Getting Back Into The Workforce
6 strategies to help you get there and four industries that are hiring
People take breaks from work for all sorts of reasons.
Perhaps you’ve recently had a baby and you took some time out to get a handle on your new role as a parent, or you’ve been looking after a relative and you’ve finally got some free time again.
Maybe you had a workplace injury that kept you out of commission for a while or there was a sweeping wave of redundancies, and you took some time to figure out what you wanted to do next.
Whatever the reason for the break, it can be challenging to get back into the workforce after you’ve had some time off.
Here are some strategies that will make returning to the workforce a breeze and some of the industries that are actively recruiting at the moment.
Are you ready?
First things first, ask yourself – are you ready? It can be really helpful to stop and review your emotional state before you jump straight back into work. Make sure you feel emotionally equipped to handle the return to work and the job search process.
It can be daunting trying to get back into the workplace after some time away. It’s very important to feel prepared. So, take some time to check in with yourself and be gentle with yourself during this period of transition.
Review what you’re looking for
So, you’re getting ready to go back out into the workforce, now’s a great time to review what you want from a job. Obviously, you’ll need enough money to pay your bills but what else?
After you’ve had some time away from work your priorities shift, and you don’t necessarily care about the things you used to care about.
Maybe you used to be obsessed with climbing the corporate ladder but now you’re more interested in that work / life balance. Or perhaps just being able to leave your work at the door and have the headspace to think about other things when you are home.
Maybe you’re looking for more meaning in your work this time around. Perhaps you want to do a job that helps you feel fulfilled and like you’re making a difference in the world.
Whatever it may be, now is the time to consider what matters most to you and what you want to get out of your work.
Figure out your soft skills
Soft skills are usually not highly valued by job seekers, but your average Human Resources Manager will happily tell you the importance of soft skills. Understanding your soft skills will help you to figure out which industries you’ll have a natural flair for.
If you’re a good listener and communicator then you might be well suited to customer facing roles. If you are excellent at employing critical thinking, then you’ll be able to analyse situations and make informed decisions. This skill would serve you well in any kind of management role.
Have a think about your soft skills and how you can best match those up to your preferred industry.
What are your transferrable skills?
Do you have experience working in front facing customer service roles? Or maybe you’ve had to create rosters or manage staff? There are so many transferrable skills that can help you land the role that’s right for you.
Customer service skills are often valuable in non-customer facing roles because it shows you have the ability to handle people and manage their expectations. If you’ve got computer skills, especially anything with additional programs, apps or software for project management and planning all these can be a great transferrable skill to list as so many workplaces now employ these apps to track progress.
Consider which of your transferable skills will be useful in the next role you might apply for and talk those up on your resume.
Start slow with a volunteer position
If you’re struggling to regain your confidence after taking some time out it can very helpful to take on a volunteer position. Even if it’s only one day per week. Easing back into the workforce with a role that has lower expectations can really help you build confidence. It can also help you to gain skills for your desired industry or up-to-date references for your resume if you’ve been away from work for a bit longer.
Look for a volunteer position that gives you experience in an area you’re passionate about. This helps to showcase your core values, which can be helpful in communicating who you are to a business and that can show how you’d be a good fit for the work culture there.
Consider Studying
If you’re not sure you want to go straight back to the industry you were in before, why not consider upskilling with a short course or even studying something completely different. Depending on what you want to do there are many different in-person workshops or online courses you can access to help you settle on the right career path for you.
For example, take a look at these industries below that are hiring right now and you may find the right upskilling opportunity for you!
Industries that are hiring now
These five industries are hiring right now, if you’re looking for a career change these industries will help you find it!
Security
The security industry is growing from strength to strength and with Australia opening up again and the specific rules and restrictions that are in place, there is a an even bigger need for security guards to fill all kinds of roles in the industry.
The great thing about security is that there are so many different roles you can do as a Security Guard. If you’ve got a flair for dealing with people and you are always well dressed, you might make a good concierge guard. These security guards are the impeccably dressed people who man the front desk at the entrance of large corporate buildings and fancy hotels.
If you prefer to work alone you could do gatehouse work. These security guards work shift work and manage the gatehouse for large warehouses. In a role like this you’d need to have excellent attention to detail, and you’d have to complete patrols and watch the security cameras.
The security industry is crying out for more women, so if you’re a mum trying to get back into the workforce and you’re looking for a career change this could be the right move for you! Security is an industry where your soft skills and transferrable skills will really help you to excel at the job. If you’ve worked in customer facing roles and if you’re a good communicator, you’ll have a leg up on the other applicants. At the end of the day, security is all about helping people so these soft skills will really help you to succeed.
There is a course you’ll need to complete if you’re looking at getting into security work, it’s called the Certificate II in Security Operations. There is even some government funding and scholarships available for this course depending on your state or territory! If you’d like to talk with an expert about whether the security industry is for you, you can have a chat with one of our friendly course advisors here.
Hospitality
Right now, the hospitality industry is struggling to get enough staff. It couldn’t be happening at a worse time as after two years of uncertainty these businesses are finally able to open and stay open knowing there won’t be any more lockdowns coming.
This industry has had a rough time, but it’s a rewarding industry to work in. After years stuck behind a desk, the hospitality industry can be a refreshing change. Always on your feet and chatting to people, creating food or crafting drinks and serving them, this an industry that can feel more friendly and more engaging than other regular run-of-the-mill jobs.
If you’re thinking about getting into the hospitality industry, there are no formal qualifications that you require. However if you get a job where they serve alcohol you will need to get an RSA. This course takes 4 hours face to face and only costs $95. You can check out the course here, or have a chat with us here.
Retail
Are you good at talking to people, and great at remembering things? Then a move into retail could be for you! In retail you need to be able to create a rapport with customers, help them find what they want or need and apply your product knowledge for the brand which will be constantly updated.
In retail you can work with brands you really like, aligning your passions with your work and spending all day around something that you really enjoy. And those staff discounts are pretty great too!
If you’re thinking about getting into retail, there is a course that will help you get a leg up on the competition. It’s called the Certificate III in Retail and it covers everything you will need to know to excel in a retail position. The course is taught all online, so you start anytime and study from anywhere. You can check out the course in retail here, or you can arrange to talk with one of our course advisors about the career opportunities in retail.
Marketing
If you’re good with words and interested in research and data, you might make a good Marketing Assistant. As the world continues to go more digital and new platforms crop up out of nowhere, there is a lot of work going into marketing and most companies are struggling to keep up. There are so many avenues you can look into and specialise in such as social media marketing, content creation, SEO, google ad campaigns, email marketing and the list goes on.
One of the great things about marketing roles is that you can often complete them from home. Because so many companies have now instituted a hybrid working environment, offering staff the option of working from home or coming into the office or only expecting them to come into the office one or twice a week. This can be so helpful for those with small children or those who just prefer the working from home lifestyle.
To get your foot in the door for a marketing role you should look at completing the Certificate IV in Marketing and Communications. This course will teach you all the basics you need to know to excel in a marketing role. The course is offered completely online so you can start anytime and study from anywhere. You can check out the course here or get in touch with us and we can talk you through some of your options.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this article on how to get back into the workforce. If you’re unsure which career path is the best option for you, you can check out our courses here or get in touch with our friendly course advisors here.