Re-entering the workforce after a long absence can feel daunting. It’s a situation I’ve seen many candidates face while in my role as a recruiter at Beyond Recruitment. Although jumping back into the job market can be a daunting experience, it’s helpful to see your situation as common, not unusual.
Long absences from the workforce happen for more than one reason: unemployment after a redundancy, illness, parental leave, life challenges, being new to New Zealand, or recently graduating from university. Having a gap in your work history isn’t about your age; sometimes it's just one of life’s circumstances.
Whatever your reason for a gap in your work history, I want to assure you that your experiences, both paid and unpaid, are valuable. Here are tips on preparing yourself for re-entering the workforce and highlighting your unique experiences when applying for roles.
Remember you're not Alone
If you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, it’s easy to feel like you’re the only one trying to find your footing again and that everyone else has themselves sorted. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. As of December 2024, around 385,000 people in Aotearoa were considered underutilised in the labour market. That includes those who are unemployed, underemployed (working but wanting more hours), or keen to work but not currently job hunting or available to start.
Women are particularly affected, making up the majority of this group. In fact, one in seven women in the workforce is underutilised, and wāhine Māori face even greater barriers, with unemployment nearly twice the rate of all women.
These statistics are a reminder that many people are experiencing similar challenges. Your skills and time are needed, and there are definitely path savailable to re-engage with work in a way that suits your life now.
Clarify your Career Direction & Motivations
We encourage people considering re-entry in the workforce to avoid jumping straight in with a blitz of job applications. Instead of applying to every available job, it helps to take stock of your experience and how you really want from your next position. Take time to reflect on your transferable skills, interests and values.
This isn’t an overnight process, but it helps you identify roles where you can add the most value and will enjoy working in. Spend time browsing job adverts to get an idea of what is available in your discipline or industry and which roles and companies appeal to you. Doing this will make your job search more focused and effective.
Every Experience adds Value to your Resume
No matter why you've stepped away from the workforce, you've gained skills that employers care about. The key is knowing how to frame that experience in a way that’s relevant to the role you’re targeting.
Voluntary positions, community involvement, and unpaid work all demonstrate essential competencies that employers are looking for, like leadership, problem-solving, organisation skills, and teamwork. In other words, these experiences show you have the soft skills necessary to work effectively as part of a team, qualities that stand out to employers in a competitive market.
If you’ve been raising a family
Don’t underestimate the professional value of managing a household. Think about all the planning, budgeting, multitasking, and conflict resolution you’ve done. These are core competencies in any workplace.
Resume example: “Managed a household of four, including coordinating school and extracurricular schedules, budgeting for household expenses, and running a small side business selling handmade crafts online.”
If you’re a recent graduate
Even without years of job experience, you likely have plenty to draw from, like final year projects, internships, volunteer roles, or part-time work, all which show initiative and skills.
Resume example: “Led a group capstone project to develop a digital marketing strategy for a local non-profit, resulting in a 20% increase in their social media engagement.”
If you’ve been caring for someone
Caregiving is demanding, emotionally intelligent work. It requires patience, time management, and resilience, which are all qualities that employers value, particularly in people-focused roles.
Resume example: “Provided daily care and medical support for an elderly relative while managing appointments, liaising with healthcare providers, and maintaining detailed care records.”
If you’ve taken time to explore another path
Maybe you travelled, started a business, or pursued a creative project, or did volunteering. These experiences show curiosity and initiative(and perhaps most importantly) a willingness to step outside your comfort zone.
Resume example: “Spent 18 months travelling and volunteering in South East Asia, where I developed strong intercultural communication skills and helped coordinate community clean-up initiatives.”
Of course, if you’ve been involved in any form of structured work in the past 1-2 years be it a short-term contract, casual role, internship, or volunteer opportunity – it definitely deserves a place on your resume.
My Own Volunteering Journey
I’ll share a personal story to illustrate an example. I had the privilege of volunteering for our local Toy Library Committee, a community service that relies entirely on unpaid contributors, many of whom are parents of young children using the service.
As volunteer committee members, we were all-hands-on-deck with a variety of tasks: marketing and promotion, attracting new members, applying for funding and grants, repairing toys, managing finances, and reporting.
These are all job-relevant skills. Beyond the practical knowledge I gained, volunteering in this space has helped me demonstrate qualities like professionalism, self-motivation and a range of soft skills. If I were applying for roles in the future, I would certainly include this experience on my resume.
The Non-Financial Benefits of Volunteering
Besides helping you with re-entering the workforce after a long absence, working in community-oriented or voluntary positions is beneficial in other non-financial ways.
The sense of achievement, mental well-being, and contribution to your community can be deeply fulfilling. Volunteer roles can also renew your confidence, which makes a big difference when stepping back into paid employment. You might also use someone involved with your volunteer role as an up to date employment or character reference.
Finding Volunteer Opportunities
If you’re looking for ways to build your experience, New Zealand platforms like Student Job Search and Do Good Jobsoffer great opportunities to build your resume. Volunteering often allows flexibility, so you can work in a role that suits your existing skills or explore something new. You might use this as a chance to stretch your abilities. Even in a volunteering role, taking on leadership responsibilities, or developing new technical skills can boost your employability.
If in Doubt, Highlight your Skills
You may already have experiences that deserve more recognition on your resume. I encourage you to highlight them prominently. Think in terms of ‘transferable’ skills and knowledge that can be carried over into a new role, and describe these skills in a similar language to the job description you’re applying to.
Connect with Beyond Recruitment
At Beyond Recruitment, we advocate for job hunters like you by encouraging hiring managers to value the diverse experiences you bring. We are here to support you on your journey in re-entering the workforce. Please feel free to contact me or our team for guidance on finding your next role.
