Transferable Work Skills

Returning to work after a break can be scary and overwhelming. The fear of entering a new workplace, meeting new people and performing well enough to deserve the salary makes most of us uneasy. There are some steps you can take to make the journey a little easier. Look at transferable skills
While out of work you may have developed skills that have value to an employer. For example, if you’ve taken time out to bring up a family, you will have developed ‘soft skills’ such as time management and organisation, budgeting, adaptability and initiative. Employers rate these skills highly.

Acknowledge your employment gap
If you’ve been out of work for a long time the employer will notice the gap in your CV and will want to know why. If you’ve been
unwell, brought up a family or simply been unlucky in the job market, explain your absence in a couple of sentences in your cover letter. Remember though that you do not have to disclose your mental health at this point.

Make a fresh start
If you weren’t happy with what you were doing before, now is your chance to make a fresh start. Think long and hard and carry out plenty of research before making a commitment to a new career path.

Get back into the work habit
Get used to working with other people and at someone else’s pace again. Voluntary work will get you back into the habit of being at a certain place at a certain time and will ease the transition into paid employment.

Update your skills
There are many free courses available for jobseekers. As well as giving you the chance to upskill yourself and lift your confidence, the extra training will convince an employer that you have the drive and commitment to succeed.

Believe in yourself
It’s easy to doubt yourself and give up on looking for a job but remember, every time you search for jobs or fill in an application form, you’re heading in the right direction.