Re-entering the Market After Time Out

Taking time away from your career can happen for all sorts of reasons. You may have taken a career break to focus on family, stepped away for personal reasons, taken time to study or simply decided to pause and reassess what you wanted from your working life.

Whatever the reason, when you are ready to return, one of the biggest challenges can be knowing how to talk about that time away. A career break does not need to be something you hide or apologise for, but it is worth thinking carefully about how you present it and how you want your next move to look.

Be clear about the reason for the break
You do not need to provide a detailed explanation of your personal circumstances on your CV. A simple, factual explanation is usually enough.

If you took time out to care for family, travel, study or pursue something outside of work, say so where it is relevant. Leaving a significant gap unexplained can create questions for someone reviewing your application, whereas a clear explanation gives context and allows them to focus on your wider experience.

Focus on what you bring to the role now
It is easy to become overly focused on the time you have been away from the workplace, particularly if you are concerned about how an employer might view the gap. Instead, think about the experience, knowledge and skills you already have and how they relate to the role you are applying for.

Look back at what you achieved before your career break. What were you responsible for? What challenges did you deal with? What did you deliver? Think about the relationships you built, the teams you led and the changes you helped deliver.

It is also worth considering anything you have done during your time away that demonstrates relevant skills. This could include volunteering, professional development, qualifications, community involvement or projects you have taken on outside of your previous role.

However, we would recommendYou that you do not need to manufacture experience to fill the gap. The aim is to give a prospective employer a rounded picture of what you can offer now, including transferrable skills that can set you apart in a field of applicant.

Do not undersell yourself because of the gap
A career break does not automatically mean you need to take a step backwards. It is worth looking at roles based on your experience and what you want to do next, rather than assuming you need to start again.

The market may also have changed since you were last looking. Job titles, expectations, organisational structures, the market and recruitment processes can all evolve, so take some time to understand what employers are looking for and how your previous experience fits into that landscape.

This is where speaking to a recruitment partner can be particularly valuable. A good search consultant can give you an honest view of the market; talk through the types of roles they are currently seeing as well as some of the changes they have witnessed recently and. This will help you identify where your experience is likely to be valued.

They can also help you sense-check how you are presenting your career history. If you have been out of the market for several years, it can be difficult to know whether your CV is highlighting the right things or whether the roles you are considering are realistic for your experience. An experienced consultant can give you an external perspective and, where appropriate, put you forward for opportunities that may not be publicly advertised.

Prepare for questions about your return
You are likely to be asked about your career break, so it is worth preparing a straightforward answer rather than trying to avoid the subject.

You should feel comfortable explaining why you took the time out, what you have been doing since and, most importantly, why you are ready to return now. Keep your answer honest and relatively simple. You do not need to justify your decision at length.

It can also help to think about the questions you might be asked about returning to work. Are you looking for the same level of responsibility? Has anything changed in terms of what you want from your career? Are there areas where you may need to refresh your knowledge? Thinking about these questions in advance will help you approach conversations with greater confidence.

Give yourself time to get back into the market
You may not find the right opportunity immediately, and that is okay. If you have been away from the workplace for some time, the process of getting back into the rhythm of applications, networking and interviews can take a little while.

Use conversations with recruiters, former colleagues and people in your sector to rebuild your understanding of the market. Even if a particular opportunity is not right for you, those conversations can help you understand what is available and where your experience could take you next.

A career break is one part of your career history. It does not define the value of the experience that came before it or what you can contribute in your next role. With a clear understanding of your strengths, a considered approach to how you present your experience and the right conversations around the market, returning to work can be an opportunity to shape your next chapter rather than simply pick up where you left off.