Had a Long Period of Unemployment 4 Strategies to Get Back to Work

Had a Long Period of Unemployment 4 Strategies to Get Back to WorkHad a Long Period of Unemployment 4 Strategies to Get Back to WorkHow to Find a Job After a Long Period of UnemploymentOne sad reality of the job market today is that the long-term unemployed get a raw deal. The longer youve been out of work, the harder it is to find a job.By some estimates, those who have been unemployed for six months or longer must send out 3.5 times as many resumes as those who have been unemployed for less than six months.There are a number of reasons why people end up unemployed for lengthy periods of time, from being downsized to returning to school to taking time off to care for a loved one.Unfortunately, employers dont tend to view the situation with much nuance. They see a long gap in employment history, and they immediately assume the worst.This is elend to say that the long-term unemployed can never bounce back. With some smart maneuvering, its possible to return to the workforce no matter how long youve been gone.Here are four tips to get you started on the way to a new job after six months or mora of unemployment1.Address the GapIts true that your employment gap is your worst enemy, but you cant hide it. Your new employer is more likely than not to find out about your fib, and they wont hesitate to boot you for it. No one likes a liar, especially not as an employee.You dont have to reserve a spot on your resume for the gap. Simply include accurate dates in your work history.Use your cover letter to get out ahead of the gap by explicitly mentioning it. Dont dwell on it your cover letter should mainly be used to make a case for why youre a good fit.Inserting 2-3 sentences to acknowledge the gap and briefly summarize how you spent your time during unemployment is enough. You can offer a more in-depth story about your time unemployed during phone screenings and in-person interviews.What should your in-depth gap story cover? Ideally, youll have spent your unemployment p roductively. Emphasize volunteer work, voluntary training, schooling, and any other activities that kept your skills sharp or introduced you to new skills.If you took time off to raise children or care for a sick loved one, you can talk about the transferable skills you learned from these scenarios, like the logistics of coordinating care or the customer tafelgeschirr skills you picked up while parenting.If you look back at your unemployed time and cant seem to find any productive periods, youll need to start playing catch up right away. Volunteer for organizations that are relevant to your desired role. Take some online learning courses to brush up on your skills.Anything you can do to contribute to your professional acumen will make your period of unemployment that much less of a problem to prospective employers.2.Leverage Your NetworkIts estimated that as much as 85 percent of all jobs are filled through networking rather than blind applications. Networking is important for job s eekers at any stage of their career and in any situation, but its especially critical for those who have been away from the workforce for a while.Networking allows you to make personal contact with hiring influencers at target organizations. The personal aspect of these connections is why networking matters When decision-makers know you on a more personal level, theyll have an easier time overlooking your employment gap.Start by getting in touch with contacts already in your network. Invite them out to coffee or lunch your treat, of course to talk shop. You want to be upfront about your search for a job so that they can point you in the right direction. However, you need to remember that networking is a two-way street.You have to be prepared to offer some sort of value to your contact in return, if you havent already helped them out previously. You may not be able to provide such value at the time, but you definitely need to keep your contact in mind for when you have opportunitie s to return the favor down the road.You should also reach out to what Elissa Kuykendall of career support firm ArcVida calls near-peers. These are people at target employers who are at your desired level or a step above your desired level. These people can help you get your foot in the door at companies for which youd like to work.Start the relationship off by requesting informational interviews with near-peers. In these interviews, your goal is not to aggressively pitch yourself for a role instead, you want to learn more about the organization and its culture. Nurture these relationships as you would any other professional contact, and they may lead to referrals.3. Go IndependentOne way to get back into the game is to start freelancing in your desired field. As a freelancer, youll likely be able to avoid conversations about your work history. Prospective clients will be more interested in your accomplishments and your portfolio of previous work than in your resume.