How to Successfully Restart Your Career After a Long Break
Have you been out of the workforce for three or more years? Whether it was due to illness, raising children, or other life circumstances, returning to work after an extended break can feel overwhelming. But here's the truth: you're not starting from scratch—you're starting from experience.
The First Step: Know Your Worth
Before diving back into the job market, you need to answer a crucial question: "What value can I bring to employers right now?" This isn't just about what you've done in the past; it's about identifying your current professional strengths and, more importantly, understanding what you want to do next. After all, you might be capable of many things, but which ones will truly fulfill you?
Assessment Is Your Friend
At Work It DAILY, we consistently see that successful career restarts begin with thorough self-assessment. With our free Professional Strengths Workbook, you can discover where your talents/interests intersect with market demands to find a career that makes you feel satisfied & happy.
If you want a more in-depth assessment, our Choose Your Career Path in Five Steps course inside the Work It DAILY Community is a great resource. Grab a 7-day free trial HERE to get access.
The Power of Strategic Job Shopping
Once you understand your strengths, it's time for what we like to call "strategic job shopping." This isn't about applying to every open position you see. Instead, we recommend identifying 20 companies that align with your values, interests, and goals. These should be organizations that genuinely excite you—because that enthusiasm will become your secret weapon.
Your Greatest Assets? A Fresh Perspective and Pure Enthusiasm
Here's something many returning professionals don't realize: your time away from the workforce can actually be an advantage. You bring fresh perspectives, no ingrained bad habits, and genuine enthusiasm to learn and contribute. While you can't exactly write "no bad habits!" on your resume, you can demonstrate these qualities through your approach to the job search.
The Art of Storytelling in Your Job Search
The key to breaking back into the workforce lies in how you tell your story. Traditional cover letters often fall flat, which is why we teach our members to use what we call a "disruptive cover letter" approach. This method helps you forge an emotional connection with potential employers before they even meet you. When done right, your story becomes so compelling that the gap in your resume becomes secondary to your potential.
Making Your Experience Work for You
Remember, every experience during your time away has likely taught you valuable skills—organization, time management, problem-solving, and adaptability. The trick is learning how to translate these experiences into language that resonates with employers. When you can effectively communicate your unique value add (UVA), that three-year-plus gap becomes less relevant to your future employer.
Getting back into the workforce isn't about picking up exactly where you left off—it's about strategically positioning yourself for your next chapter. With the right approach, tools, and mindset, you can transform what feels like a challenge into an opportunity for an even better career fit than before.
Ready to take the first step? Our platform offers all the resources and strategies mentioned above, designed specifically to help professionals like you make a confident return to the workforce. Your next chapter is waiting—let's write it together.
Click HERE to start a 7-day FREE trial.
You’ve got this!
Cassidy O’Donnell
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