club.
Don't neglect preparing for your job interview. According
to Walker, author of "The Age Advantage: Making the Most of
Your Midlife Career Transition," interviewers decide within
40 seconds whether to hire or take a pass. So it's crucial that
you exude confidence. "I tell my clients it's like going on
stage. You have the lead in this drama," Walker says. That
means practicing and rehearsing in front of a friendly audience
-- your husband, your best friend, your cat -- before the big interview.
Strategies for finding work
Johnston recommends using these strategies to land a job after you've
been out of work:
- Seek part-time or a limited-time
engagement with a company. That way employer and employee
both have a chance to try each other out before making a serious
commitment. Chances are if the company executives like you as
a project manager, they'll hire you for a full-time position when
the project ends. Even if they don't, your short-term stint at
a company will "re-establish that you are very employable,"
says Hodson.
- Ask for an internship or volunteer
for a free 30-day trial. Johnston admits this move won't
work for very large companies. They will view it with suspicion
or won't be flexible enough to take you up on it, but a startup
or entrepreneurial venture may be interested and it could lead
to full-time employment.
- Consider taking the entrepreneurial
route. If you can't find the type of job that you want
with an employer that you'd like to work with, design your own
business to suit your interests and needs. "Sometimes that's
the best way to get the job flexibility and the job that you want,"
Johnston says. The downside of starting your own business is that
it requires capital -- something you may not have or may be unable
to get. And being your own boss isn't for everyone.
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