Returning to the Workforce after a Decade

Read time: 3 minutes

In this edition of the Behind The Wins Newsletter, we delve into the inspiring story of Liliya Eustace.

The Initial Struggle

After Liliya worked ~6 years in Logistics and Operations, she took an 11-year break  from the workforce to care for her family. During that time, she decided to get an Associate degree in accounting, hoping to easily pivot to this new field once the right time comes. When that time came, she confronted with:

• Her inner insecurities around being out of the workforce for so long, and only having theoretical knowledge and no practical work experience

• The ATS system: She kept submitting her resume to what felt like a black hole. 

“It was like a humanless gatekeeper that didn’t give me, a recent accounting graduate, a chance to talk to the real person in the company.”

A Pivotal Moment

She decided to put herself out there, regardless of how she felt about her chances of getting a new role in the current job market.

She attended her community college career fair and met with several companies.

She reached out to different connections, letting them know she was looking for her first accounting role. One of those connections recommended Wassia’s Strategic Achievers community, which she joined shortly after.

The Breakthrough

At the NOVA Community College career fair, Liliya proactively approached Van Metre Companies. Although she lacked the 1-2 years of accounting experience they sought for an open staff accountant role , she expressed a strong interest in joining the company. One of the recruiters was impressed by her initiative, and encouraged her to apply. 

This led to a quick turnaround, with Liliya receiving a phone interview soon after submitting her application. She was called back for a second interview.

In preparation for this next crucial step, Liliya attended a Strategic Achievers community webinar. There, she gained valuable insights from Wassia and other group members, on interview techniques and potential questions for the kind of role she was pursuing. This significantly boosted her confidence.

With a new level of preparedness, Liliya attended the second interview with the accounting team. The outcome was better than expected: within a week, she received a job offer. It was for a junior accountant position, a level below the accountant role she had originally eyed, but Liliya accepted it with enthusiasm. The process, from attending the career fair to landing the job, took just about a month and a half, a testament to her proactive approach and the power of community-driven support in career progression.

The Learned Wisdom

• Do not limit your job search to only online resources. 

Find ways to reach out to recruiters directly to bypass the ATS system. They get to see directly what kind of person you are and what energy you would bring to the company. 

None of that can be communicated effectively through emails, resumes, or cover letters. 

• Joining the community of like-minded people.

It will help to get an objective perspective on your strengths and weaknesses, cheer you through failures and victories. 

Plus you will have the opportunity to hear about others’ experience and learn from it.

The Current Chapter

Liliya is settling into her new role, and still a part of the Strategic Achievers community!

Thank you for reading, and big thanks to Liliya for sharing her story with us! 🙌

If you have a career story you would like to share with others, submit it here.

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Cheers,

Wassia