6 tips to help women return to work

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The past year has not been an easy task for anyone, but it is especially difficult for most women Facing unemployment And financial instability.

According to a recent labor force analysis, McKinsey & Company, The female unemployment rate peaked in April 2020 at 15.8% (2 percentage points higher than men), and when schools reopened in September, 80% of the 1.1 million people who left the workforce were women.These trends will only continue to worsen. Preliminary figures for December indicate that women account for Of the 140,000 jobs reported, 100%. (The official federal labor statistics released later listed the number of women unemployed from November to December, 248,000 and 58,000, respectively, and men were unemployed.

6 tips for career counselors

With the spread of vaccines across the country and many schools planning to conduct face-to-face guidance in the fall, some kind of normal hope is imminent. For many women, it may be time to clear the well-known briefcase.

We communicated with career experts and consultants from all over the country to collect their suggestions to help women who wish to rejoin the labor market. You need to understand all of this before dipping your big toe into the applicant’s pool.

1. Click to enter your network

When re-entering the job market, one of the first and most important things to do is to enter your network. This may mean seeing what previous colleagues are doing, or even chatting with friends in similar fields. With so many job openings every day, and recruiting many employees through non-traditional channels (such as word of mouth), it’s time to let go and let your network know you are looking for.

The author and network expert said: “Using your network can not only discover hidden opportunities in the job market, but also provide peer support and spread word of mouth.” Kelly Hoey. “All of this may unlock more employers for your skills.” You never know what opportunities are there until you start talking to people. Although this may be frightening, it is also the best way to start a job search. One of the methods.

2. Update your resume

It’s like entering your network, Update your resume It is an absolutely necessary condition before clicking the “Submit” button on the job application. One of the best ways? By starting the work you want.

Hoey recommends: “Check the job description of the position you want to hold and compare the language in the job description with the descriptive words you use in your resume and LinkedIn profile.” “Recruiters seeking to fill the position will be based on them Search for the desired skills (i.e. keywords), so make sure your title or title (and the “about” section) on LinkedIn includes words related to your core skills or talents. “

Another way to ensure that your resume is not long? By focusing on two key employer issues. “It takes 45 minutes, pick up your favorite pen, and then prepare to mark the suction cup,” Jessica Williams said JMW Career Consulting. “In this process, be honest and open, and ask yourself if you want to answer the following two questions in your resume: Am I explaining how to make the manager’s life easier? with Am I showing my best money-making or money-saving techniques? “

Take some time to review your resume from the eyes of prospective employers, and then rewrite it to focus on what the hiring manager wants most.

3. Strengthen and show off your skills

In the spirit of thinking like your employer, now is the time to show off your best selling skills, not just the skills you have before COVID. When evaluating new skills, consider what you might learn when using online teaching with your child. Are you now an expert on virtual meeting platforms such as Zoom?

Williams said: “Adaptability will be a key skill you emphasize in negotiations, because the leadership skills you are communicating have improved over the past year.” “Be sure to discuss how you learn new forms of Virtual communication and remote working capabilities.”

In addition to showing off all the new skills you have, this is also a good time to review your existing skills and make them stronger.This may include Take online courses, And even participate in lucrative volunteer projects.

“I encourage those who feel incapable of acquiring many new skills during the pandemic to take online courses now,” said Katherine Kirkinis, a career counselor. Vagrant occupation. “It doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming, it’s just something to talk about. I have a client who took a 20-day half-day public speaking course and used it to talk about the skills she gained during COVID.”

Volunteer work can also help you improve your skills and become a good topic in the learning process Interview. Williams said: “If you lack visibility in industry associations or business groups, now is an excellent time to re-engage.” “Raise your hand as a volunteer or as a committee position, because it can not only help you quickly grasp The trends, forecasts and concerns of professionals in your field, but also to ensure that you are in a leading position. Please mind when roles are available.”

4. Know your value

It’s hard to set a price for well-done work, but then again, this is salary.Just because you spent a year or more to go to work Doesn’t mean you should cut your salary drastically. But this does mean that you will need to spend more time understanding the current exchange rate for the expected position.

Hoy said: “Know the salary range of the position you are looking for.” “Your network or website, for example Glass door Can help. “No matter which website you use, keep your goals in mind.

“Research the market on similar sites Salary scale And grab your happy high-end people,” Williams said. “Then decide your’satisfying figure’-someone you will be happy to accept after negotiation. Always work hard for high-end people, just because you have a break does not eliminate your skills. “

5. Consider other career paths

If your pre-pandemic career is no longer what you want, or if you are already considering a new career path, please seriously consider changing jobs.

Kirkinis said: “Right now, considering any career transition is as good as everyone else, especially because so many jobs will stay in remote areas and/or will become flexible and remote.” “Many industries are currently struggling, but many The industry is booming. Bio and health technology, streaming media services, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and remote communication tools have all been established. And the demand for government agencies dedicated to providing care and public and private healthcare systems is increasing. Connecting people, Companies that promote well-being and provide ways to stay healthy are also booming.”

if you want Change career But not sure what you are going to do, please take some time to determine the local labor demand. “Think about how your life has changed in the past year (for example, how and where you shop), because changes in your behavior may indicate new industries to be explored (for example, cyber security, digital privacy, online education) Or traditional industries can return based on suppressed demand (ie retail, travel, sports),” Hoey said.

6. Raise your head

When you re-enter the job market, nothing can make you lose confidence more than a global pandemic. The important thing to remember is that many women are experiencing the same thing. In searching or struggling, you will not be alone, and the employer will understand this feeling like anyone else.

Kirkinis said: “I think employers are looking for the best candidates in the pandemic year.” “Not everyone can do this. It takes time to heal themselves. There is nothing shameful in grief, etc., even This is the worst year of your life, and also try to make a positive story about work. Maybe you have learned yoga, which can help you focus for a long time. Or, spend a lot of time with your partner to make you an outstanding Communicator, and you have the skills to resolve conflicts.”

Although these may sound trivial, the fact is that you are here-getting ready for your next job is a huge achievement. Take some time to mentally prepare for the next stage, but also remember to slow down and be nice to yourself.After all, doing a good job is only one of the problems involved Financial independence And happiness.

Looking for more positive ideas to improve your financial situation after the pandemic? We have some ideas.

The writer Larissa Runkle specializes in finance, real estate and lifestyle topics. She is a regular contributor to The Penny Hoarder.




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