I've been off work for more than 2 years due to an injury, and need to get back to work. How should I start?

Question

It was an overuse work injury, and I'm afraid that no one will want to hire me now. I also have some physical limitations that will prevent me from being able to return to my former field of work.

Are there any online or other resources for finding out what type of work is available with my physical limitations?

If I find a job I think I could do, how should I go about seeking a job description to find out if it's something I'm capable of doing?

Also, how should I explain my abscence from the work force in my resume, on applications, and if an interviewer asks about it?

Another question: I need a job & money NOW - if I just take whatever I can find at even minimum wage, and then somehow manage to find something else that pays better in a short period of time, will leaving for the better pay (with notice, of course) reflect badly on me, or damage my future career prospects?

Serious answers are greatly appreciated, thank you.

Answer 1

If you're female, the employer will assume that you were off having a baby. If you're male, they'll assume you were in prison. I know it sounds like I'm joking but it's totally true. If they ask you why you were off you can tell them that if was a personal matter.

Build your resume, look at your experience and look at every detail of the jobs you've done. Have you managed people - even as a foreperson on a project? You have experience managing workers. Have you called suppliers? You have liason experience. A new sort of resume that employers like is the skills based resume. What that means is that you list what you've done at the top under classifications and then your education and experience in one line entries only going back seven years. If you have an unemployment center in your area, they should be able to help you with literature.

Lastly, it's always easier to get a job when you have a job. Do you necessarily have to take min. wage? If you are in a low paying job they will be expecting you to look for more money and no one blames you for taking the oppourtuities where you can if you don't leave them hanging. I.E. proper notice.

This is a huge topic. Your area may have programs for people who are re-entering the workforce after injury - career training, If you're in the US try unemployment. In Canada HRDC has a program where they train you on grant basis - anything from planting trees to marketing.

Good luck.

Answer 2

The biggest drawback to taking a less paying job now, is it limits your ability to look for another job. If you have some skills, office, sales, warehouse, cooking, baking, etc. You might try a temp service, you will get more experience from similar jobs, and they don't care that you have been off work. Don't ever volunteer, your limitations, physical, or otherwise. Business people are not interested in helping you. They are looking for help for them. You don't have to lie, just don't be forward with the info., Good Luck!