| You're really doing it. You're going back into the | | | | a red flag might go up. Why? Because it's often a |
| rat race. After being out of the workforce for a | | | | sign of a less-than-perfect work history. That's |
| couple of months - or even several years - it's | | | | okay. You can overcome that. Conduct a |
| time to jump back in with both feet. But how do | | | | brainstorming session with yourself and write |
| you do it?I Can Do ItThat's your mantra for your | | | | down all your skills and achievements. That is |
| job search. You're concerned - even intimidated - | | | | going to be your biggest challenge. It can be from |
| by all those people out there who have a stellar | | | | past work history, what you've done while |
| work-record. But you know what? You have | | | | unemployed, or a combination of both. Then grab |
| something special and unique that you can bring to | | | | a couple of resume samples you can look at for |
| an employer. That is what you have to | | | | help with formatting.Interview as a |
| remember throughout this whole process. You | | | | ProfessionalEven if you're a mom going back to |
| have to have confidence in yourself so that | | | | work after several years, you have to leave that |
| others will have confidence in you as well.By all | | | | persona behind. The minute you speak to |
| accounts, job seekers with a picture-perfect | | | | someone - via phone or in person - about a job, |
| employment history do tend to have an | | | | you are a job seeker in the professional |
| advantage over you. Their resumes may be | | | | world.Interviewing is nerve-wracking even for job |
| better received than those who are re-entering | | | | seekers who go through them every couple of |
| the workforce or are changing careers. But just | | | | years. It can be downright frightening for those |
| because they may have an edge, doesn't mean | | | | who are returning to the workforce. One of the |
| you can't create your own.Explain What You've | | | | reasons for this is the lack of practice. Another |
| Been DoingThis might seem like a very simple | | | | one is lack of confidence. Sometimes, if you |
| step, but oftentimes job seekers are afraid to | | | | practice, practice, practice, the confidence will |
| address their employment gap in their resume | | | | follow because you know you can present |
| package. However, if you ignore it, then the | | | | yourself in a professional manner and answer all |
| employer is left to fill in the gaps...usually not to | | | | those tough interview questions that are bound to |
| the benefit of the job seeker.In your cover letter, | | | | be asked.So for you job seekers going back to |
| briefly explain why you've been unemployed. No | | | | work, congratulations! You are embarking on a |
| need to go into great detail, but you should | | | | new chapter of your life. View it is a positive |
| address it. While you're at it, you can tell them | | | | event, prepare yourself and your resume |
| what you've been doing with your 'time off' and | | | | package and you just might find going back to |
| how you've been constantly trying to improve | | | | work is an extremely satisfying and rewarding |
| yourself and enhance your skills. You've been | | | | experience.Heather Eagar is a former professional |
| doing this, right?A Different Format May Be | | | | resume writer and creator of Moms Back to |
| NecessaryEmployers are used to seeing resumes | | | | Work, a site that offers help to moms returning |
| in a certain format. When they see it differently, | | | | to work. |