Struggling with Job Interviews After a 2-Year Gap: How Can I Boost My Confidence?

I got married after that, so I couldn't work for 2 years. Now, I am searching for a job. I don't get many interview calls because of the gap. Additionally, when I go for interviews, I don't feel confident enough. In the back of my mind, I think they will not consider me. Please suggest something.

Do not think negatively when you appear for an interview. Instead, be calm and confidently highlight your achievements. Explain positively that a 2-year gap for motherhood was necessary, and that's why you made that decision. Update your knowledge and work on your weaknesses. Remember, it is only through practice that you will gain the confidence to reappear for interviews.

All the best!

Enhancing Your Job Search After a Career Break

Update your knowledge on the latest developments in your job role by reading books. You can ask your husband to help you stage a mock interview, acting as the HR manager and asking both relevant and irrelevant questions. If you have brothers or sisters around, seek their help in this direction. They will surely support you.

Further, apply to half a dozen smaller companies. If you get a call for an interview, use it to hone your skills for attending interviews. If you happen to like the job, accept it, even if the salary is a little less. From there on, after about a year or two, you can look for bigger roles in larger companies.

Don't expect sympathy or for people to consider the gap as something negative. You can always tell people about motherhood and the kind of sacrifice a woman makes. Be positive about your achievements. Tell them that you want to prove your skills once again after this gap. As long as you have any negative feelings, you cannot succeed!

Best wishes

First, let me congratulate you on making a very good decision to get back to work. Many candidates are not able to take that very first step. From my experience working for an HR services company and dealing with client requirements, I can assure you that companies are very open and positive in hiring candidates who have come back after a long break as they bring a fresh lease of energy into the company. They are talented and do not come with any preconceived notions about the company. They make a great hire.

A Few Important Points:

1. Please don't compare yourself with any of your previous colleagues who continued their careers and insist on the same role/responsibility/compensation, etc. You should be open to working one scale up or down.

2. Speak to as many recruiters, ex-colleagues, and friends as possible and float your CV around on multiple job sites. Networking is very important.

3. Lastly, one very important point that I see a lot of candidates missing is adding new skills to their resume. Most candidates simply use their old CV and just add one or two new sentences and float it around. During your sabbatical, you might have added new skills, talents, and personality traits that need not be purely academic. Add these skills. They most certainly add weight to your resume.

Wishing you all the best,

Regards,
Kumar
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