Relaunching your career after an extended break

On Today’s Launch

• How to relaunch a career when you’ve away for a long time

• How to avoid recruiting scams

• Subscriber Question: How can I make my resume scream “I’m management material”?!

About the Author

I’m James, Cofounder of Final Draft Resumes. I’ve been in the career consulting space for 13 years, and before that, I was a recruiter for AECOM.

I’ve helped thousands of job seekers, from industries like software engineering, IT, sales, marketing, manufacturing, and more generate job opportunities through well-written resumes that translate unique backgrounds into coherent narratives.

If you’re struggling with your resume for whatever reason, reach out - I just might be able to help!

If you’re more of a DIY person, then check out Resumatic, my free-to-try resume builder.

How to avoid recruiting scams

I get emails all the time from people asking whether a job offer is the real deal, or just a scam.

Here’s one such example (btw, this typically goes something like this: company sends you check, then claims they’ve overpaid you, then asks you to transfer some of that money back to some other account).

Folks, while the market presents a lot of opportunities, you have to stay vigilant because unfortunately, scammers are aplenty, and they often target job seekers and exploit their eagerness to find a job.

Remember that legitimate recruiters operate with professionalism and transparency. Anything not in line with that should raise concerns.

• Suspicious Online Presence: A genuine recruiter will typically have a well-established LinkedIn profile with a complete work history, recommendations, and connections. If a profile appears empty or was recently created, proceed with caution.

• Poor Communication: Grammatical errors, typos, and unprofessional language in job postings or emails may indicate a scam (though it may sometimes just indicate a not-so-professional recruiter). Remember: reputable companies have high standards for their communications.

• High-Pressure Tactics: Real recruiters won't pressure you into immediate decisions or request personal information (e.g., social security number, bank details) before a formal interview process. Hiring processes typically are drawn out over multiple weeks, so use extreme caution when someone’s trying to get you to do something fast.

• Unconventional Interviews: Job interviews will always involve either a phone or a video call. Be wary of "interviews" conducted solely through messaging platforms or text messages.

• Requests for Payment: No legitimate employer is going to ask for payment upfront for job applications, training materials, or equipment. This is one of the hallmarks of a fraud.

Protecting Yourself

Before responding to any job offer or recruiter message, research the company. Verify their official website, contact information, and online presence. If the job isn't listed on their careers page, it could be a scam.

You should also trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is. Don't ignore your intuition. If a job opportunity seems too good to be true or a recruiter's behavior raises concerns, trust your judgment and move on.

When in doubt, contact the company directly through their official channels to verify that the job posting and recruiter are indeed real.

Remember, your personal and financial information is valuable. Exercise caution, maintain a healthy skepticism, and prioritize your security throughout your job search.

Subscriber Questions

Question:

So, I've been working at [company name redacted] as a senior associate, and I'm starting to think about taking the next step. How can I make my resume scream "management material"? Any magic keywords I should be using?

Love the ambition – it's awesome that you're already thinking about leveling up.

It sounds like you're in that "been there, done that" phase with your current role, ready to slip into something a little more challenging.

The thing is, it's less about sprinkling in fancy keywords and more about showing them you've got the substance.

1) Even if you haven't officially been a manager, chances are you've helped out your teammates. Did you train a new hire? Mentored someone more junior? That's leadership. Highlight those moments on your resume – they show you can guide and support others.

2) Remember that time you streamlined a workflow or found a better way to do things in less time? Companies love someone who can spot inefficiencies and make things run smoother. Talk about those improvements and the positive impact they had. Kudos if you actually measured the impact (i.e., in percent, hours saved, dollars saved etc.).

3) Have you led any projects, big or small? Project management skills are good indicators of leadership potential. It shows you can plan, execute, and get things done.

4) If you've interacted with higher-ups, clients, or other stakeholders, mention it. Being able to communicate effectively at all levels is a key leadership trait. Maybe you were able to move a project forward despite the interests of multiple stakeholders pulling in different directions, or maybe you had to use a little diplomacy to deal with two senior leaders that had differing viewpoints.

5) Don't frame this as "taking the next step" – own it! You've already been using these skills, just not with a fancy title. Be confident in your abilities, and employers will take notice.

Remember, your career isn't over just because you took a break or stayed in one role for a while. It's time to dust off those leadership skills and rock that resume!

If you’re struggling to write content for your resume, this launch is a must read.