Get back to work ∝ Returning to the labor force after an absence.
I find myself into examining the two sides to everything, you know, the positives and negatives. It helps me prepare for, think about and know what to expect when it comes down to the nitty gritty. Now is the time to understand the ups and downs of employment considering the economic circumstances and the latter.
I have a friend who is a perfect example of what is familiar to many individuals in the workforce. She was promoted quickly and then fired by one employer. For her next employer, she worked only a short time before quitting. She found yet another position, had to leave it for a few weeks, and then returned—only to walk off the job after working in it for 5 years.
She admits to making some mistakes, and her mental illness contributed to a rocky start early in her career. She’s also taken time off to raise her kids. But throughout her changing circumstances, she has, when ready, reentered the labor force.
For the millions of Americans who decide to return to work after any type of absence, there is good news: having an imperfect employment history may not be the problem it once was. “People are more willing to show a resume that’s been through stormy weather,” says Boston career counselor Ed Colozzi. Over the years, he says, he has noticed a positive change in people’s determination to stand up for themselves and their right to balance work with their personal lives.
Knowing what to do and what to expect when returning to the labor force can help ease the transition back to work. Keep reading to find out what and others have done—and what employment counselors advise— for a successful re-entry. You'll find suggestions for some special re-entry situations. Additional information is available in the resources section.
→Get ready for re-entry
“It was a scary time,” says Brian Trott of his 9 months without a job. “I was unemployed with no benefits and no income during the worst possible time in the job market.” The experience was a humbling one. “You find yourself just sitting in the coffee shop, reading the paper,” says Trott. “You get to that point where you get very down and depressed.”
As Trott discovered, there are challenges to being out of work. But if re-entering the workforce is your goal, make the most of your downtime. The earlier that you invest extra effort in career planning, the better off you’ll be later when you begin the job hunt.
Sara Rix, senior policy advisor for AARP (formerly the American Association of Retired Persons) in Washington, DC, says most successful re-entrants do three things that contribute to their satisfaction: They determine what they want to do, look to see if that type of work is available in their communities, and do what they need to do to qualify for a job.
→Consider what you want to do
Job seekers should think about their interests and skills—and how to apply them in a work setting. Employment counselors agree that assessing both what you like to do and what you are able to do is critical to making a good job match. See the resources section at the end of this article for information about self-assessment guides. Employment counselors also suggest that job seekers look at how the world of work is constructed. Nearly all jobs involve working with some combination of people, data, things, and ideas. Knowing what your preferences are can help you decide which types of work environments are likely to be a better fit.
Trott began exploring careers when he got discouraged in his initial job search. With the help of a career coach, Trott started identifying some employment choices. He referred to the Occupational Outlook Handbook for detailed occupational descriptions, which include information on working conditions and employment settings. Studying occupations in detail helped Trott identify several that might be good for him, based on his interests and skills.
→Know what’s out there
Once you know what you want to do, you need to know whether you can find a job doing it. Examine your local job market to see where opportunities exist. In the course of your research, you might find a job you want to apply for. But generally, job-market exploration is your chance to learn about possibilities rather than to search for a specific position. Conduct a search using common job seeking methods, including reviewing help-wanted listings, researching employers, “cold calling,” and networking. By combining several activities, you can gain insight into jobs in your community.
Informational interviewing is a way of combining research techniques. Find employers that interest you, set up an appointment with as many as you can, and then meet with workers who have jobs that you think you might enjoy. Informational interviews provide an opportunity to ask specific questions about occupations and employers.
→Putting it all together
Getting back to work may take awhile, even if you do everything right. But try not to get discouraged. “Know that there is something out there for you,” says career counselor Ed Colozzi. “Success may not come on the first try, but it will come.”
Counselors say that sometimes, if people are having trouble, they may need to re-evaluate their expectations and desires. Instead of seeking to enter a new career at the same level you were in your previous field, for example, you might consider seeking an entry-level position to gain experience. “It may not be your dream job,” says Francina Carter of the National Institute of Corrections, “but it can lead to a better one.”
Take Larry Matthews, for example. When he was first released from prison, Matthews took a job in food services. After 2 weeks, he was promoted to a warehouse position; after another month, he became a supervisor. “Now, I run the place,” says Matthews.
One-Stop Career Centers have employment counselors who may be able to help you examine what you’ve been doing and suggest modifications to your plan. Private employment counselors can help in this way, too.
Supportive discussion groups can also be helpful. “If people have been out of work a long time,” says Chris Olson of the Life-Work Planning Center, “it’s important for them to find out that what they’re going through is normal, that they’re not alone.”
Matthews agrees. “You can’t let your self-esteem get low,” he says. “Get together with others who are going through the same thing, and start talking about it.”
Words of experience. Brian Trott offers encouragement for job seekers who might feel discouraged, as he once did. “Keep going, because it will come together,” he says. “It’s a generic thing to say, but it’s true.”
Larry Matthews offers similar advice. “Be strong and keep your head up,” he says. “Have faith.”
Your options are more numerous than you might think, adds Julie Pearson: “You’d be surprised at what you can swing. I never would’ve thought I could do it.” Your journey to re-entry will give you personal insight and job-search knowledge that will remain a valuable tool as you manage your future career and the changes it may bring. “Now that I’m not working again, it will be me deciding what I want to do when I’m ready to get a job,” says Theresa Green. “And I look forward to that challenge.”
→Re-entry resources
When getting ready to re-enter the workforce, you might feel overwhelmed thinking about all the resources you need to find. Your employment or career counselor and local library should be at the top of your list of people and places to visit. Counseling offices and libraries provide career resources and, often, access to equipment— such as computers, printers, and the Internet— that are helpful to job seekers. Along with general references, such as telephone books and business reports, many public libraries have a career-reference section that includes books, magazines, locations of employment offices, and other resource materials on a wide range of topics. Employment or counseling offices may also have contact information to help you start networking with local employers.
Balancing work with life
Life isn’t just about work. If you haven’t had a job for a while, though, it might be harder to draw a line between your work and your life. This is because the absence of a job has allowed you to do other things and fulfill other commitments. Managing your life has become your job. In preparing to re-enter the workforce, it is important to recognize that balancing life and work involves making tradeoffs. “It’s a matter of figuring out what part you want a job to play in your life,” says Chris Olson, a counselor at the New Ulm, Minnesota, Life-Work Planning Center, which assists homemakers in their return to work. This is important whether you’re starting over or just sorting things out.
Starting over. For some people, getting back to work is part of beginning anew. Larry Matthews wanted to make a fresh start of his life when he was released from prison after serving a 7-year sentence. “The hardest part is when you first come out,” says Matthews. “No one accepts you. You need to get back into society.”
One of the first things Matthews did toward that effort was to get a job. He credits his success to his decision to stay strong, keep focused, and not look back. “I kept to my plan to get a job and stay out of trouble,” he says. And his determination has helped him to excel at work, get his own place, and be a good role model for his son.
Sorting it all out. Knowing how work fits into your life also helps you to define yourself. “It’s important to develop a work identity,” says Suzanne Wagner, research associate of Project Match, a Chicago-based organization that has developed the Pathways Case Management System for State and local welfare agencies. “Everyone develops various identities, based on the relationships they have and the roles they play. Often, nonwork identities, such as that of a parent, spouse, or significant other, are stronger and take priority. So when there are problems, the work part of a person’s life is the first to go.”
I have a blog with more information that I am working on as I complete this intel. Also, look for publications from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), including the Occupational Outlook Handbook, the Career Guide to Industries, and the Occupational Outlook Quarterly for indepth information. The Handbook also available online at http://www.bls.gov/oco, describes in detail the job duties, employment, earnings, outlook, and more for nearly 300 occupations. The Career Guide http://www.bls.gov/oco/cg is arranged similarly from an industry perspective. Articles in the Quarterly http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/ooqhome.htm cover a variety of career topics.
The following Quarterly articles are among many that are directly relevant to topics discussed in this article:
∅ “Matching yourself with the world of work: 2004,” fall 2004 http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2004/fall/ art01.pdf
∅ “Job search in the age of Internet: Six jobseekers in search of employers,” summer 2003 http://www.bls.gov/ opub/ooq/2003/summer/art01.pdf
∅ “Associate degree: Two years to a career or a jump start to a bachelor’s degree,” winter 2002-03 http://www. bls.gov/opub/ooq/2002/winter/art01.pdf
∅ “The changing role of community college,” winter 2002-03 http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2002/winter/art02. pdf
∅ “Apprenticeships: Career training, credentials— and a paycheck in your pocket,” summer 2002 http://www.bls. gov/opub/ooq/2002/summer/art01.pdf
∅ “Informational interviewing: Get the inside scoop • • • • • • on careers,” summer 2002 http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/2002/ summer/art03.pdf
∅ “Employment interviewing: Seizing the opportunity and the job,” summer 2000 http://www.bls.gov/opub/ ooq/2000/summer/art02.pdf
∅ “Resumes, applications, and cover letters,” summer 1999 http://www.bls.gov/opub/ooq/1999/summer/ art01.pdf
For personal assistance or additional information, visit a One-Stop Career Center. One-Stop centers can direct you to resources on training, labor-market trends, job-search strategies, and more. Details are available online at http://www.careeronestop.org. Or, write the Career One-Stop Service Center, 390 North Robert Street, Suite 1200, St. Paul, MN 55101; or, call toll-free, 1 (877) 348- 0502 or TTY toll-free, 1 (877) 348-0501.
America’s Career InfoNet, online at http://www.acinet.org, has a tool—the skills profiler—that is designed to help jobseekers identify their abilities and relate them to the skills required in a variety of occupations. The site also offers information on many employment resources, including State demographics and occupational certification requirements. Check out the Career Resource Library, http://www.acinet.org/acinet/library.asp, for links to local, State, and national career and labor market information sites.
America’s Career Info Net also has links to O*Net, the Occupational Information Network http://online.onetcenter.org, which provides detailed information about the skills required in hundreds of occupations, and to America’s Job Bank http://www.ajb.org , a resume and job bank. You can also find a One-Stop Career Center or other services for which you might be eligible http://www.servicelocator.org.
If you want individualized guidance and don’t qualify for free counseling through a One-Stop Career Center, private employment counselors can help. To find a counselor, check the yellow pages of the telephone book and call or interview several counselors to find one who’s right for you. Or, to find a counselor certified by the National Career Development Association, write to the association at 10820 East 45th Street, Suite 210, Tulsa, OK 74146; call (866) 367-6232; or visit the association online at http://www.ncda.org.
Visit my blog for more in depth information on this very topic or my site for a plethora of resources to assist you with your researching or planning.
|
Contributor's Note
http://ookiedokie.wordpress.com/get-to-work/
|
