Episode Details

Most Americans begin work full-time after high school or college and hope to retire at age 65 or older. That doesn’t mean, however, that we remain in the workplace continuously for 40-plus years. Along the way, many of us will stop working outside the home to care for children, parents, or other family members. You may also choose to take time off for yourself, to explore the world, or get clear on what you want from life.

Whatever your reason for putting your career on hold, one day you will likely be ready to go back to work. Jumping back into the professional world after a prolonged absence can be difficult; and the challenge grows proportionally to the time you've been away from the workforce.

This week on Find Your Dream Job, we’re talking about how to return to work at any age. Our guest is Kristin Schuchman, a career coach who works with professionals in transition, whether they’re changing careers, starting businesses, or re-launching into the workforce. As a mother who returned to school after age 40, she is especially attuned to the needs of midlife professionals in transition.

In this 33-minute episode you will learn:

• How your professional priorities may shift and change when you take time off work
• How to talk about and frame time off with prospective employers
• Why volunteering is a crucial part to stepping back into the workforce
• How to manage expectations when going back to work
• Tips for getting clear about what you want to do when you return to work

This week’s guest:

Kristin Schuchman (@aportlandcareer | LinkedIn)Career Counselor and Solopreneur Marketing CoachVicki Lind & AssociatesPortland, Ore.

Listener question of the week: 

• I paused my career for several years to raise my children. How should I explain that gap on my resume? What’s the best ways to frame this experience with a potential employer?

Answering our question this week is Aubrie De Clerck, principal at Portland-based Coaching for Clarity. If you have a question you’d like us to answer on a future episode, please contact us at communitymanager@macslist.org.

Resources referenced on this week’s show:

• Reboot Your Life: Energize Your Career and Life by Taking a Break
• Find The On-Ramp | Working Mother
• Vicki Lind & Associates
• Strong Interest Inventory
• Myers Briggs Type Indicator
• Never Eat Alone, Expanded and Updated: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time
• Aubrie De Clerck | Coaching for Clarity
• Find Your Dream Job in Portland (and Beyond)

If you have a job-hunting or career development resource resource you’d like to share, please contact Ben Forstag, Mac’s List Managing Director at ben@macslist.org.

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Thank you for li