Preparing your resume to go back to work

In the last few years, many Americans found themselves not working. You may have been a part of a layoff or needed to take a step back to handle childcare and caregiving responsibilities.

If you’re thinking of returning to the world of work after some time away, then you might be wondering how to make your resume look attractive. In this blog post, we’ll be looking at how to manage gaps in your work history and how to show employers that you’re the right person for the job.

Address gaps in your employment history

One of the biggest issues you’ll face when rejoining the workforce is dealing with a big gap in your work history. Fortunately, after the pandemic, many US employers don’t see resume gaps as a bad thing, they’ll likely want to know what you did while you weren’t working. Attach a cover letter to your resume explaining how you’ve been proactive in looking for employment, how you’ve been developing your professional network, and talk about what initiatives you’ve taken to improve your work skills in preparation for your return to the workforce. Honesty is the best policy when it comes to explaining gaps on your resume, so make sure to be transparent with your potential employer.

Highlight skills that you developed

As we mentioned earlier, employers are eager to know how you’ve been developing your skills. Mentioning conferences, online training, and certifications is a great place to start. As well as bringing attention to any hard skills that you’ve acquired, don’t forget to talk about your soft skills. Interpersonal skills like resilience, problem-solving, and work ethic are highly valued by employers. Include a soft skills section on your resume to better highlight why you’d be a great fit for the job.

If developing your work skills is important to you, remember that all our associates get free access to the Adecco Academy programs to further their careers.

Tailor your resume to each job application

Avoid sending the same resume to each job vacancy. To increase your chances of being invited for an interview, you should create a unique resume for each job application . Do this by scanning the job post for keywords that you can use in your resume. If a vacancy says that the ideal candidate has strong communication skills and a Microsoft Office certification, then include that information in your resume (only if it’s true, of course).

The same goes for your cover letter. A hiring manager should read your cover letter and see that you put some thought into it by mentioning why you’d like to work at their company specifically. HR recruiters and hiring managers can spot cookie-cutter resumes and cover letters from a mile away, so don’t send the exact same resume to 30 different job applications or you’ll just come across as uninterested.

Now that you know how to make your resume stand out in the job market, explore our job postings and start applying for remote jobs and for openings in your area. Ready to start applying? Browse our job openings now!