Securing your ideal job doesn’t happen overnight and involves a lot more than just applying for a job. Maybe you set yourself a New Year goal to return to work this year or decided that this is the year you’re going to change jobs or set-up your own business. Maybe you’ve got yourself a plan together, applied for a couple of roles … and then low and behold, it’s the school holidays already!
So if you are changing your focus from Job Finder to Chief Entertainer for the half term holidays, here are a few ways of how to use the half term holidays to boost your job search:
Use the change in routine to gain a different perspective
School holidays usually means a change to your family’s daily routine – maybe there isn’t a need to get up so early, maybe you’ve having a change of scenery visiting friends or relatives or having a short break. Use the changes to your normal family week, to reflect on what type of role you are looking for and review what family life will be like once you’ve secured your ideal job. The change in perspective gives you an opportunity to check whether what you want can be made to work for you all as a family and, if not, make any necessary adjustments to your plans.
Network
During the holidays you may have a chance to meet up with people that you’re not normally in contact with during term time. This gives you an opportunity to network. Let people that you know (and any new people that you meet along the way) know what you are looking for and how they can help you. Most jobs are filled by informal networks – someone who knows someone… and we are all so connected. Even if you think an individual doesn’t know anyone in your chosen field, the chances are they might know someone who does.
It also helps to talk to people about what you are planning to do as this helps to grow your confidence and ability to talk about yourself in a job interview situation.
Child-care during school holidays
If you have been a stay at home parent, what plans will you need to put in place for looking after your children during future school holidays? It may be that your ideal job will be working term-time only and that you’ll be able to have time off at the same time as your children (although these roles might take longer to find and not be what you really want to do). If not, take this holiday time to plan what arrangements you will need to make to care for your children during their school breaks. Are there local activity-based holiday clubs? Can you ask other family members or friends to get involved with childcare or find a childminder? Can you work from home? Finding affordable and trustworthy childcare for school holidays can feel like an obstacle. Look at what other working parents do and ask around for suggestions that might work for you and your family.
Prepare your family for your impending change
If you are spending more time together during the school holidays, it could be an ideal time to talk to all members of the family about the changes you are planning to make so that everyone can start making adjustments and being prepared for when you do start your new job. For young children, it would be helpful to explain in a child-appropriate way about what is going to change and how it might impact on them. For older children and other adults it may be useful to talk about the changes and how they can help you make it a smooth transition, for example, getting everyone involved in doing more domestic chores to free up some of your time.
Don’t be surprised if everyone isn’t as enthusiastic as you are. As humans, we can be quite negative about any change, particularly if it is going to affect us. Give everyone time to adjust and clearly explain why it’s now time for you to make these changes.
If you need help with your boosting your job search, check out ways in which Career-Mums can help you at www.career-mums.co.uk/returners.
