Are you READY to return to work?

The decision to return to work is a thorny issue , one that is rooted in a number of issues affecting the unemployed. Among the thousands of clients I have assisted, including adults with severe mental illnesses, the decision to work again, or to end a lengthy absence from the workforce necessitates careful thought and reflection. I wish I could credit the author of a resource called the “Readiness checklist.”  The resource is organized into three categories:

-Can you...?

-Are you....?

-Do you...?

Let’s put the “Readiness checklist” into context for you. I am leaving out the conventional wisdom, and turning to issues that are not often broached in a job search.

1. In order  to initiate employment readiness, can you set SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely) goals? Goal setting, more than any other activity in a conscious job search, is most likely to propel  motivation, but one caveat. If setting goals seems daunting, do one simply thing-break them down into concrete steps.

 Seek new ways of using your skills. Volunteer, become a board member, contribute to a social or charitable cause.  When you are unemployed, doesn’t it seem like you have to juggle many things at once? A last-minute phone call to attend an interview, affects the ability to find respite care or an employer requests that you fill out a lengthy online application before even being considered a job candidate. All of sudden, the length of unemployment is trumped by employers’ increased demands. All the more reason why time management, resilience (i.e. dealing with rejection) and coping skills become  important while you await your job offer.

2. Are you worried about stress from other people or things that may affect your ability to get or keep work?  Take heart that being unemployed for a time, does not have the same stigma that people experienced ten years ago. Certainly, I cannot negate that those who have been absent for the workforce for a considerable amount of time face a greater disadvantage. However, that’s where building one’s confidence, with the assistance of a career professional such as a career coach, or job developer, can make a monumental difference.  This process make seem time consuming,  but you are worth it? Crafting a professional image, combined with identifying a USP (unique selling points) will be time invested, before preparing for upcoming job interviews.

3. Do you know what your challenges are, personal or professional? For example, are you experiencing an ongoing illness or disability which may curtail full-time employment? This refers to “work tolerance skills,” in other words, do you have the ability to accept part-time employment as a springboard to ultimate full-time employment? Sometimes accepting an entry level position, especially after a lengthy absence from the workplace, is just the ticket to building one’s confidence, one shift at a time.  I have assisted individuals with professional backgrounds (i.e. nursing, military, etc), who chose to return to work on their own terms, and not dictated by family pressures.  At the same time, do you have the supports (ie. Family and friends, community resources, etc) to overcome challenges? This is where self-advocacy skills come into play. Be aware of community resources such as  job centers or government subsidized programmes.  You might be surprised at the number of unemployed individuals, who at the beginning of their job search, are resistant to asking for employment assistance. I say beginning because the unemployment cycle resembles the stages of grief: shock, anger, denial and acceptance.

To sum up, a term that I learned in the military was WIN. What’s important now?

Melissa Martin

Bilingual career/social media strategist

Twitter: @ravingredhead and @melissacmartin

Facebook fan page: facebook.com/careercoachingbyphone/melissacynthiamartin2

Blog: webinarcareercoach.blogspot.com