Back to Business: Lessons in restarting your career

Katie Dunn is founder of the Back to Business Women's Conference, which provides resources for women who want to reenter the workforce after time away. The next conference is Feb. 21 in Raleigh.

In the past five years, I've learned four big lessons about restarting a career, gleaned from my own personal experience of returning to work after a career break and that of the hundreds of women I’ve talked to and coached through this transition.

1. It can be done, but it often takes longer than you think it should

The big takeaway here is “it can be done.” I promise, it can. There are lots of women out there who have taken career breaks and then resumed their careers. And while we both know that you’re amazing and highly qualified for that awesome job, job search is called a “process” for a reason. It can move slowly, and it often involves trial-and-error that can lead to changing directions. Be flexible and be prepared for a long process. Keep a journal along the way so you can capture all that you’re learning about yourself and the companies and people you encounter. There is nothing wasted in this process. You can use almost every experience to get better. Even the frustrating ones!

2. You control much of the process

Keep this in mind, especially on the days when it feels like you’re not making progress. You control how much time you put in on your job search, what your resume looks like, how prepared you are for an interview, the types of jobs you apply for, how good your cover letter is and how you present yourself to potential employers, among other things. You do not control a hiring manager’s decisions. Importantly, you also control your reaction after you receive bad news (or no news, as is often the case) while you are job searching. Focus on what you can control and do your very best with those things. Invest in yourself. Take a class to keep your credentials fresh. Re-activate your network by reaching out to former colleagues. Scary? Yes. Worth it? Absolutely!

3. You don’t pick up where you left off

I’ve heard the following from so many women: “I took a job making a lot less than I used to, but it was worth it just to get my foot in the door.” Ladies, all you need is a place to start, or re-start. When it presents itself, take it and run with it. Just yesterday I received this email:

“I attended your first Back to Business Conference, and it gave me hope I could return to the corporate world after taking 16 years off to raise four children.

Thanks to networking, I was able to relaunch my career nearly 3.5 years ago. There were definitely challenges returning… I basically started back at entry level working with recent college grads and accepted a salary significantly less than I made in 2000! But now, the sky is the limit because I have recent work experience at the top of my resume again.”

I love this! My favorite part is: “The sky is the limit because I have recent work experience at the top of my resume again.” It’s almost magic how recent work experience practically erases the impact of a career break on your resume. As they say, a journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step. Take that step.

4. The people who get out from behind their computers are the ones who make it happen

Let me guess: You’ve been applying for jobs online, diligently attaching your resume and cover letter to job applications. Stop doing that! Your time is much better spent connecting personally with people who do what you want to do or who work at companies you’d like to work for. You don’t have to stop applying altogether, but have a balanced job search plan that includes as much person-to-person talking and meeting as you can schedule. The online job application is often a black hole, while meeting in person with another human is not. Tell the people you meet with exactly what you’re looking for so they know how to help you.

To wrap up, remember to be patient and stay positive when returning to work takes longer than you expected. Focus on what you can control. Take a long-term view and don’t worry about returning to work at a lower level or salary than you previously had. And finally, focus your job search efforts on making personal connections.

You’ve got this – I believe in you!