Whether you took time off to care for a new child, a medical leave, or whatever the reason, returning to work doesn’t have to be hard. Here are a few ways to make the transition a bit easier:

1. Get in touch with your network.  Don’t be afraid to reach out to your contacts to see if they know of any opportunities in your field. Start with a LinkedIn message, a coffee chat, or any other way to “catch up.”

2. Start networking.  Now is the time to build your network. Attend industry events, spouse’s dinners, join a hobby club, or anything else that you see yourself enjoying while making new connections.  

3. Enlist a recruiting firm. A recruiter can help you with your resume to close or explain any gaps in your employment.

4. Try an internship or a temp job. Temp employment, or contract placement, is a way for companies to see how competent of an employee you are. If you do well and there’s room for you on the team, the contract role may just become a permanent role.

5. You can also use this as an opportunity for a career change. Is your job prior to your break what you want to continue to do? This is another point at which a recruiting firm can be your best friend. A recruiter can guide you in relating your previous experience to your new desired field and help make the perfect match between you and your next employer.

If you’ve taken a few years off or more, be prepared to start at a lower level than where you were before your break.

What are some other ways to job search after a break?