The Technology Fear Nobody Talks About When Returning to Work

My biggest fear when returning to the workforce wasn't my lack of experience.  It was the fact that I didn't really know any computer programs.  You see, the internet hadn't even existed when I became a mom and left my full-time job. 

I knew how to do Microsoft Word and Microsoft Publisher and that was it.  I figured I could learn how to do marketing (the job I'd been hired to do), but the tools and software I would need to use?  That's what scared me the most.  

That was 11 years ago and technology has changed even more.  If you're returning to the workforce after some significant time away, you aren't even aware of what technology you need to know.

The Four Biggest Technology Shifts You Need to Know About 

1. AI is now a workplace tool- Tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini LLMs (Large Language Models) that are used daily in most modern workplaces for writing, research, summarizing, planning, and more. Not knowing how to use them puts you at a disadvantage. But don't worry, learning the basics takes a few hours, not months. AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude are basically a very smart assistant you can talk to in plain English. You type what you need, it responds. You can ask it to help you rewrite your resume, prep for an interview, draft a cover letter, summarize a long article, or explain something you don't understand.  But, because it isn't a human, you still need to adjust the output to sound like one.  

2. LinkedIn is now a content platform - LinkedIn isn't just an online resume anymore. It's where professionals build visibility, share ideas, and get found by recruiters. If you don't have a profile or your profile is outdated and you're not active on the platform, you're invisible to people who are actively looking for someone like you.  This is a platform where many companies are hiring from.  Take the time to create a profile, update a recent headshot and a banner.  Watch Youtube videos to help you

3. Hiring is now automated - Most companies now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) — software that reads your resume before any person does. If your resume doesn't use the right keywords from the job posting, it may never reach a real person, no matter how qualified you are. Read the job posting carefully and use its exact language. If the posting says "project management," your resume should say "project management" — not "managing projects" or "overseeing timelines." The software matches exact phrases. Keep your resume format simple. Fancy graphics, columns, and tables can confuse ATS software.

4. Collaboration happens in the cloud- Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, Slack, Zoom, Notion, Asana are just some of the software programs that modern teams use in shared digital spaces. If you've never used these tools, they feel foreign.  But most are intuitive once you spend a couple of hours inside them. 

None of this technology existed 11 years ago, and it will continue to change over the next 11 years. So if you stepped away from the workforce a few years back and feel like you landed in a different world, you kind of did. Technology just moves that fast, and it's impossible to stay on top of it all.   

The Fastest Way to Get Comfortable with Technology

Just start using them! You will not learn technology by reading about it. You learn it by opening it, clicking around, making mistakes, and trying again. It's okay to be a beginner. Every person had to start out as a beginner. 

Try an AI tool today.  Spend 20 minutes on your LinkedIn profile.  Take one free course.  LinkedIn Learning, Coursera, and YouTube all have free beginner courses on AI tools, resume writing, and job searching. One hour of focused learning changes how you feel about all of this. 

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