How To Restart After a Career Break: Upskill With a Mentor

Are you looking to restart after a career break? 

Wondering how to get back on track after a long gap? 

Whether you took time off for personal reasons or to focus on family, getting back to work may seem daunting.

But don’t worry!

In this blog, I’ll provide essential tips and steps to help you make a successful comeback.✨

We’ll talk about the essential do’s after a career break, skill development for career growth, and how mentorship can help you upskill the right way.

Keep reading for the details. 

What to Do After a Career Break?

You've had a break from work, and now you're thinking, "What's next?" 

Here are some key tips you can start using right away.

🔎Reflect

Take a moment to reflect on your career break and figure out what you've learned and accomplished. 

Find the strengths and experiences that can help you in your next adventure.

Reflect on questions like: Where do you want your career to head? What are the things you’d like to try? What skills do you need to develop?

This will help you come up with a plan.

📚Research

Things change fast in the job market.

So, get cracking on researching your industry's latest trends and demands. 

Check out job postings, read articles, and follow industry experts on social media. 

Staying in the loop will help you catch up!

🔨Upskill

Now that you know what's hot and happening, it's time to upgrade those skills. 

Study up, attend workshops and join webinars. 

Remember, it's never too late to learn new stuff.

Whether it's coding, graphic design, or public speaking, adding new skills to your profile will boost your confidence and make you stand out!

🤝Network 

Time to put on your social butterfly wings! 

Talk to old colleagues, friends, or even a former classmate who works in your dream company. 

You never know where that next opportunity might come from. 

So, chat it up and let people know you're back in the game. 

In case you’re not a very social person who doesn’t really like networking, do know we all have to manifest this personality to get what we want in life!

So, even on the day when you don’t really feel like following up with your friend on that job opening, show up, call them, and show that you care enough to stay in touch. 

The power of networking is underrated! 

📝Update your resume

Dust off that resume of yours and give it a makeover. 

Highlight your recent experiences, skills, and achievements. 

But remember to keep it short and sweet; nobody wants to read an essay!

Make it snappy and relevant to the job you're eyeing.

📢Mock interviewing

Interviewing can be nerve-wracking, but don't fret! Practice makes perfect.

It’s better to find a professional mentor for mock interviewing than your peers.

They can highlight your shortcomings, provide industry insights, and help you sharpen your answers. You'll be an interview ninja in no time.

🧑Find a mentor

Continuing the point above, find a mentor to help you restart after your career break.

A professional who's been there, done that, can give you personalised advice on how to navigate your career comeback. 

Their insights can be gold.

Wondering about how to find the right mentor? Read this guide. 

Should You Take a Course to Restart Your Career?

An online course can be a great addition to your career restart toolkit. 

But, here are some pros and cons to consider, and know why merely relying on a course might not be helpful.

✔️Pros

• Flexibility:
• Diverse topics:
• Cost-effective:

❌Cons

• No accountability:
• Lack of specialisation:
• No guarantee:

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So, while online courses are fantastic for learning and expanding your horizons, they're not the sole ticket to career growth. 

It's all about balance and using various resources to boost your career restart.

That way, you'll show potential employers that you're not just book-smart but also ready to tackle real-world challenges!

Why Focus on Skill Development after a Career Break?

Here are 5 reasons skill development should be your main focus while restarting your career. 

💪The courage game

Taking a career break requires courage, but returning to the workforce demands even more. 

Developing new skills boosts your confidence. 

For example, if you are a software developer, you can learn about the latest programming languages like Python or frameworks like React. 

It will help you feel more confident while applying for new roles.

It might seem daunting, but small steps lead to big results!

📄A strong resume 

Employers value practical skills, and a strong resume can make a vast difference. 

Adding new skills to your repertoire boosts your skills and, in turn, your resume.

Showcasing these skills can impress potential employers and demonstrate your abilities successfully.

🤹Domain-specific skills

Industries evolve rapidly, and new skills become crucial to stay relevant. 

Delving into specific areas related to your field gives you an added edge.

For instance, if you're into data science, you can learn about machine learning algorithms like decision trees and support vector machines. 

These targeted skills make you an attractive candidate for industry-specific roles.

⭐Stand out in the crowd

Skill development can set you apart from other job seekers. 

Imagine you're in business analytics, and you've mastered advanced Excel functions and data visualisation with Tableau. 

In a sea of applicants, these skills make you a standout choice for data-driven companies seeking to make informed decisions.

🌱Adapt to changing times

Technology never stands still, and neither should your skills. 

After a career break, equipping yourself with knowledge about the latest tools and trends will help you succeed faster.

For instance, suppose you're in computer science, and cloud computing has gained significant traction. 

Learning about cloud platforms like AWS or Azure can make you more adaptable and valuable to organisations embracing the cloud.

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In conclusion, skill development after a career break is a game-changer. 

No matter your background—whether you've been caring for a sick family member, taking time off as a full-time mom, or transitioning from running your own business to a corporate role—you can learn new skills and stay relevant in today's rapidly changing world.

Remember, it's never too late to adapt and thrive!

How Mentorship Can Help You Develop Skills after a Career Break (the right way)

Having a mentor is like having a wise friend to help you level up your skills and enter the job market after a career break. 

Here are 6 reasons having a mentor can give you an added advantage:

📝Tried and tested strategies

A good mentor knows the ropes and has faced similar challenges before. 

They can share their experiences and show you what works best.

For example, if you're getting back into software development, they might point you in the right direction by suggesting to learn Agile methodologies to manage projects efficiently.

🙎Expert-guided upskilling

Imagine having a pro by your side while learning new stuff.

A mentor can guide you through complex data science or computer science topics, ensuring you grasp the concepts. 

It's like having a personal tutor, but better.

📚Access to the right resources

Sometimes, finding the right learning materials can be challenging. 

But a mentor has been there, done that, and can hook you up with the best books, online courses, or tools. 

For example, if you're diving into business analytics, they might recommend some unique data visualisation tools you wouldn’t know about otherwise.

🤝Emotional support and holistic growth

Getting back on track after a career break can be overwhelming. 

A mentor is not just about the technical stuff; they offer emotional support too. 

They're like a cheerleader, boosting your confidence!

With their help, you'll grow not only professionally but also personally.

👨‍💼Network and professional contacts

You know what they say – "It's not just what you know, it's who you know." 

A mentor can introduce you to valuable contacts in your field. 

Let's say you're in software development, and your mentor knows a tech company looking for talented developers. That could be your foot in the door!

✔️Tailor-made planning and implementation

One size doesn't fit all. 

Your mentor understands your unique situation and can help you create a customised plan for success. 

For example, if you want to break into data science, they may map out a plan considering your background and interests. That way, you won’t waste time and resources scoring through online guides.

Try a free 1:1 career planning session with an industry expert, here.

💯Persistent support until you achieve results

Sometimes the journey to skill development can be bumpy. 

But a mentor won't bail on you! 

They'll stick around until you reach your goals. 

For example, if you're working on a project and get stuck, they'll be there to guide you through until you conquer it.

To Conclude

Imagine you want to dive into data science after a break. You find a mentor who's been in the field for years. They share their ups and downs, recommend courses, and even introduce you to data scientists in their network.

Your mentor helps you focus on your goals and keeps you going. When you feel unsure about your progress, they remind you how much you've grown. And guess what? You soon land a job as a data scientist, and it's all thanks to your mentor's guidance. :)

So, consider finding a mentor if you're thinking about making a comeback after a career break. 

They can make a world of difference in your journey toward skill development and professional success. 

With their help, you'll be back in the game, stronger and better than ever!

Want to know if personalised 1:1 mentoring is for you? You can try it here, for free.