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Your Why?
This is the third of a series of articles for returners, people who want to return to the workplace after an extended period away from it.
Why do you want to work?
Of course, for most people returning to the workplace a key factor is money. Extra mouth(s) to feed, savings diminishing, pressure on the partner to provide, sacrifices already made and the desire to live a slightly less restricted life.
There are parts of your brain and psyche unfulfilled. Emotionally, looking after children or caring for relatives are very satisfying but not intellectually.
You have loads to offer; society, your family, an employer, the community…
There may be a sense of it’s now or never. Whilst this isn’t true in itself, there may be a growing feeling of distance between you and the workplace.
You can do something which will make a difference. Life isn’t just transactional, there are times when each of us can be impactful.
Why are you considering a specific type of work?
Are you only thinking about going back into the same type of role? Why?
Are you “managing your own expectations”? Are you only thinking about junior roles, even when you have great potential?
Are you making a compromise, even before exploring what is available?
Have you lost confidence in yourself to learn new skills?
Do you think you don’t have leadership talents? Returners take lower-level jobs in 35% of cases but 24% acquire a higher status role.
Hopefully, you are reading these questions and thinking something like, I am better than “the me” for which I am giving myself credit. Do not underestimate or undersell yourself. The clever part of job hunting is translating the things you do naturally into tangible examples an employer can see will be valuable.
Why do you not want to do some things?
Is this a point of principle? Have you described your principles and values clearly? For many people any job in a tobacco company would be totally unacceptable but what about in the nuclear energy sector? How would some industries feel for vegetarians? You need to think through these questions.
Are some jobs too physically demanding? Do you have limitations, or have you allowed yourself to become unfit?
Do you know some jobs would be too boring? How do you know? What have you done to establish the types of roles which would marry with your personality and preferences? In our changing world what research have you done into the sorts of work available?
Why are you prevaricating?
It isn’t about making decisions; it is about taking actions. You need to know what you are looking for and, together with the people that matter to you, make decisions but your biggest enemy is inertia. Get on with it.
This may not be the exact right time to apply for jobs, but it may be the time to carry out your research or undertake some training.
How many people do you need to “approve” your decision to go back to work? Don’t allow yourself to find excuses. This is easy to say but caught up in the mayhem of day-to-day life more difficult to do. Only you can make things happen.
Why does the thought of somethings motivate or demotivate you?
Some ideas, businesses, organisations, or causes stir us. They make us want to be involved, they are the difference between getting out of bed in the morning and bouncing out of bed. Alternatively, they make us think up excuses for staying in bed.
What would excite you? Who inspires you?
What turns you off? Who do you dislike?
Do you know what you want from a job? Do you know what it looks like and how to find it?
There is a fascinating book by Simon Sinek, entitled Start with Why. It is the right place to begin.
Work Horizons is an online membership site which gives you career coaching at a fraction of the cost of traditional support https://app.workhorizons.com/
Next steps
If you would like to discuss any of these issues further or are interested in working with the Work Horizons team, please read about our services or get in touch.
