Whether you’ve been caring for a family member, recovering from a major illness, self-employed, or unemployed for any reason, getting hired after a long break can be tough. How can you convince skeptical employers that you’re ready to jump back into the nine-to-five?
One: Demonstrate Your Commitment
Employers want employees who are passionately committed to the line of work they’re hiring for. Ways to show your dedication include joining professional associations or LinkedIn groups, updating your knowledge and contacts within the occupation or industry, and targeting your resume and online profiles very specifically toward your goal. This will all build up your resume and your LinkedIn profile, too.
Two: Fill Your Skills Gaps
If the postings keep listing skills you don’t have, there are ways to gain them: classes, tutorials or independent study. Complete a project you can show as a work sample. Consider earning a certification or even a degree. There are many areas in life where it’s wise to be frugal, but investing in your career is usually not one of them.
Three: Embrace LinkedIn and Use AI Wisely
The lack of a positive online presence can lead to a perception that you aren’t serious about your career.
Whether you’re in job search or still exploring your options, a good LinkedIn profile can build your credibility, make networking easier and serve as free advertising as you “sell yourself” in the job market. If you have privacy concerns, take a look at the settings: you can have a lot of control over what people see and who can contact you.
If you’re unemployed, there’s an honest and strategic way to use the “current job” position in the Experience section. Read my post, How to Update Your LinkedIn Profile When Unemployed.
Above all, don’t underestimate the power of LinkedIn recommendations (not to be confused with endorsements, a separate and less powerful LinkedIn feature that only requires a click). Request them from past bosses above all, but also from your past teammates, internal and external clients and people who reported to you.
If LinkedIn seems useless to you, chances are you just need to learn more about it.
Now for the AI part. These days, your resume usually meets a piece of software before it meets a person. Most employers run applications through AI-powered screening tools that read, score, and rank candidates before a recruiter ever opens the file. That’s not a reason to panic — it’s a reason to be deliberate. A few things matter more than they used to:
- Keep your formatting simple. Columns, text boxes, graphics and unusual fonts can confuse the parser and cause it to misread your experience. Content in Word’s specified header and footer sections will not be parsed, so put your name and contact information within the body of the text.
- Mirror the language of the posting. These systems increasingly match on meaning, not just exact keywords, but you still improve your odds by using the same terms the job description uses rather than close synonyms.
- Show evidence, not just claims. A bullet point with a specific, measurable result will score — and read — better than a vague description of your duties.
- Keep your profiles consistent. Some screening tools now cross-reference your resume against your LinkedIn and other professional profiles, so it’s worth making sure the story they tell is consistent.
It’s fine, and often smart, to use an AI writing tool to help you draft or tighten your resume and cover letters. Just make sure the final product is accurate, and that it still sounds like you. A recruiter will eventually read it too, and generic AI-polished language is less engaging and feels inauthentic.
Four: Make sure you have top quality career marketing tools and skills.
Reentering the job market is a tough job that calls for good tools. In addition to an online presence you need a resume that communicates quickly and credibly.
With a long gap in your resume, you can’t afford to do anything halfway or half-baked. Either hire a higher-end resume writer (expect to pay $500-$1,000+ depending on your occupation, experience and level) or do it yourself with the help of a good, up-to-date how-to book and a professional proofreader (often less than $10 per page).
It’s crucial to really know how to network. Applying to jobs online works well for people who are currently doing the same type of job they’re looking for, but that’s not you. If you’ve been out of the workforce, skillful networking is a must.
You also need to understand how to sell your skills effectively in an interview. Don’t wait until a recruiter is on the phone – or worse yet, until you’ve failed at an interview – to think about interview coaching. Why not get it right the first time?
Five: Get current experience.
Last, but definitely not least: Lack of current or recent experience is often the number-one reason employers are leery of hiring a returning worker into a full-time, permanent job. It may be easier to start with a temporary or contract position. Although it may require a commitment of several months, it’s usually worth it for the opportunity to refresh your skills and put new dates on your resume. Meanwhile, don’t stop hunting for your next opportunity.
Consider a “returnship,” an internship-like role for experienced workers returning to the workforce, especially those entering a new field. Growing numbers of companies are offering this kind of experience.
What about volunteering? While it won’t plump your wallet, it can build your experience and fill the empty place at the top of your resume, and you need that. You can include it in the same section with your previous work as long as you head the section “Experience” rather than “Professional Experience.” Look for skills-based volunteer opportunities as closely related to your vocational goals as possible.
Work hard and work smart.
If you’ve been out of work for a while, I’m guessing you know a thing or two about overcoming hardships. Nobody ever said it was easy to reenter the workforce or that it wasn’t a lot of work. Make it your job to do all of the above, and before long employers will be taking you seriously as someone who’s ready to get back in the game and help their organization win. (This post has been updated for 2026.)
