Going back to work after a career break
Thinking of going back to work after a career break? Looking for a new job but don’t feel confident in your skills? Are you thinking of ‘unretiring’ and need some digital skills to help you feel more confident? Are you a recent graduate or school leaver? It can feel daunting! Read on for our guide to feeling more confident about going back to work after a break.
What are employers looking for?
According to Disconnected? Exploring the digital skills gap (Learning and Work Institute):
92% of employers said that having a basic level of digital skills was important for employees at their organisation.
And in the creative sector, the figure is even higher
According to Tackling the Digital Divide (House of Commons):
22% of the population lack the necessary digital skills for everyday life.
Case study
Justine has two teenage children, aged 13 and 17. Recently she has been thinking that she would like to return to the workplace and pick up her career. But where to start?
She spent some time training to build her confidence. We gave her the necessary skills for the modern creative workplace.
We took a look at her CV to see where she was now. We explored with her what she wanted to do – did she want to return to the career she had before or did she want to go into something completely different?
What did she enjoy about her past employment?
What skills could she update? What skills has she developed on her career break?
The difference between skills and qualities
Skills can be taught.
On the other hand, qualities are more about your innate personality type. Whilst you can develop these, they are more of an intrinsic part of you.
These are things such as:
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Communication
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Professionalism
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Problem-solving
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Persistence
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Initiative
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Creativity
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Leadership
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Accountability
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Confidence
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Willingness to learn
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Teamwork
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Adaptability
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Conflict resolution
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Reliability
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Honesty
(Indeed Guide:15 good work qualities to help impress employers November 30, 2021)
Differentiate these on your CV.
You may need time to explore different possibilities – from a complete career change to getting back into something you used to do. It’s good to consider all the possibilities and take your time (if you have that luxury!) to think about different avenues. Consider where your network can help you with advice, introductions, shadowing and mentoring. LinkedIn is great for this!
How digi-training helped
We helped Justine by looking over her previous CV and suggesting areas she could move into. We discussed her passions and what she would like to do. This included starting her own business as well as employment.
Once we had a clear direction we were able to recommend a package of training. This included;
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LinkedIn training
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Creating a consistent personal brand across social media
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CV design
We can advise you on your CV and help you to design it
The outcome was that Justine became more confident in looking for work. She was able to use LinkedIn to look for work and connect with companies and build a network. She had a CV she could be proud of, and a clear direction of the type of work she wanted to find – even with the possibility of a side hustle down the line!
What our clients say
I would like to say a big thank you to digi-training for all their help and support during my one-to-one tutoring sessions. I have now been able to quit my job and start my own business doing what I love – graphic design! I have the knowledge and confidence to go it alone now and I’m loving it! Thank you so much.
Ways we can help
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Creative and digital skills
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Portfolio preparation and advice
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CV advice and design
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Social Media – creating a personal brand
We can help you with portfolio preparation
Before going to digi-training I could hardly switch a computer on. This wasn’t good – especially considering I work in the design/communications business. I had attended ‘other’ training courses regarding Apple Mac usage however all left me feeling less adequate than before and even more isolated and afraid of the ‘digital’ world. All this changed after undergoing a course with digi-training. The excellent tutors didn’t belittle me for my lack of understanding or aptitude. They met me ‘where I was’ and worked out a program building on what little knowledge and experience I had. After only a couple of lessons I become more comfortable engaging with the computer and even started enjoying the results. Together we worked out a flexible timetable and number of lessons to suit me; all at an agreed, and very reasonable, price. Regular in-class tests, simple homework tasks and constant encouragement meant I soon had enough skill and understanding to ‘go it alone’ and experiment with simple tasks using Photoshop and InDesign. digi-training has not only given me the skills and tools to build on but confidence in a world that used to terrify me. I can’t thank them enough for their expertise, patience and approach.
What to do next
Contact us to arrange a free consultation to find out how we can help you:
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Improve your confidence
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Gain vital skills
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Get the job you want!
How we can help
Need help or training with your digital skills?
Contact us today for a FREE consultation to discuss your training needs.
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