Back to work after 20 years at home!!!

Sallys_Savings

CannyAnnie wrote:

Hi Sally

I was a stay at home mum for 16 years from 1978 until 1994. (I was a junior manager in a government department before starting the family). I don't regret taking the time off to be with the children, you can't replace that time, you just have to trade it for the job you might have had, but for me there was no contest. Then I did the party planning, childminding etc, just like you, then for the FOUR YEARS up to 1994 I tried to get job after job, got a few interviews, and failed at that stage owing to lack of confidence and no up to date qualifications. Then I took the plunge, plundered my meagre savings and went on a basic admin college course with WP and typing plus an NVQ1 in Business Admin. Before I'd finished the course I was offered a temp job in a local government office, one thing has led to another, and now 12 years later I am in permanent full time employment, earning nearly 19k per year with a responsible job, and never happier.

I have NEVER regretted that NVQ1, I tell people I have an NVQ in "sticking stamps on envelopes" but it has come in so useful, you have no idea. Also, I've bumped into a couple of the others from the course over the years, and all of them have landed and kept decent jobs. I live in the NE of England where employment isn't great. So GO FOR IT, you won't regret it. The best of luck to you. Oh by the way - I was 41 when I went back into the workplace - so don't be daunted, if you can bring up 4 children you can do anything!

Cheers Annie

Great to hear of a success , its lovely to find out about people who have gone back to work and made it!!....well done Annie

*fingers crossed* one day that will be me.

Thank you all so much for taking the time to reply to my post, it really has made so much difference to me.

Savvy_Sue

Sallys_Savings wrote:

My sister came around earlier to help me with my CV, crikey I didn't realise she was talking about me Shes mentioned things that I wouldn't of bothered putting down as I wouldnt of thought they were relevant.

Oh yes, put all them down. That first full-time job I got was landed pretty much exclusively on my experience on the PTA, helping with out of school clubs and voluntary work with the church. It looks a lot better than that on my CV, of course.

In fact, before I moved, my boss was looking at CVs for applicants for my job and said "This one looks scary!" I said "Imagine what mine must look like!" :rotfl:Which is definitely the attitude to take: not "how little I've done" but "Wow, aren't I fantastic to do all this while bringing up children!" Don't listen to DS2, who asked "How did you get to be so important?" when I told the boys I'd got a job managing a team of 6 secretaries ... :rotfl:

tiff

We do have a tendency to put ourselves down, although I've had several part time jobs since having the children I dont count them as "proper" jobs for some reason but will definitely put them down on my CV.

Lady_E

I know how you must be feeling ...

I was working in a very stressful working environment before I had DS1 and DS2 , and then went part time . I could not combine my working life with my home life and then decided to have a stress free job (allegedly) at a local high street store. My brain has gone to mush and the worst part of it , is the politics involved in my stress free job is getting to me . I now plan to take some time out, and then as soon as DS2 is ready for full time education , update my computer skills via some sort of course . I have heard employers like something called the" European Computer Licence" or something like that , is that a useful qualification ? I would be looking at office work in the long term .

Good luck to the OP , you can do it . :T

skintas_2

ihave taken time out to have my 2 sons 4 and 6. been doin the odd job, bar work, shop work, supervising of yellow pages been trying for a job since sept, had 3 false starts. finally got a call today start friday, just phoning up and doing surveys , its a start. when you have a job you can get a job , when you havent got a job you cant get a job.........and im wokring over xmas, paid weekly........ my partner is off work to have to kids, wish me luck...........

CannyAnnie_3

Lady_E wrote:

I know how you must be feeling ...

I was working in a very stressful working environment before I had DS1 and DS2 , and then went part time . I could not combine my working life with my home life and then decided to have a stress free job (allegedly) at a local high street store. My brain has gone to mush and the worst part of it , is the politics involved in my stress free job is getting to me . I now plan to take some time out, and then as soon as DS2 is ready for full time education , update my computer skills via some sort of course . I have heard employers like something called the" European Computer Licence" or something like that , is that a useful qualification ? I would be looking at office work in the long term .

Good luck to the OP , you can do it . :T

The ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) is a VERY useful qualification and widely recognised by employers. It is more difficult than CLAIT, but it really gives you a good grounding, specially if you already have some computer skills. It has 7 (I think) modules which can take at different times, there is one theory one and 6 practical on WP, spreadsheet, database, file management, email and presentation skills. You should be able to find out about it at your local tech college, or you can have a look online at http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=nav.5829

Cheers Annie

robnye

CannyAnnie wrote:

The ECDL (European Computer Driving Licence) is a VERY useful qualification and widely recognised by employers. It is more difficult than CLAIT, but it really gives you a good grounding, specially if you already have some computer skills. It has 7 (I think) modules which can take at different times, there is one theory one and 6 practical on WP, spreadsheet, database, file management, email and presentation skills. You should be able to find out about it at your local tech college, or you can have a look online at http://www.bcs.org/server.php?show=nav.5829

Cheers Annie

my wife is in a similar position, she has worked parttime the past 6 years at our youngest daughters school, she has applied for a couple of parttime jobs that would have fitted in very well with school holidays.
when she didnt hear anything about her applications, she became rather despondent.

we looked into all encompassing courses at college and she settled on the ECDL one, whilst it is hard, she has passed the first 2 modules fairly easily...... confidence is the main thing........

ECDL is well looked upon by employers (recent press articles) as having a coverage of all the widely used office programs, excel, word, access, powerpoint and in depth enough to show that the person is not a waste of space.....

the course my wife is doing, is 30 weeks long (can be done using self tuition) and covers ECDL part 1 and part 2, part 1 is 3 modules, 2 practical and 1 theory, the second part is 4 practical modules

so good luck

Crazychik

My step-mum stayed at home for nearly 20yrs bringing up her 2 kids from previous marriage plus my younger brother n sister, In the last 4 or 5 yrs has gone back to work. She started helping out at the local school, cleaning or kitchen work. Just to get her back into the swing of things of working. And whilst the kids was at school, she went back to college to better herself.

She now works in a local NHS day centre and thoroughly enjoys it. She got turned down quite a few times for jobs (prior to this job) cos of her age and lack of experience, but she was determined and got back out there.

Doesnt matter how old you are, whether you've been in work and looking for a new job, or been out of work for a long period, its all very daunting.
I started a new job 4 weeks ago, Im still finding my feet and still feel nervous at times. In time - we will over come this and think what was all the fuss about.

Would be worth looking at your local college or education centre, for ways of getting quick NVQ certificates, or quick courses to improve your knowledge of today's technology etc - just to make your CV look a bit healthier. That also might give you the confidence to sell yourself more, and dont just accept the first job which comes along

My mum is a yr off from retirement, she walked into a new job early on this yr, but hates it and has spent the last few months looking elsewhere. Mum is very young looking for her age, and always sends a photo with every application, so interviewers arent put off by her age. She's now waiting for reply's.

Good luck

Good luck

MissMoneypenny

Crazychik wrote:

Mum is very young looking for her age, and always sends a photo with every application, so interviewers arent put off by her age. She's now waiting for reply's.

My great aunt got a job when she was 70 using computers and she had never used one before! 5 years later she is still doing that job 3 days a week:D

Horasio

Sallys_Savings wrote:

I used to be in secretarial work and export sales......we were still sending telexes lol and the only computer was a word processor

My sister has been on a few computer courses excel etc and she has lent me her notes. So I'm slowly going through them first before I go on the course myself. So at least I'll know a little more than I do now.

At the moment I'm not really sure what sort of job I would be able to do...and eventhough I was pretty intelligent years ago, the years of being at home has left me feeling rather brain dead

I remember using them too:D