By skyforbes 
4 Major Don’ts for Getting a Job After a Career Break
If you want to secure an awesome job, you’ll need to be mindful not to get in your own way. Avoid these pitfalls while working toward landing a job you love.
- Don’t Undervalue Yourself
It’s easy to think that because you’ve been away that you are somehow worth less. This is not necessarily the case. You deserve to be compensated well for the expertise you bring to the table – don’t undermine that dollar value just because you took time off.
Have you recently taken a class that deepened your expertise in your field? Can you speak intelligently about current best-practices, strategies, and tactics for success in your potential role? You can make up for the time away with increased investment in yourself and your career and end up with a salary close to, if not more than what it was when you left.
For more information on how to get the best salary, see our guide How to Negotiate a Job Offer.
- Don’t Be Afraid to Do Something Different
There’s a golden opportunity to make a big jump into a new field after taking time off to raise a family. You’ll already need to do some work to prepare yourself for a return to a career – why not make it a new career if that’s what your heart desires?
Even if you’re not ready to completely shift away from your former position, perhaps you’d be happy working in a new industry. Certification courses, research into your industry of choice and a willingness to put yourself out there may be all that stands between you and a job you love.
- Don’t Forget to Research
This includes market research for salary purposes as well as research into your former industry and any new industries or roles you’re looking to pursue. Give yourself the time to test certain aspects of a new job to see if it’s really a good fit. Take a class, connect with those who are currently holding a position the same or similar to what you want to go after, and really see if it’s right for you.
In-depth research will also help you understand how to organize your resume, as well as what you need to include in your cover letters in order to show yourself off as best you can.
- Don’t Hide
It would be nice if you could stay safe behind your computer and just send out resumes and cover letters through job sites and see what hits, but in order to maximize your potential, you’re going to have to get out in the world. Go to networking events, engage in communities that are affiliated with your field or career of choice.
Hold yourself accountable and put yourself out there. Make a point to meet new people, and don’t be afraid to talk confidently about your abilities and experience when in conversation. You want the most fulfilling job you can get, which requires that you pursue the opportunity with determination and a sense of purpose.