Returning to work after having children can be scary. This is particularly true if you have been away from the working environment for some time. For those women who are returning to work, one of the biggest hurdles to getting a new job, is their CV.
Our CVs are a reflection of what we can do as employees, and they are what leads to us being chosen (or not chosen) for jobs. So, with this in mind, if you are returning to work after having a baby, then it is a good idea to try and make sure that your CV, as well as the skills on there are up to date.
Tech moves on and you should go with it
It seems that every office job around now requires you to have at least a good level of knowledge and skills on a variety of Microsoft Office software packages. However, if you have been out of work, then chances are that you will be a little rusty on the majority of these.
The last thing that you will want is to be behind school leavers or those that are currently working in an office role, otherwise you can find that you are not selected for jobs that you have relevant experience for.
This means that it makes sense to try and brush up some of the latest tech that is being used in offices. You don’t have to be an expert, but being able to make your way around these packages, or at least show that you are trying to learn them is a great way to impress your prospective employer.
Filling the gaps in employment
Another issue facing mums who are returning to work is how to best fill the gaps that you have had in employment. Some think that listing all the tasks that they did at home, such as managing the family’s finances or childcare is a good idea. However, you are better off simply stating that you were taking a career break to raise your children. Honesty is the best policy, especially when it comes to your CV.
Always remember to highlight the skills that you do have
Just because you have been away from the office taking care of your children doesn’t mean that you don’t have some great skills to offer. This is why you should definitely take a look at your CV and see where you can sell these skills best.
They should always be tailored to the job that you are applying for, which means that each time you apply, you may need to give your CV a few tweaks to match in with what they are looking for.
Hopefully these tips have made the idea of returning to work after a career break that little bit less daunting. The main aim is to make sure that you sell yourself and what you can do, as well as keep up to date on some of the latest tech that is out there, and we are sure that employers will be waiting to snap you up in no time at all!
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