Thinking About Reentering The Workforce?
Now Is The Perfect Time To Find A Job
If you have been out of the workforce for a while, a job search can feel overwhelming. Many people who take time away from work struggle to know where to begin looking for new career opportunities. But it’s important to pick yourself up and start moving forward, even if you are feeling stressed and overwhelmed, because the first step is often the hardest. The good news? If you are thinking about reentering the workforce, now is a great time to find a job.
Employers Need Employees Now
Many industries were ravaged by the economic standstill of 2020, but conversely, many industries thrived. And in the recovery phase, businesses of all sizes and nearly every industry are in dire need of employees to meet increasing demand.
Companies that had to downsize or cut staff are struggling to get people to come back, and that means they are starting to pull out all the stops to attract great people, making this an excellent time to reenter the workforce.
To attract employees, companies are doing everything from boosting pay rates to enhancing their benefits packages to adding a litany of perks to their offers. The increasing demand for workers and the willingness to do what it takes to attract them, makes this a great time to look for a job.
There Are Plentiful Temporary Jobs and Contract Jobs To Jump Start Your Search
When you’re reentering the workforce, you’re probably thinking about landing a traditional full-time job, but after a hiatus, it can sometimes be challenging to get hired full-time.
However, temporary jobs and contract jobs can be a great way to dip your toes back into working life while building your resume and rebuilding some skills that may have gone soft during your time off. And it’s the right time right now to leverage these opportunities to get back into the workforce.
As employers develop long-term recovery plans after the economic chaos of 2020, they need employees, but they may be wary of taking on the expense of hiring full-time workers to fill those jobs. Therefore, they leverage temporary workers and contract employees to help with projects, deadlines and seasonal demand.
Why should you consider taking on a temporary or contract job when reentering the workforce?
- Find your ideal working environment: With temporary jobs, you are able to try out different industries and environments.
- Gain critical industry experience: Employers are far less concerned about industry-specific experience for contractors and temporary workers, which means you can start rebuilding your resume with temporary jobs or contract jobs in your niche.
- Close your employment gap: The longer you go without a job, the harder it becomes to land one – even though employers do understand taking time off. Accepting temporary roles can help you close your gap quickly and allow you to earn money while you continue to look for a full-time job.
- Potentially open doors with an employer: Not all temporary jobs turn into full-time jobs, but many times, temp jobs do turn into something more. If you exceed expectations on a temp or contract assignment, you may be able to parlay that gig into a full-time job.
- Get access to benefits: Temp jobs are typically found through staffing agencies. And when you work with a staffing agency, you may be eligible for benefits. If you’re considering temp work, you may want to choose a staffing agency that offers you the chance to access benefits.
More Opportunities For Remote Work
Prior to 2020, many employers resisted remote work. However, the events of that year forced millions of employers into remote-first workplaces nearly overnight. While there were some initial bumps in the road, employers today are embracing remote work like never before because they now know that it is possible to manage virtual teams, that those teams can be trusted to work from home, and that remote work can save them money and even boost productivity.
Today and in the near future, you’re likely to see more fully remote jobs, hybrid-remote jobs, and even job-sharing opportunities that didn’t exist just two years ago. This embrace of remote work also means that new career opportunities are opening up for job seekers. When a job is remote, it doesn’t matter if the employee lives five minutes away or five states away. Opening up jobs to people across the country means more potential career opportunities for people reentering the workforce.
Diversity and Inclusion Have Stopped Becoming Buzzwords
For decades, employers have talked about diversity and inclusion, but putting those ideas into practice has often been a challenge. As a result of the social movements of 2020, employers are starting to focus in on improving diversity, inclusion, and equity in the workplace.
If you identify as a member of a minority group or protected class, it’s a great time to join professional groups for women or minorities. These groups provide you with a way to build connections in your community, meet influential people and get tips on how to re-launch and develop your career. Don’t forget that when you network, you also have to bring something to the table.
Tips For Reentering The Workforce
Returning to the workforce after a hiatus can be stressful. But the more you prepare, the less stressed you’ll feel. Here are some tips you can use when you’re thinking about reentering the workforce:
- Have a clear goal: Before you start your search, you need to know what you want out of it. Once you determine your goal, write it down and use it as a guide.
- Evaluate all of your skills: Make a list of all of your job-related skills but also think about what you did during your break from the workforce. For example, if you had to care for both aging parents and young children, you’ve got highly developed time management skills, scheduling skills, organizational skills, and prioritization skills. Think about the skills you’ve gained in your time off and the ways in which they enhance your professional skills and marketability. This will help you brand yourself to potential employers.
- Identify skill gaps and plan to close them: As you think about your skills, you’ll likely identify some areas where you need to build new skills or polish up some of your rusty ones. It might mean you have to take a class or two, but the investment will be worth it in the end.
- Reconnect with your network: In a job search, the people you know can make a huge difference. Your connections can help you find open jobs, offer career advice or even provide references. Take time to reconnect with old colleagues and even work your personal network, too. As you work your network, remember that these relationships are two-way streets. Be helpful to others, and they will be much more inclined to be helpful to you.
- Conduct a targeted job search: When reentering the workforce, it can be tempting to apply for every job opening you see. But successfully finding a new career opportunity only comes from conducting a targeted search. Wasting hours a day applying for jobs that don’t interest you or that you are not qualified for will only lead to frustration and disappointment.
- Work with a recruiter: Partnering with a recruiter at an expert staffing company can help you fast-track your job search.
Why Should You Work With A Staffing Agency Recruiter to Reenter The Workforce?
Working with an expert staffing agency recruiter can make your job search more efficient and effective and can eliminate much of the stress of reentering the workforce.
A good staffing agency recruiter can help you with things like polishing your resume and preparing you for interviews. They can also help you leverage temporary or temp-to-hire jobs so you can try out employers and job opportunities before choosing a path.
Staffing agencies can also connect you with positions that are not advertised to the public. Some employers choose to conduct these “quiet” searches, so they aren’t overwhelmed with applicants. They outsource that to the staffing agency and recruiter.
Finally, staffing agency recruiters will debrief with you after an interview to provide valuable feedback on what went well or where you need to improve. They can also help you negotiate a job offer and they will stay in touch with you to make sure you are happy when you are working at your new job or are on a temporary job assignment.
If you do choose to work with a staffing agency recruiter to reenter the workforce, the keys to making the process work are to be honest and upfront about where you’ve been in your career and where you want to go in the future. Armed with that understanding, a recruiter can match you with the right job and the right employer.
Trust Your Job Search To The Top Staffing Agency In Georgia
If you are ready to reenter the workforce in Georgia and you want to work with an expert recruiter, partner with BOS Staffing. Our team can help you find temporary jobs, temp-to-hire jobs, or full-time career opportunity in areas like:
- Office jobs
- Professional jobs
- Call center jobs
- Technical and IT positions
- Legal support
- Medical billing
Please feel free to browse our open jobs and sign up for automated job alerts that come straight to your inbox. You can also contact our team for more information about the ways our recruiters can help you find a good job in Georgia. We look forward to helping you achieve your goals.
