Also, deciding on a career path after years of absence requires much more introspection. You might not know what type of job suits you now. Perhaps, after raising three noisy kids, your former job as an accountant may seem dull. On the other hand, after becoming an expert at budgeting, perhaps you're no longer intimidated by a job requiring number-crunching.

Decide What You Want

The first step in re-entering the work force is to decide what you're looking for. Do you want to work full time? Do you have a long-term plan? Are you willing to start low and work yourself up the career-advancement ladder? Analyze how you've changed in the time you've been away, and pinpoint your skills -- both those that you've used in the work force and those that you've developed since being at home, such as organizing, planning, budgeting, managing, supervising and teaching, said Lynn Rykowski in an article published in the Virginian-Pilot newspaper in Norfolk, Va.

If you've been out of the job market for a number of years, be prepared for some changes. Dr. John Fenning, managing partner of Developmental Resources  (DRI) Consulting in North Oaks, Minn., cited several obstacles that people encounter when re-entering the work force. After not having a boss for a while, many people will have trouble shifting from having complete independence to taking direction from a superior, Fennig said. Teamwork might also be a problem if you're used to doing projects their own way. You might also notice the stepped-up pace of work after having time to yourself.

Define Your Skills

One of the most visible obstacles in today's work force will be the advanced technology -- like PCs at every workstation, e-mail as a primary mode of communication and the Internet as the primary research tool. If you're unfamiliar with computers, it's a good idea to take a class or two to gain some skills. Caron Hassen, a career counselor with the Minnesota Workforce Center, said employers sometimes weed out job candidates who don't have computer skills.

However, many people already have the skills that they need to get the job they seek, Janis Krebs Smith, assistant director of career services at Old Dominion University, said in an article in the Virginian-Pilot. "All they really need to do is repackage their existing skills," she said.

Fennig encourages those without extensive education not to lose heart -- in his experience, only one in five working adults has completed a four-year college degree, one in 20 has a master's degree and one in 100 has a doctorate. However, he concedes, a degree correlates with salary.

Spice Up Your Resume

Absence from the work force often means holes in your resume. To fill in these holes, experts say, don't lie or gloss over the time you took off. Employers are looking for honesty, integrity and wisdom in employees, said Fennig, whose company works with both individuals and companies.

Candidates should explain their absence from the work force but focus on why they're ready to return. "I do not see a downside in approaching the interview in an honest and up-front fashion," Fennig said.

"Make a positive, unapologetic statement about what you were doing," says author Yana Perker in "The Resume Catalog: 200 Damn Good Examples." Fennig stresses that the employer is often more nervous about filling a position than the potential employee is about it being offered. "'Will they like me?' is a two-way street," he said.

He conceded that the biggest barrier for those re-entering the work force is the personal bias of the potential employer as to how time off was spent. Employers might wonder how committed someone who has been away from work will be, but justifying your decision not to work will often be enough to convince them of your priorities and loyalty. If not, "Don't work for a company that doesn't appreciate what you've been doing with your time off," Fennig said.

Many career consultants advise using a functional, instead of a chronological, resume. A functional resume highlights your skills instead of focusing on each job you've had. Fennig recommends using a mixture of the two, saying that the process of writing a functional resume can often prove to be a valuable job-analysis exercise for the candidate.

Also, include volunteer activities on your resume. A businessman or woman might be very interested to know that you raised $10,000 in a fund-raiser for your son's soccer team. Experts say that employers often seek mature employees, often finding them to be more reliable than their younger counterparts and with a stronger work ethic.

This is not always the case, though. While more and more companies are open to hiring older workers, the idea is not totally accepted yet, Hassen said. But with the current unemployment rate, she said, "Reality will have to set in."

Hassen also stresses the importance of attitude in looking for a job. Retirees, especially, have to have a positive attitude about themselves and their age. "If they have a preconceived notion of age discrimination, it's not going to work," Hassen said.

Take Your Time

Smith estimates that it might take six months to a year to find the right job. In the meantime, volunteer to gain needed skills at a place where you might be interested in working. That will give you a feel for a possible career, while also providing contacts to help you secure a job. Temp work is also an option for people who would like to begin making money right away without jumping into a career that they haven't fully thought through.

Find a person or a team of people to help you through the process of re-entering the work force, Fenning advises. This person or team, made up of a professional counselor, mentor, colleague, family member or any mixture thereof, can give you opinions and help you deal with the stress of job hunting.

Today's job market is wide open -- the right position is out there waiting for you. So, when that nagging question about job skills surfaces -- just answer it. You're qualified for more than you think.