Keeping Your Skills Current

How do you go about keeping the skills you have gained through either education, professional, or other experience current when you are not working outside the home? 

This is one of the major areas that set a lot of people back when trying to reenter the workforce after years of taking care of their households without any ‘professional’ experience to show for it.  There are some steps you can take to ensure an easier transition back into the workforce, or to make your chances of securing a work at home position much more likely.

Professional Experience- If you have worked in a profession prior to staying at home, be sure to seek out opportunities for volunteer work such as consulting for friends and family as well as local community and/or religious organizations.  You can also take refresher courses in your specific field to keep your knowledge of the profession up to date.  Consider providing free services to a business once a month to utilize your skills.

Education- If you have acquired a degree, be sure to take continuing education classes.  There are many classes available online, as well as those that are provided throughout the community.  You can locate in person classes through your local colleges and universities, as well as by calling local business organizations to find out where they attend for their specific field.

General Office Skills- General office skills are most important when trying to locate a work at home position or reenter the workforce.  Keep your typing skills up to date by utilizing online typing tests and certification sites.  There are also various sites dedicated to certifying you in many different types of software.  Certifications that are current provide a lot of qualification when an employer is considering you for a position.

Utilizing the skills and education you have gained over the years is necessary to keep them fresh and useable should you decide to reenter the workforce or work from home.  Continuing education, certification and volunteer work are optimum ways to enhance and keep your knowledge current and increase your chances of securing employment.

Posted:Friday, July 20, 2007