How to Return to Work After an Extended Break

With no sign of the COVID pandemic coming to an end, millions of employees continue to be furloughed under the government’s job retention scheme and kept away from work. Although the furlough scheme will end on 31 October, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has announced a new job support scheme in its place, which will extend the period that some employees have been away from the workplace to more than six months.

Returning to work after such a long absence can be daunting. In this guide, we’ll take a look at some of the steps that furloughed workers and career breakers can take to smooth their path back to the workplace.

1. Stay in touch with colleagues and superiors

Such a long spell away from work can create a sense of isolation and anxiety about your return. Checking in with colleagues and your employer at least once a month is a simple way to feel more confident when you go back to work. They can update you on new processes, new faces and any other news you might have missed, as well as giving you more information about what your return to work might look like in the new normal.

2. Consider a phased return

Rather than going straight back into a full-time role, you could potentially use annual leave to shorten your first couple of weeks or even ask your employer if they’d consider a phased return. At the very worst, try to make sure your first day back falls in the middle of the week, then at least some weekend respite isn’t too far away.

3. Trial your new routine

What exactly is your return to work going to look like? If you’re going to have to commute to a temporary office or new location, it’s worth familiarising yourself with the route and locating your workplace before your start date. If you’re going to be working from home, make sure you can access the relevant documents and files and you have installed any new software so you’re all ready to go.

4. Ask for help if you need it

Returning to work after a prolonged period away can be a stressful experience. That’s why, if you need help, make sure you speak up. You may want some training on a new piece of software or be unsure how to access the relevant documents you need from home. Whatever the issue, remove the obstacles early on so you can return to work with confidence and feel comfortable in your role.

Don’t want to return to your old role?

Are you dreading returning to your job? At Linguistica Recruitment, we help bilingual candidates secure well-paid and rewarding positions across the south coast. Take a look at our current vacancies, submit your CV or call 02392 987 765 to discuss your requirements with our team.

No Experience? Here’s How to Get a Job When You’re Just Starting Out

Are you struggling to get a job with no experience? Then take some solace from the fact that you’re certainly not alone. Most people find it difficult to get their first break at the start of their careers, and it’s hardly surprising given that you can’t get hired without experience, and you can’t get experience without being hired. So, how do you overcome this Catch-22 situation and get your first break in a career you’re interested in? Here’s our experience-busting guide.

1. Target entry-level roles

If you’re just starting out in a competitive field where relevant experience is essential, you have to face facts – the only position you’re likely to get is at the very bottom of the ladder. However, that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to walk into an entry-level role. The competition will still be fierce and there’ll be applicants with relevant experience who have completed internships in similar positions.

To bypass the competition for those in-demand roles, it’s worth sending out speculative applications to employers that you’d like to work for, rather than waiting around for positions to be advertised.

2. Emphasise the skills and experience you do have

You may not have professional experience in the role you’re applying for, but that doesn’t mean you don’t have skills, character traits and other experience that makes you a great fit for the role.

Soft skills that you may have gained in other positions or while studying, such as team working, attention to detail and communication, are transferable and are highly valued by a diverse range of employers. And while you may not have experience of performing a specific task before, you may have done something similar that you can draw comparisons with to strengthen your application.

3. Build your experience

Not everyone has a personal connection who can get them through the door. Instead, in highly competitive sectors, you might have to consider working for free to build up your experience. Volunteering, work placements and internships (paid and unpaid) are all effective ways of building the experience and professional contacts that could lead to a paid position.

In small and medium-sized businesses, it’s often the case that work experience opportunities and internships may not be advertised, so again, it’s well worth sending out a few speculative applications. It might be the case that they haven’t worked with someone in that capacity before, but once they see your passion for the sector shining through, how could they possibly refuse?

4. Grow your network

The idea of who you know being more important that what you know is never a pleasant thought, but nepotism aside, the reality is that a personal recommendation from someone you know can open doors that would otherwise be closed.

Attending careers fairs and networking events and even contacting people you don’t know who work for organisations you are interested in can all be effective ways of building those connections and potentially finding your first role.

Be positive and stay busy!

Trying to find a job with no experience in your chosen field isn’t easy, but if you follow these tips and don’t take the rejection you’ll inevitably experience personally, you will get there. At Linguistica Recruitment, we have roles for bilingual candidates at every level, so you’re sure to find a position for you. Take a look at our current vacancies and submit your CV today.