Getting Back to Work
Today’s guest blog is from Janice Haddon, Managing Director at Morgan Redwood and Founder of Thrive in Life 
Whilst it can be daunting going back to work, the key is to gain back your confidence and to do that you need the right tools and techniques, which you can apply to all situations going forward. The best way to tackle things is one bite at a time so here are the key areas that you can work on to gain confidence and walk back into the work world like a pro!
Self-Esteem
Self-esteem is important to your confidence; remember you are more than your current circumstances!
Being successful in your search for a new job requires positive self-esteem, knowing what you want to achieve and then balancing your requirements with self-marketing.
Goals
Firstly, you need to set yourself goals and targets to keep on track. Make a note of the things that you want to achieve.
Successful people have goals. Try recording these in one place so you can refer back to them as you progress. Goals give you focus and direction. You have the right attitude and the right goals, you will be motivated to succeed.
Self-Marketing
Getting back into the job market and finding a new job is all about self-marketing; everything that you do will be part of the process.
Create your own, market focused CV. Within this, you need to recognise and promote your own personal ‘unique selling points’.
Networking
Fewer jobs are advertised now than in previous years. Many believe it to be as low as 20% of jobs that are actually advertised. So use your existing network – your personal contacts – to see if they know of any vacancies that might be suitable for you.
Business Cards
Have personal business cards that you can give to people. It is important that people can get hold of you again and is much easier and more professional.
Telephone
Make sure you have a voicemail message recorded so people know they have called the right number. If you receive a message from someone – make sure you call back promptly and professionally.
Ensure that you have a professional email address. Also make sure that you have an auto reply set up if you are away so people know when they will hear back from you, include your telephone number in your email signature.
Powerful Communication
How you communicate with people in all parts of your life is fundamental to the experiences you have – be polite and respectful and you get positive communications back – be negative and things can spiral into arguments.
Interviews
Practice and prepare! Find out about the organization you are applying to, have questions ready to ask about the role and prepare by considering examples of your experience.
Remember that you are in control of your life. Nobody can tell you that you can’t do something and if they do – prove them wrong!
Janice Haddon has over 25 years’ experience in strategic and operational Human Resources and management consultancy. Working across a range of sectors and with start-ups to top 20 companies, Janice is a qualified coach and has a passion for integrating performance, personal positivity and wellbeing into the work place. A Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development with a BSc (Hons) in Psychology, an MA in Psychotherapy and an MBA from Henley Management College, Janice is also a Master Practitioner in NLP, a Cognitive Hypnotherapist and Psychotherapy Counsellor.