Finding a senior job after a 10 yr gap

[azalea1]

I am really struggling with my job hunt and hoping some wise MNers can help me with ideas.

I progressed quite fast in my career in my 20s and by my early 30s was Head of Marketing for a medium size tech firm (around 500 employees). After being in that role for two years, I left for maternity break which was supposed to be for 3 months. However, DC was born with a serious illness which meant a long period of hospital and home care, which continued until he was 10 years old. I could never go back to a full time job, but did a few freelance and consulting projects using my network from back then.

Now, those projects have dried up and my network has moved on to retirement or other areas. I have applied to 100+ jobs and not a single interview call. And I fully understand why - why would they hire me when there are lots of people who have steadily progressed in their career over the past 10 years?!

I have tried to take small steps to build my CV - volunteering, being on the boards of charities, etc. But I just can't find a contract, temporary or a full time job at any level and am frustrated. What can I do next?

Apply to larger organisations OP. They will have a policy for people like you (and me before I returned a year ago). Sounds like you need someone to review your cv.

Ps i am earning more than i ever did a year on and habe been promoted.

What have you been applying for?

@honoldbrist I have applied to a few in my industry (the big names) for their return-to-work programmes but haven't heard back. Let's see.

I have been thinking of getting my CV reviewed actually. Maybe ask recruiters to do that for me?

@user1846385927482658 I have mostly applied to head of marketing (startups to medium size firms), marketing manager, marketing consultant types of roles. I have also applied to roles in related fields like strategy and research.

I have just paid to have my CV re written by an amazing company. It’s incredible the difference it’s made and how much better it shows off my experience and skills. Well worth the investment.

I am actually good at writing but I’m now embarrassed at how poor my previous CV was at really showcasing and selling me!

Marketing has changed hugely in the last 10 years. You won't be up to date. Wouldn't you consider going in at a lower level? I think your expectations are unrealistic if you think you'll pick up where you left off. Do some digital marketing courses to show you're not out of touch.

It strikes me that both marketing and tech are fields that have moved on a lot in the last decade, so you might have to work quite hard to show you have current skills.
If you are able to put in some unpaid time- treat yourself as Head of Marketing of You. Get yourself on linked in, at webinars, in networking groups (Mums in Marketing? Women In Tech?), speaking up about interesting things. Make yourself as visible as you can bare! And be clear that you are available, you never know what might come of it. I’ve definitely employed contractors before on the basis that they have said interesting things in networks I belong to, and therefore they came to mind when I was in a pinch!
also you could consider adjacent fields- I think arts marketing still struggles to recruit, for instance, so you may find an in there (but the pay will be worse than tech…)

you probably know about these.

https://womenreturners.com/

Programme specifically for marketing
https://www.f1recruitment.com/2023-the-year-of-the-returner/

If you can’t get on a programme (well keep pestering because you will eventually) then I think focus on getting something that allows you to update your skills quickly - I think it’s unlikely anyone will hire you as head of marketing or consultancy after a 10 year break, however you jazz your CV, because the industry has moved on. But 18 months experience to show you are up to date and you should be fine. Obviously good to get your CV looked at also.

I agree that both marketing and tech fields have moved on a lot. I have done courses and degrees online in digital marketing (a few years ago now though), and will look into doing more recent ones. I am also quite active on social media with tens of thousands of followers. But I am a little tired now, maintaining all my accounts, without a tangible benefit - may have to get active with posts and comments again.

Don’t ask a recruitment agency to do your cv - in my experience (as a recruiting manager) they are the worst at actually selling their candidates.

Definitely show some current experience if you can from volunteering - can you run a campaign for a local charity and show the results of that? Help a new start up? A one-woman band?

What about mat leave cover or other short contracts. Good luck

I don't know anything about marketing but could it be worth asking your previous networks for advice if you're still in touch with anyone recently retired or moved on? They may be able to put you in touch with their own networks.

I'd agree with spending some money on a professional CV rewrite and maybe specialist career coaching. I would seek advice as well as trying to persevere yourself.

Perhaps some short term contracting would get you out there at a less senior, long term level? Rebuild some skills and look to move back up in a few years. You could be looking for re-entry schemes alongside.

I second this - I had been looking all year after 12 years out, getting plenty of interviews but no job until I applied for two very large companies who both had big bits of blurb in their ads about how they viewed the whole picture rather than recent experience.

I hope you get something soon OP . My field and circumstances are different - worked part- time rather than having a large gap .

As someone who is rubbish at application forms / cvs and lacks confidence , those that have mentioned cv writers / coaches , where do you find good ones ? There seems so many about / are they industry specific ? Thanks .

I'm not marketing but try universities (jobs.ac.uk) and education sector.

You may need to apply for more junior roles. You were only head of marketing for two years and that was over 10 years ago. Try for the step down, and work your way back up again.

Have sent you a pm.

Could you take an entry level role ish a start up for 12 months. A large organisation for a year and then set up on your own?

If I was looking at your CV I would want to see that you had turned up to work for a year or 2 to get back in the game before giving a head of role in any organisation.

I have seen colleagues so this after similar career breaks.

Aim high but you might have to short term do some roles you have done before to get recent experience.

@witmum I have applied to a lot of entry level jobs (the kind of roles I got into first after uni) but no luck either. Most startups seem to prefer younger managers (with some exceptions of course) in their 20s and 30s. I am absolutely happy to take on short term roles or maternity contracts (in fact I prefer them), but no luck with those applications either. Maybe I am better off applying to larger companies as PP said.