How to get back to work after a career break | Carol Fishman Cohen

TL;DR

This content discusses the challenges faced by individuals returning to work after a career break and the concept of reentry internships as a solution.

Transcript

People returning to work after a career break: I call them relaunchers. These are people who have taken career breaks for elder care, for childcare reasons, pursuing a personal interest or a personal health issue. Closely related are career transitioners of all kinds: veterans, military spouses, retirees coming out of retirement or repatriating exp... Read More

Key Insights

• 💼 Employers are wary of hiring people who have taken career breaks, viewing them as high-risk propositions.
• 💬 Successful relaunchers can be found in various fields and have taken career breaks for different reasons.
• 👥 Starting conversations and going public with job searches can lead to job opportunities for relaunchers.
• 🔐 People's perception of relaunchers is often based on their previous professional identity, which can provide a confidence boost for relaunchers.
• 📰 Keeping up with industry news and trends is essential for relaunchers to feel prepared for interviews and job search.
• ⚡ Relaunchers bring unique skills and experiences to the workforce, including maturity, work experience, and enthusiasm.
• 💻 Employers are concerned that relaunchers may be technologically obsolete, but relaunchers can bridge this gap by gaining a working knowledge of office management software.
• 🔍 Relaunchers need to do the work of determining their interests and skills to demonstrate their value to employers.
• 🔄 Reentry internships have become a popular way for relaunchers to return to work, allowing employers to assess their abilities before making permanent hiring decisions.

Questions & Answers

Q: Who are relaunchers and why is returning to work after a career break difficult for them?

Relaunchers are individuals who have taken career breaks for various reasons such as elder care, childcare, personal interests, or health issues. Returning to work is hard for relaunchers because there is a disconnect between employers and relaunchers. Employers see hiring someone with a gap on their resume as high-risk, and relaunchers may doubt their abilities to relaunch their careers, especially after being out for a long time.

Q: Can you provide examples of successful relaunchers?

Yes, there are many successful relaunchers in various fields. For example, Sami Kafala, a nuclear physicist in the UK, took a five-year career break to be with his children. Nurses in Singapore have also returned to work after long breaks. Tracy Shapiro, a mother of five, returned to work in finance after a 13-year career break. These examples show that relaunching a career is possible.

Q: How does a person's view of a relauncher change over time?

When reconnecting with people from the past, they tend to remember relaunchers as they were before their career break, regardless of any changes in their sense of self. This can be a confidence booster for relaunchers because they are reminded of the enthusiasm others have for their return to work, despite any doubts they may have about themselves.

Q: What concerns do employers have about hiring relaunchers?

Employers have two main concerns when it comes to hiring relaunchers. Firstly, they worry that relaunchers may be technologically obsolete. However, relaunchers can update their skills and knowledge to meet current technological requirements. Secondly, employers may be concerned that relaunchers don't know what they want to do. It is the responsibility of the relauncher to demonstrate their value and show that they have done the necessary work to understand their interests and skills after the career break.

Q: How are reentry internships beneficial for relaunchers and employers?

Reentry internships, also known as internship-like experiences, provide an opportunity for relaunchers to showcase their skills through actual work samples. This allows employers to make hiring decisions based on performance rather than just interviews. The testing period of an internship reduces the perceived risk for employers and helps attract excellent candidates who can become great hires. These internships have become a way for relaunchers to successfully reenter the workforce.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• "Relaunchers" are people who have taken career breaks for various reasons and are returning to work. This can be challenging due to a disconnect between employers and relaunchers.

• Successful relaunchers are found in various fields, including nuclear physics and social work, and have taken breaks ranging from 5 to 25 years.

• Reentry internship programs have emerged as a way for relaunchers to prove their skills and gain employment, with hundreds of people participating and companies seeing success with these hires.