Have you spent a year or more traveling, raising your children, or taking care of yourself? Do you now want to return to the job market and are wondering how to do it?
We asked the experts for some advice on how to apply well after a “hole in the CV”.
Know first that you are not the only one who has taken a break in your career, chosen or suffered. According to a DARES study, 6 out of 10 people have experienced at least one career break. In 49% of cases it was due to unemployment, 13% to raise their children and 13% to follow a training course.
1) Think carefully about the type of position you would like to find
Gap years to travel or focus on personal projects are also increasingly common, according to certified professional trainer Laurence Thomas.
“Among the clients I work with, there are some who take a year off. Twenty years ago, I have the impression that we dared to do it less and that today there is perhaps more audacity. »
“If you start your job search by telling yourself you’ll find a position you like, you’ll see more potential leads and feel more legitimate about taking them. A virtuous circle will begin that can really make a difference. »
To successfully re-enter the job market, the founder of the company Consonance & Co recommends taking advantage of your “break” to reflect on the type of position you would like to obtain and your intrinsic motivations (focusing on what you enjoy doing, rather than what we are good at).
“If you need an external perspective, you can be accompanied by a coach and/or carry out a skills assessment which Pôle Emploi can finance in some cases. »
So, Laurence Thomas advises doing a positive visualization, like the best athletes.
“It’s a story of inner availability: if you start your job search by telling yourself that you will find a position you like, you will see more possible leads and you will feel more entitled to accept them. A virtuous circle will begin that can really make a difference. »
“Might as well reclaim this hole’s narrative and take it on, because it’s bound to come on the table at some point. »
Lucile Quillet, author of “Free to Take Power Over My Career!”
2) State your break clearly in your CV
Well, once we’ve got some winning scenarios in our heads, and we’ve found the first offers that might interest us, what do we concretely indicate in our CV? Should we mention his break? Leave a blank space? Are you trying to drown the fish?
Take everything from the CV. The advice of Lucile Quillet, author of the book Free to take over my career! it is unequivocal.
“Might as well reclaim this hole’s narrative and hire it, because it’s bound to come on the table at some point. problem.
For example, you can write a line on your CV like “2019-2021: parental leave” and add below the few skills you have acquired during this period. »
3) Highlight skills developed during parental leave or gap year
Yep, it’s not because you don’t have a paid job that you necessarily stop working or learning things! On the contrary, as the journalist specializing in labor issues recalls.
“A stay-at-home mom develops budget management, planning, task prioritization skills, but also listening and empathy skills. She knows how to compromise and show leadership. In short, all the soft skills valued today in men’s environments have in fact existed for some time in the private sphere. »
You may also mention any membership commitments you may have had, as well as any training courses, MOOCs or personal projects undertaken during this period.
It’s exactly the same if you choose to take a gap year to travel (like, before the pandemic). You probably made progress in foreign languages, but you also had to show resourcefulness and openness to others in a multicultural context. So many precious qualities in the professional world.
“When we take a break, we go back to internal references, we will make choices that guide us and allow us to realign ourselves with our values. It gives humanly richer profiles. »
LAURENCE THOMAS, COACH
Assuming this breakup and what it’s led to, OK, but be careful not to make it the only topic in your cover letter or interview.
The goal for coach Laurence Thomas is to unlock the recruiter’s endurance and then get back to his specs.
“You have to make the break not an issue, but an ingredient like any other in your career. »
4) Think about the image you want to return to the recruiter
For Lucile Quillet, it is also essential to think about the impression you want to make on the person in charge of the recruitment so that your cover letter and your words support this image.
“Be careful how you introduce yourself! Do not talk about yourself in the past (“I was a lawyer”), rather say: “I am a lawyer, I am looking for a job”. Assume your own path and especially don’t get into a permanent justification process like you’re going to be tapped on the knuckles.
Don’t hesitate to let other people, relatives or former colleagues read your cover letter, asking them what they think. It’s even better if there are men among your reviewers, because they’re much less likely to use passive language. »
“When we take a break, we inevitably take away the positive elements. »
Laurence Thomas, coach
And when the break is not chosen, but suffered, in case of unemployment or illness for example? The same advice goes for manager Laurence Thomas.
“When we take a break, we inevitably take away the positive elements. Even in the event of illness we emerge stronger, more flexible, more resilient.
Today, there is an injunction to be successful in our society and to be productive. When we take a break, we go back to more internal references, we will make choices that guide us and allow us to realign ourselves with our values. It gives humanly richer profiles. »
You are sure? All you have to do is convey this impression to the recruiter.
5) Reconnect to your network to get a job
To find work, you can of course place advertisements on classifieds sites and then apply for those that suit you, but the two experts we interviewed strongly recommend activating your network at the same time. A non-negligible share of hiring takes place through word of mouth or co-optation.
Starting by updating your profile on LinkedIn is more or less essential depending on your sector of activity. Then, tell your wider entourage that you’re looking for work by indicating the types of positions you’re interested in.
“Don’t hesitate to look for people who have the same background as you, even if you don’t know them. »
LUCILE QUILLET, AUTHOR OF “FREE TO TAKE POWER OVER MY CAREER!”
Here are some tips from trade journalist Lucile Quillet for reconnecting with former colleagues.
“Obviously it is even better if we keep checking back regularly to be informed of any opportunities. If we reconnect after a long period of silence, it can be difficult to come right away and ask for services.
Instead, you can write or call him to get news and/or ask for advice. It doesn’t cost them much, and usually they might even feel flattered that you ask their opinion.
Likewise, don’t hesitate to poll people on LinkedIn who have the same background as you, even if you don’t know them. Telling them for example: I’m curious about your background, I would like to know more. Could you give me fifteen minutes? »
Little by little you will weave your web and who knows, maybe one of your contacts will end up passing your CV to the right person at the right time? That’s all the bad we wish you!
Photo credit: cottonbro / Pexels
Source: Madmoizelle
Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.
