Written by: Anna Krzysztoszek, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
One of the recurring topics in career, job, or business coaching is how to get back to the labor market and how to rediscover our confidence after a break. Giving birth, or coping with illness or loss are parts of the human experience. We are not immune to certain life events, but how we react to them is up to us. Many of us feel less confident or even less worthy because of a break from work. We forget our worth is not equal to our productivity and the continuous ability to earn money and achieve so-called successes such as continuous promotions, raises, or C-level titles. The 3 tips below help to recognize how far you have come and to reframe experiences collected so far.
1. New soft skills
No matter what you have been through – combating an illness, the loss of a loved one, etc. – most probably you experienced something profound and recognized or developed soft skills you were previously not aware of. Are you now more resilient, patient, communicative, forgiving, assertive, empathetic, or motivated than before? How did the life event which led to a break in your career have changed you? Try to find a newly recognized or developed skill. Ask a friend in case it is difficult to recognize how much you have achieved as far as personal growth is concerned. Which of these skills could be relevant for your future job? We are all humans and personal skills are at least as important as technical skills. Add some of the newly discovered or developed skills to your updated resume – be proud of it, and be proud of yourself.
2. Priorities & what matters
Tough life events often lead to a change of priorities. Suddenly things that used to be important are irrelevant and we see things from a different perspective. Most leaders or company owners have a mission, a vision, set of values that are important for the company and its employees. Simon Sinek – the author of “Start with Why: How Great Leaders Inspire Everyone to Take Action” – describes the right “why” as a kind of engine and soul of a company that leads to success on many levels. What kind of values are you sharing with the company you would like to apply to? The times of cold, bureaucratic company structures are gone and company owners know that. From that perspective, do you see any common values and priorities which helped you to go through times when you did not have a job? Was it your innovative, creative attitude and drive to make the best of a difficult situation, despite all odds, or something else? What matters to you now? Hope and faith, community and supporting each other? Which of your values are closest to the company’s “why”? Emphasize it in the application letter or during a job interview. No company wants one-dimensional robots as employees – they look for candidates with drive, values, with an ability to learn from all life circumstances which leads to new growth experiences.
3. Connecting the dots – storytelling & the hero’s journey
After all that has been mentioned in the above point 1 and 2 – recognize you are on a journey, even though it can be a stressful and tiring one. Look at your life from a distance – it helps to recognize patterns and learning experiences, so in the end, it will be easier to talk about them in case you will be asked about some gaps or breaks in your resume. According to Joseph Campbell – a mythologist and author – life is a journey, a hero’s journey. It is a concept that helps to see a new project or any life experience from a distance, as a life adventure, something repeatedly occurring in old stories, myths, and legends and characteristic of human beings. Share your story to the degree that feels comfortable for you and be proud of your journey and what you have accomplished so far.
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Anna Krzysztoszek, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Anna Krzysztoszek has more than 20 years of international experience in business ‒ from large corporations to start-ups. She is the owner of Green Butterfly ‒ Coaching & Recruiting. The completion of her German and Dutch studies, her pedagogical education, the certificate of a Psychological Advisor and various business degrees, such as Master of Business Administration (MBA), reflect Anna's main focus and passion: combining her economical expertise with the always present interest in people and the art of making the best of our lives. This especially applies to professional matters ‒ after all, we spend a third of our life at our workplace.
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