Pongo Resume

We've heard plenty about the cultural phenomenon of career-oriented people leaving the workplace to become at-home parents (either stay-at-home or work-from-home). What we don't hear enough about is the other end of this odyssey, when you realize the time has come to RETURN TO WORK. This is often the point when you realize you no longer possess the single most important thing you'll need in order to re-enter the workforce. Nope, it's not a suit that fits (though that's probably an issue as well.) It's self-confidence.

For at-home parents, there's no single POP! of the confidence bubble; it's more of a long, slow pfffffffffffffttttt. After one, two, maybe even 10 or more years without external validation – that is, no accolades from respected colleagues, no glowing performance appraisals, no promotions, no raises – one's professional confidence dissipates.

And now they expect you to go on interviews and speak coherently about things having nothing to do with other people's ingestions or excretions? Who remembers that kind of stuff? It's a serious problem.

The solution to getting over this overwhelming emotional hurdle will be different for everyone, of course. But the best thing I did to boost my confidence enough to re-enter the workplace after 10 years of working from home was to take a temp job that I was overqualified for.

"Temping" – or contract work or whatever you want to call it – provided just the safety net I needed to bridge the gap. I had been a corporate technical editor in my "previous life," and even though I had kept my skills fairly sharp over the years, I was overwhelmed at the thought of jumping back into a permanent, full-time gig. So I signed up with a staffing agency. I told them up front that I would be looking for a "real" job and might need time off for interviews. I told them that if my kid got sick, I'd need to take a day off. To my surprise, that was OK with them.

I soon accepted a three-month job as a proofreader of retail sale flyers. Proofreading was something I could do in my sleep (which was a good thing, as my body took awhile to readjust to a desk job.)

Here's how it went:

Day 1:
Arrived before boss. Waited awkwardly in lobby for 15 minutes. Watched people streaming in to work. Became painfully aware of being overdressed. Boss arrived, showed me where the bathrooms, elevators, fire exits, and my cubicle were. Yikes! My computer was a Mac (I'd been on a PC for several years) and the company was using newer versions of Word and Outlook than I was used to. Filled out papers. Didn't really do any work. No one talked to me. (Nobody ever talks to the temp. I think it's a rule.)

At exactly 5:00 p.m., I high-tailed it to my car. The longing to see my kids was a physical ache. I pictured them lying on their beds in fetal positions, wondering why their Mommy had abandoned them (I should probably mention that I'd "abandoned" them to Dad, who'd rearranged his work schedule to be home in time for the school bus). I quickly broke down and sobbed the rest of the way home. At 5:30 I ran into the house, grabbed my sons (then ages 9 and 7) in a bear hug, and cried, "Oh my babies, my babies!" I'm not making this up. They gave me strange looks and inquired what the heck was wrong with me. We had all survived. Even my husband was fine.

Day 2 and Beyond:
I knew what to wear. (Yay!) My new ID badge let me enter the building all by myself. (Yay!) And they finally gave me some WORK to do. They put a proof sheet in my left hand, and a red pen in my right … and Stella got her groove back! I wowed them with my speed and accuracy. More importantly, I wowed myself. All my fears that I'd lost it were brushed away as the weeks went on. My confidence seeped back in.

About six weeks into the three-month temp job, they offered me a permanent position. I knew it wasn't the right fit for me, long-term, and by then I was so confident I turned it down.

Temping won't be the right move for everyone, but it worked wonders for me. It allowed me to brush up my rusty skills, readapt to the working world, and get my family over the logistical and psychological hump of Mom not being always-available. And it prepared me for the job that later led to this one!

Do What You Need to Do

If you're approaching the back-to-work transition, consider what will make it less intimidating for YOU. Some people return to their old employers (perhaps in different capacities). Others take continuing education courses to brush up on the latest skills or technologies. And everybody should start tapping into their networks – former colleagues, friends, or family members can help you get up to speed on what it's like in that jungle out there. If they don't know of any job openings, they might at least be able to help you get an "informational interview," which is just what it sounds like: an interview where you gather information (about the company, the industry, or a certain type of job) with no expectation of hiring.

Go on as many interviews as you can land (informational or real), and pay attention to everything. Even unsuccessful interviews are valuable for seeing the kinds of questions hiring managers ask, what people wear to work in various settings, and a number of other details. The first one is always the worst, so try to get it out of the way as soon as you can.

Once you break the barrier of your own self-confidence, you'll be ready to tackle the rest of your career.

Please share your thoughts.

Thank you!

Confidence is everything, and unfortunately you can't just "decide" to feel confident again. You have to do whatever it takes to help it along.

Best of luck to you - it can absolutely be done!

Remember... your next interviewer might be a parent who took time off her- or himself! We're EVERYWHERE!

Thanks for the reminder about PTO and other volunteering options.

While I have not held a traditional job since 1993, I worked at home and held many important non-paying jobs. Thanks for reminding me to accentuate the positive.

Thanks for the kind words, and remember all the wisdom and experience you acquired earning your gray hairs and poor eyesight. Employers need that!

~Julie

Yes, you absolutely need to cover all the easy steps, and even some of the not-so-easy ones. You need to tailor your resume and cover letter to each job, not just send your qualifications and see if they can find a match for you.

Look at the job description you're interested in, see what they're specifically asking for, then show how your skills and past accomplishments match those current needs.

I recommend reading the articles in our Learning Center (click the "Learn" tab at the top of this page) to brush up on some of the other rules.

Be sure to use proper spelling, grammar, and punctuation throughout your resumes and cover letters. That's essential. In some cases, even one typo can get your resume rejected.

If you're a Pongo subscriber, the Resume Builder and Cover Letter Builder feature step-by-step instructions and sample text in the left margins that should be a big help to you.

Thanks for writing -- good luck!

Julie

Here are my questions. If the add calls for hand delivering your resume and filling out an application, can you include a cover letter? How can I handle past employers? I have a couple of teachers that love the way I teach, grade papers, and actually look for things to do to help them. They are not my "boss", the school system hires me, but can I list them as my "boss" on applications?

Thanks, Laura

Glad to hear we've been helpful! You ask about a cover letter, and I would say YES -- you can't really go wrong with a cover letter, even if they don't ask for it (or read it). If you're the only one who "bothers" to bring one, you'll stand out as the candidate who went the extra mile.

Also, I think it's a great idea to list the teachers as your "bosses." After all, they're the ones you report to directly and who are familiar with the caliber of your work. In a corporate situation, you wouldn't list the CEO whose name is stamped on your paycheck, you'd list your immediate supervisor.

You have a pretty eclectic background that encompasses a lot of skills. As you apply for jobs, be sure to think creatively about what transferable skills you bring to the table from seemingly unrelated experiences.

Good luck and thanks for writing!

--Julie

You don't necessarily have to ask about job openings -- just ask for advice. Something like, "Ive been out of the loop for a while, and I was wondering if you had any advice about people to talk to or resources for someone looking to get back into the field." Ask for their help, and they'll probably be glad to give it. If you only ask about job openings, they might just say no, they don't know of any.

Best of luck to you !!

Julie

I was very happy to stumble on your article thanks again.

I'm so glad my experience could help you. Sometimes, as they say, you have to "fake it 'til you make it." Don't paralyze yourselves with the sense that you have to get back into the workforce at the same level (or higher) than when you left.

A transitional job can do wonders for your confidence, even if it's not what you ultimately hope to do, long-term. And in this job market, any job is better than none!

Much luck to each of you. And no, Nichole, I can't really think of anything scarier than not being certain of how you'll be able to take care of your kids. But you'll find a way, and the kids will proudly see their mom struggle and overcome!

Hugs all around! -- Julie

Your recent education, alone, qualifies you to be a counselor, and your 15 years in ophthalmology makes you even more qualified! Heck, you already have 15 years of experience in a health care field :)

Write down all the parallels between your ophthalmology experience and counseling -- e.g., daily schedule of clients/patients, relationship building, communication, compassion, etc. I'm sure there are plenty more.

In terms of your resume, I would be sure to:

--Once you get your Masters(es)? put your counseling credentials up top with your name (e.g., Susan Smith, MSW, XYZ) so it's immediately obvious that you are highly qualified.

--Mention your 15 years of experience in direct patient care (ophthalmology) in your Summary

--Indicate in your cover letter that you are making a career transition, and have made the huge commitment and done the hard work to pursue your passion for counseling

--When you list your work experience, don't emphasize the things that were ophthalmology-specific, because those aren't relevant to the job you want. Focus on your transferable skills.

Above all, silence the voices that are telling you you're less worthy than someone who has followed a perfectly straight and narrow career trajectory. You have an abundance of wisdom and life experience, on top of professional skills, and a long-held passion for your chosen field. If all that doesn't make you an outstanding counselor, I don't know what will!

And rest assured, employers will recognize that, too.

Best of luck to you!

--Julie

Congratulations on your marriage, and your post-marriage journey! Employers will probably be more jealous than anything else. Best of luck with the job search!

Julie

Very informative and encouraging article. Like many others I want to return back to work after a long break of 8 years, but feeling nervous and lost. I have 4+ years of experience mostly in architectural drafting as a CADD Tech. Now I dont see many jobs in the same field. I am thinking about taking some admin job. I know microsoft office. Could you please direct me as to what else I should know before applying for any admin job. What would be a good approach? I wont be able to study right now. Desperately need help.

Harmeet

I would recommend that you look at several admin job postings to see what kind of skills and qualifications are common among them, and then edit your resume and cover letter to show how you can meet those needs. You should also consider signing up with a staffing agency -- they sometimes can help you improve your admin skills and then place you in temporary positions, which could be a stepping stone to a permanent position.

Here's a blog post that might also help you:

5 Steps to Assessing Your Skills for a Career Change

http://www.pongoresume.com/blogPosts/455/5-steps-to-assessing-your-skills-for-a-career-change.cfm

Good Luck!

Julie

Thanks!

R

Thank you! I'm delighted t hear it encouraged you. :)

Julie

We're still here to answer questions! I recommend signing up with several temping agencies. Doing so will give you the ability to pick and choose the jobs you want to tackle--you can pass on the lousy ones and get excited about the good ones.

As for selecting the agencies, you really just have to do a search for temp agencies in your area and schedule a time to meet with them. They'll want to know about your experience and special skills, and they'll likely have you take a test or two to judge your level of computer skills.

While you're there, you're going to want to interview them. You'll want to know if the bulk of their assignments are truly temporary or if they specialize in temp-to-hire positions. Also, ask about the typical length of assignments and a full disclosure of benefits.

Overall, rely on your best judgment and dive right in! Let us know if you have any more questions! :)

-Brianna Raymond