our Journal
One of the huge benefits of relaunching yourself after a career break is that it is the perfect opportunity for a personal re-brand.
You will definitely have changed, the professional landscape is likely to have changed and you are probably going to need to build new networks or at least re-engage with old ones.
As much as it shouldn’t be the case in this day and age, sadly there can still be judgement about 'gaps' in your CV, but a strong identity can significantly help bridge those gaps.
It’s a great time to ask yourself:
- What do I want to be known for, to stand for?
- What do I do well?
- What are my values, my passions, what drives me?
- How am I unique?
Growing your personal brand is a process and I will readily admit that I am still very much at the stage of asking myself some of those questions after my own career break.
The great thing though is that it’s fundamentally about being authentically YOU. That shouldn’t be so hard!
The more challenging part can be how you portray that to the rest of the world, or at least your target audience. That requires the confidence to put yourself out there and tell your story in an engaging way.
That may not come easily to some, and it’s not always easy to be heard in today’s crowded and noisy online and offline world. However, I personally believe that if you stay true to yourself, positive and consistent you will ultimately connect with the people and opportunities that are meant for you…and that’s when the magic happens.
