Four Ways to Stay Current When You've Been Out of the Workforce
Posted on Tue, Apr 10, 2012 @ 10:23 AM
Whether you’ve been raising a family or searching for the right opportunity, you’ll want to keep your skills current to remain competitive in the job market. Proactively seeking ways to keep up with trends in your field will show potential employers that you take initiative and strive for excellence. Here are four ways to stay engaged between jobs.
- Take a class. Whether learning a new skill or refining one, continuing education courses at local universities such as UCLA or USC can help boost your candidacy. Online courses such as those offered by lynda.com can broaden your tech knowledge.
- Volunteer your services. Check with local non-profits to see if they are in need of someone with your business skills. Helping out with a marketing campaign or updating their website will give you some meaningful additions to your resume. At Mom Corps LA we’re always blown away the amazing volunteer work we see on resumes. Make sure you’re able to talk about that volunteer work just like any other job with measurable outcomes.
- Network with professionals in your field. Connecting with others in your field not only increases your potential for new job leads, it also keeps you engaged in the profession itself. Join professional networks that fit your goals and take advantage of leadership and learning opportunities.
- Help on projects from former colleagues. Your friends and co-workers who are still in the field are fantastic resources for learning about changes that have occurred since you worked with them. Stay in contact and ask if there are ways you can help with a big project. From brainstorming over a cup of coffee or helping out in the office for a few days, you never know what lending a hand can lead to.