I haven't worked in a long time- what do I say in an interview?

There are many factors that make it overwhelming and intimidating to return to work after a pause. It's a life adjustment, scheduling challenge and fear about starting something new. What can add to the challenge is if we haven't done anything to check in with ourselves during the time we are away from paid work. So, to avoid the "what do I say in an interview?" question, prepare BEFORE you need to interview. 

Life gets busy, we raise children, we care for sick parents, we move, run errands, attend events for the children, and try to keep everyone fed and in clean clothes. It's hard and time moves fast. Before you know it you are either needing or wanting to go back to paid work and haven't given yourself, or your career, one minute of thought in 1, 5, 10 years. 

You can prioritize yourself during this time so that you don't have to go through the stress, worry and aggravation that can come from a job search when everything is on the line. If you do small things to be ready whenever the time comes, the emergency, the frustration and the stress will lessen. This exercise is focused on writing about you as a person on career pause. The questions are framed as they would be in an interview to help you first comprehend that what you are doing is important. What you are doing matters and there is a ton of value in it. However, if you haven't done the work to understand it, there is no way you will be able to communicate it to a potential employer through your resume or interview process. Take 15 minutes a day, or if that is too much, start with 5 minutes.

Schedule it in and make you the priority. You might not need it today, but don't put it off. The time will probably come when you will be so grateful you did this work when it wasn't an emergency. A side benefit is that on the days when it's particularly hard for you to really see the value in what you are doing, or you feel like you could use a boost, answer one of the questions below. Check in with a friend and share stories about something you are proud of, anything to fill you with some confidence and belief in the work you are doing. It's valuable work and sometimes if we don't get a paycheck it's hard for us to believe that, but there is true value in it. Write it down, celebrate it and remember it.

If you would like more on this topic and could use some other ideas about planning for your career when you are ready for it. Check out this post on tracking and celebrating your work as someone on a career pause. 

If you are in a position where you need to interview right away, I have a free resource that will help you be ready to interview. Click here to get the free download. 

 Schedule some time every week to answer questions like these. Before you know it you will be feeling incredible about the work you are doing, fill in gaps if you realize there are some areas that need work, and will have a lot of great information already prepared if/when the time comes to embark on a job search.