SAHM wants to go to work but am i unemployable?!

dobs

Hi, after seven years at home of being able to look after our three children due to money and social factors i would really like to return to work. Hubby works shifts all round the clock and also these change at the last moment so getting a part time job to fit in with this would be a big problem. I would have to work it around nursery and school as well!

The other big problem is that i worry i am unemployable, i have been out of work for 7 yrs, have no skills to offer. I worked at an opticians doing clerical work for yrs but it was an old fashioned place that didnt even have a computer or a proper till (just a box we had to write on!).

Is it likely in this day and age if i went for a shop job i'd get one as there must be so many that can use a till etc. I did think of working at a charity shop to gain experience for a few months first, but the new one that opened recently were asking for people experienced in retail and till operating! Does anyone know if there is any help getting stay at home mums back into work?I'm not on benefits or anything so i don't know if i can get any advice/help back into workplace etc. Also just the thought of an interview makes me break out into a sweat! Any advice very much appreciated thanks!

ferien_uk

You don't need experience to work in a shop, although they will always say this! Most tills work differently, so anybody working in a new place would have to have some element of till-training.

You could look into college courses to develop your skills. Are you after something to start immediately, or would you be prepared to invest time/ money in training in something?

You could look into working with children, seeing as you have experience with your own.

Interviews might make you nervous at first, but if you start going on a few, it won't be as bad.

DCFC79

As ferien says shops or supermarkets dont tend to require employees to have experience, check the websites for the business that are close to you for job vacancies as most places put they're vacancies online

Naughty_Sausage

hi

you are not unemployable. Even your years at home can result in some useful experience (prioritisation, patience, communication skills, caring skills).

All I would say is that of your other half works funny shifts, you would probably need to get a job with very regular hours.

It may take longer to find such a job but they are out there!

A college course / evening school course could be beneficial but an employer may offer to support you in this (NVQs etc).

dobs

Thanks, i wouldn't mind training at all, though i can't afford to pay for it myself and still have an 18 month old. I have thought about working with kiddies but at 37 worry that i am too old?All the ladies at the nurseries i've seen are all so young!Plus they all want someone with qualifications which i can't sfford to pay for yet am not entitled to help.
I find the thought of not being able to go back to work due to hubbys shifts etc until my youngest starts school v depressing, i need the outside interest after all these years but its finding something i can do (currently i only have two mornings a wk in term time free when little one is in nursery). Can you go to the job centre if your aren't on benefits only i get confused by it all, sorry for a probably thick question!

Naughty_Sausage

I have seen some childcare stating that they do not require experience - they will put you through the training (although the money is not too great at this stage).

With regard to your age, do not worry about that at all. Firstly, discrimination on the grounds of age is now illegal. Secondly, we loved our nursery from our first visit precisely because the ladies were a 'little bit older' I would by far prefer to leave my kids with a 37 mom of three than a 17 year ols straight from college. That is probably discriminatory in itself but I am trying to show you that your age may work in your favour!

dobs

Thanks for your replies, i think i may start then by checking the supermarket vacancies online as suggested, i guess if i don't have any success i can look into training option. My mum has said she would have the kiddies a couple of evenings a wk and as i said i have three hours twice a week spare. Ideally some sort of job where they call you in if they are short staffed would be great as i never know for sure what hubbys exact shifts will be (works on trains) but i could work at short notice maybe if anywhere does that sort of thing.

vikingaero

Mrs Viking is in the same boat. 7+ years out of the working system, wants a part time job, etc etc and found that there are a lot of vacancies for lunch cover at local private nurseries.

ferien_uk

Look out for Christmas temp vacancies in shops. Even if you can only commit reguarly to a small amount of hours, you can do overtime on top of that when you have more hours to spare.

When I used to work in a shop, there were people from aged 16 to some in their 50s, so age shouldn't be a problem. Plus at 37 you are not quite old yet! Not even middle-aged.

Also, think positive. It seems one of your biggest barriers will be lack of confidence. There's no reason why you shouldn't be able to find work, so make sure you don't let your doubts stop you!

When I was a kid my Mom worked part-time in a supermarket stacking shelves at night. It worked for her because we'd be in bed and my Dad would be home by this time. She could catch up on sleep when we were at school. I think she usually worked from about 9pm til 2am. This might not work for you, but it's something to think about.

Louise22

a lot of employers have things called zero hour contracts whereby you can work more when it suits you - you should also try betting shops, as you dont need any experience at all and are great fun to work in!! i worked in one when i was at uni and it was fantastic - i was on a zero hours contract and it suited both parties.

best of luck!

sazzie_sue

Hi Dobs,

Hope your well, working in a nursery would not be impossible, and your not too old at all. I am a qualified nursery nurse, and the last place i worked we had lots of older women some 40+.
Some Private nursery will train you for a nvq level 2 for free but it does require long hours/poor pay. If you want to work with kids have you though about applying for local play schemes or to ask at local schools in your area to work in the after school club or breakfast club.
I have seen a few adverts around for after school club usually about 15 hrs a week between 3pm-6pm and they don't require experience, I think the fact your are a mother your self will go in your favour a lot and some ads I have seen pay £6+ per hour. A good place to find these are on the job centre website.

Good Luck.

SS!

P.S if you are intrested in this now best time to apply with the kids going back to school in sept