The Best Handful of Tips 100 – Back to Work:

After a lengthy time out of the workforce you can return to work by following these handful of tips. You may have been raising a family, been made redundant, been a student studying full time or serving time for a misdemeanour.

Confidence and self-esteem can be as important as retraining so make a self- revival plan.

The five best tips if you are returning to work after a lengthy absence.

1. Improve your image

Smarten up your appearance. If you cannot afford new clothes buy quality used clothing.

Make sure you are well groomed.

Get fit so you feel healthy and ready for the challenge.

2. Increase your confidence and self-esteem

Join clubs and organisations to meet new people and be prepared to take on new responsibilities.  

Who you know can be more important than what you know when it comes to job hunting.  

Try new things. Get involved in new activities such as a different sport or hobby.

3. Learn new skills or update your old ones

Study recent developments in electronic communications.

Enrol for courses to learn new skills.

Prepare a unique C.V. or  resume emphasising your experiences and achievements.

4. Start job-hunting in earnest

Contact people whom you think might be able to help, especially friends and family.

Make time each day to go job hunting.

Visit government and private employment agencies and read the ‘Situation vacant’ advertisements so you know what employers want.  

5. Believe in yourself

Brush up on the skills needed for a particular job.

By joining organisations, such as a Toastmasters Club, you will gain confidence and the extra ability to achieve success when job hunting.

Prepare well for interviews and act confidently.

Get organised and plan your daily routine so you can cope efficiently and without stress.

Meanwhile, start working at home keeping regular ‘office’ hours. Keep busy!  (See the 45 suggestions for home-based work in the book “No Job! What Now?)

If you gain the confidence to achieve and are prepared to make an extra effort, you will succeed!  

-Geoffrey Moss

“You only fail when you give up.”

Source: No Job! What Now? published by Moss Associates Ltd, New Zealand and Cengage Learning Asia and as an e-book. Also available from Amazon.com and VitalSource Bookshelf.