People returning to work after a long break

LittleSnowBear

There is nothing you can do but keep trying!

adult courses and voluntary (sp) work at least get you out of the house and keep you motivated! When I was on JSA for a bit I did an adult course, a couple of Alevels in the evening, it stopped my brain dripping out of my ears! some courses you can also get at a reduced rate or even free if your on benefits as well.

Anyone returning to work can also try the mystery shopping in the "up your income" section you get out of the house for a bit and make a few extra pounds, you can also put this on your CV too, it has helped me from getting too depressed!

red_devil

LittleSnowBear wrote: »

There is nothing you can do but keep trying!

adult courses and voluntary (sp) work at least get you out of the house and keep you motivated!

I am not denying that. However people who havent worked for a long time in paid work are at a disadvantage! The old saying its easuer to get a job when you have one is true.

timmmers

I recently applied for a job and was told I didn't have up to date qualifications, this was strange since it was the exact same job I did for 9 years at the same company. The fact is that in the time I've been away from full time work things have changed slightly and my years with them and prior to that since I was 16 isn't quite enough anymore.
What annoys me is that I know I can do this job, and probably many others I see IF I had a short brush up course to bring my quals up to current day levels. Nothing has changed in the job, just the paperwork and health and safety stuff etc. , and some computerising of procedures (no problem since puters have been my hobby for decades out of work time).

The govt would rather pay me JSA than provide a short trade course to bring me up to date so I could walk into work instantly and pay them some juicy tax ...madness.
I'd even pay for it if there were such an animal.

Any qualification or experience is waste and should be recycled, not just paper and tin cans. It takes years to build up after all. A teacher working in a kitchen at a school when there is a shortage...doesn't that tell us all we need to know as far as how sad and silly this govt can be? :mad:

t

asman71

Don't get me started on how difficult it is to get a teaching job!!! But I do have a few thoughts to add to this thread.

Regarding going back to work after a long break, it can be incredibly difficult, even soul destroying. I was in that position not too long ago, and while I would love to tell you all that having a focused approach helped me to get a job, in the end it was luck that got me the interview.

However, my focused approach DID get me in the right mindset, and it did boost my confidence - meaning that I didn't give up entirely.

By focused approach, I mean this: taking a long hard look at what direct skills you have, what transferable skills you have, what experience you have that could demonstrate both of these types of skills. This can be paid, voluntary, or even placement experience while taking a course.
Next, you really think hard about what it is that you would like to do - being realistic, and not giving yourself impossible targets.
Then, you get yourself an application form for that type of job - not yet to apply for it, but to see the person spec sheet. This is gold dust - it tells you exactly what employers for that type of job are looking for.
Then you see if you can actually fulfill ALL the essential and most of the desirable aspects. If not, you get yourself re-trained.

The problem is, many employers will prefer to offer the job to someone "in-house", or better, consolidate the workforce they have to cover that gap. E.g., giving out those hours and/or tasks to the team they already have.

On re-training, I found that this can really help to boost your confidence and communication skills, and it keeps you up to date. Actually, I got my job because someone who was on my course, who was lucky enough to find a job right after actually remembered me, and so I was called in for an interview. I still had to earn that job on my own, but the point is, if you re-train, dont sit in the background - try to stand out, you never know who is going to think of you later on!!!!

GOOD LUCK ALL!!!