Working mom and daughter

Back to school is a great time to start your job search

We all know how challenging the past 18 months have been, particularly for parents whose kids have been home through much of the pandemic. But as we near the middle of August, it appears that schools will be back in person in September, and parents who had to stop working to help their kids through virtual school can now begin their new job search.

For some, this may be a time of anxiety as any extended time out of the workforce can make re-entry feel more difficult. Others may feel less anxious and more excited about the idea of getting back to work but aren’t sure when is the best time to start a job search.

With the large number of good available jobs right now, this back-to-school season is a perfect time to start looking for a new job.

Reinvigorate your career with a new job search

Some parents may have found their careers (understandably!) had to take a back seat while their kids were attending school at home. But whether you were underemployed or unemployed, this is the perfect time to see what options are out there for you. If you felt like you couldn’t risk leaving your job during the pandemic and felt stuck, now is the time to update your resume and put yourself back out there.

Employers need good people

Many employers are having trouble filling open jobs with high-quality candidates. Some are increasing pay rates or offering extra vacation time or tuition reimbursement to attract applicants. Others are being more flexible and willing to give a candidate a chance by using temp-to-hire if they have many of the qualifications for a job rather than insisting on an exact match.

Keep in mind that the sooner you get back into the workforce, the more options you will have because this job market won’t last forever.

The timing is right for a job search

The new school year is always a period of transition, this year even more so if your kids didn’t get to start their school year in person last September. If you take on a new job at the same time as your kids are getting back to school, you will launch into a new phase of your life together.

Another consideration is that many employers are parents too. They’ve been busy over the summer and not focused on filling open roles that were absolutely critical. Now that they’re back in the office, they are ready to hit the ground running and get fully staffed. If you postpone your search even a couple of months, you may find that there are fewer opportunities out there or that you’ll be competing with more people for the ones you want.

Align your job with your goals

Consider what you may have learned throughout the pandemic: In “before Covid” days, you may have run yourself ragged or had little time for introspection about the direction of your career. But now, you may have a better idea of what you like or don’t like in a job or company.

Do you want an employer who will let you work remotely, or are you excited about getting back out of the house and into the office? Does a job with flexible hours sound good to you? Do you want to explore a new industry or find a job with a shorter commute? These are  topics to review with your recruiter.

You can try something new

This is also the perfect time to investigate some of the industries or areas that opened over the last year. Many companies pivoted to address pandemic-related needs and some even discovered new markets. Some people were inspired to start their own companies and might be ready to add to their staff. Why not try something new and throw your hat into the ring?

A staffing agency can make it easier

A great way to start your back-to-work job search is with a staffing agency. They can tell you what industries are hot, what employers are looking for in a new hire, and which companies are a great place to work. A staffing firm can help you update your resume in a way that’s attractive to employers now and set you up with interviews and your desired career.

If you’d like to know more about how working with a staffing agency can help you get back to work, submit your resume to us at South Shore Staffing, and we will be happy to talk to you.

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