Coming back to work after a long time away? Here’s some tips for a smooth transition

People in the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector can experience time away from the workforce for a variety of reasons such as parental leave, health conditions, family support, travel and many others. 

Whatever the reason, returning to work after a period of unemployment can be challenging, both in terms of readjusting to the world of work, securing work, explaining the period of unemployment on a resume or in a cover letter, or addressing it in interviews. 

The biggest thing to remember is that for many hiring managers, how you spent your time away from work is more important than the fact that you had time away. As long as you have a sound explanation for being away, and demonstrate a willingness to work, and a commitment to your role, many managers will be happy to proceed with an application. 

Don’t try and hide the break

When employers see an extended period of unemployment they will typically ask about it. Being prepared to answer the question can help to explain the situation clearly and professionally and move forward in your job search.

For those applicants who feel comfortable addressing the employment gap on their resume, a short explanation of why/how the last job ended is appropriate. This can be as short as a bullet point under the job title, for example: 

Early Childhood Teacher – Jolly Jumpers Early Learning Centre

June 2018 – December 2020 

• Service closed due to declining enrolments during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

You might like to add any activities, professional development or volunteering work you did during the time you were away from work, for example: 

Early Childhood Teacher – Jolly Jumpers Early Learning Centre

June 2018 – December 2020 

• Service closed due to declining enrolments during the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• Used employment gap to complete additional training including courses from Early Childhood Australia’s Learning Hub, and courses from the Australian Childhood Foundation. 

Address unemployment in the cover letter

The cover letter is the first opportunity to introduce yourself to an employer, and is a good place to be upfront about gaps in employment. 

After outlining your experience, qualifications and skills, add a paragraph about the unemployment situation in your own words, for example: 

I have been seeking a new opportunity since leaving my last position as an educator for Smithtown Early Learning in 2019. I left this role to follow my partner to the Northern Territory as part of his deployment with the Australian Defence Force. 

Use the interview to be upfront about your employment history

An interview is a good sign that an employer is interested in employing you, and that your time away from the workforce isn’t a barrier for them.

Even if you have addressed your employment gaps in your cover letter or resume, it will likely come up again in the interview. Candidates should be prepared to answer these questions comfortably and honestly, while maintaining a positive and reflective tone. 

If your previous experience was negative – for example, you resigned from your job because of bullying, and you’ve experienced anxiety since then which has kept you out of the workforce – it’s important to avoid placing the blame on your previous employer. 

You might be asked a question like “I see you’ve not been working for about 8 months. Can you tell me more about that?” 

A good response would be: 

“Absolutely. In 2020 I moved from New South Wales to Queensland so that the pandemic would have less of an impact on my family. When we arrived, my mother got COVID and then had some complications. I took some time out from working to support her, and also to settle my children into their new schools, and our new community.” 

Whatever the reason for being away, there has never been a better time to come back to ECEC, and make a difference in the lives of children and families.