Getting back to work 

The challenges to getting back into the workforce will differ from one person to the next, depending on individual circumstance and motivation. These challenges can also be quite daunting if one has not planned well for a return to work.

REMOTE WORK

• Retirement does not mean that you are now totally unable to function. Work from home, online or work part-time so that if you return full time, the change is easier.

 EMBRACING CHALLENGES

• If circumstances have forced you to return to work reluctantly, keep in mind that embracing the challenges and not allowing them to intimidate you, makes it easier to adjust to changes. If you had a senior position before, to start again at a lower level. Be prepared to overcome the hurdle of being over-qualified in the position for which you have applied, by listing the advantages to the company when they use you. Show what you can bring to the table.

SKILLS UPDATE

• A mother of young children who stopped working to take care of them until they start school will wisely plan her return long before she returns. She can take on work that she can do from home to keep up with progress in the workplace, particularly with new technology. This will preempt up-dating skills; although up-dating your skills to cover a wider range of opportunities is wise.

HEALTH

• Workers who lose their job because of a health condition will have to make sure they are fit for work again. Recuperation should include regular physical and psychological tests to measure ability to perform. Should the reason for the lay-off be because of an accident where time in hospital is extensive, you could work on-line until you are fit enough to return to work.

PART-TIME WORK

• The same goes for redundancy casualties. Continue to work part time if you have to and make sure you up-skill while trying to get hired full time. This keeps you current and also avoids missed opportunities.

DIVERSIFY SKILLS

• Up-skill intending to cover a wide range of positions in various fields of work and not just your own field. This will not take away from any specialist skills you have.

TRIAL RUN

• Should an objection be that existing staff may object to re-hiring you because you don’t fit in or you’ve been away too long, ask for a trial run to give staff the opportunity to get to know you and so they see what you can contribute to the company. Developing a relationship helps to remove any perceived threat to their positions.

HARD WORK

• Be willing to work as hard as anyone else on the team and make sure you do not come across as a dead wood.

ACCOMMODATE STAFF INSECURITY

• There will always be those workers who are more territorial than others and who refuse to co-operate; keep trying because this type is usually looking for attention and approbation–give them the attention they seek and soon they will become more co-operative.

 

Hope this has been helpful.  You can see more work related posts on Articles