We are all familiar with the fairytale story of Hansel and Gretel, the young brother and sister who left a trail of breadcrumbs in the woods to help them find their way back home. Although the breadcrumbs were eventually eaten by the birds and they still technically got lost in the woods, it was a good plan in theory. We can apply that concept to some areas of our life, especially in our approach to returning to work.
Expand Your Network:
At every stage of life, especially when we are looking to improve, it is important to surround ourselves with like-minded people. Find local or online support groups who share your interest and get involved. Sharing tips, exchanging information, and talking to others with similar goals can save steps and be encouraging in your journey. You never know who you may inspire or be helpful to in the process.
Assess, Reconnect, and Add to Your Professional Contacts:
Once we transition into the role of stay-at-home mom, caregiver, or step into retirement, it is so easy to become immersed in all things related to that role. However, staying in touch and making new professional contacts can be a key component to your re-entry strategy. This doesn’t have to be anything major because social media has made it easy. Simply liking a post, sharing a story, or congratulating them on a milestone can go a long way. Keep it brief and keep it moving. This will at least keep the contact from growing too cold.
Update Your Resume:
Having an updated resume when opportunity knocks is important. In today’s world opportunities to work and stay relevant come in many different forms. What if you are asked to speak? Join a committee? Apply for a job that you didn’t know existed but is a perfect fit for you? You don’t want your answer to be “but I don’t have an updated resume” you need to be prepared for these moments or others. The internet is full of tips from professional resume writers one of my favorite is @writing_guru
Stay Engaged:
It’s never too late to pick up a new skill or look for ways to expand your knowledge. It is important to stay stimulated, engaged, and up to date on the world around you. Find something that interests you or pick something that slightly scares you. Feeling fearful is not always bad, in fact, learning to distinguish between a valid fear that legitimately warns you to be cautious and fear that excites you can be transforming and propel you forward in some areas of your life.
The bottom line is that you don’t want to wait until you are exasperated and in need of a job immediately to try to line things up. There are small things you can do right now, little “breadcrumbs” you can leave for yourself to help find your way back into the workforce when the time arrives. A free membership with The MAP Agency is a great resource for women returning to work.
