Returning to work

full-time-mum

I used to work in the software development before starting a family 11 years ago.

Both my children are now at school and I really, really want to earn some money and really, really need to start doing something for my own sanity. I still want to be at home for them in the holidays and after school so need something that fits around them.

I had a meeting with Next Step Plus in the hope of getting some help but it wasn't particularly helpful - fine if I knew what I wanted and just needed help getting there.

My problem is that I really don't know what I want to do or even what can/could do.

When I left work, windows 95 was still in beta test and the internet didn't exist so my computing skills are mega-out-of-date.

I am quite prepared to do some training and completely change track - I have evolved.

I realise that at the end of the day, I have to decide where/what I want but I need some help/suggestions as to what I could do and what I would be good at now - I hope this makes sense as I feel I am rambling a bit.

This is the first time in my life when I really don't know what I want. I left school knowing I wanted to program computers and went into work knowing that eventually I wanted a family.

Does anyone have any ideas where I could go to get this kind of support?

Astaroth

What sort of developing did you do in the past?

Just because it has been a while doesnt mean that there arent a lot of companies out there that still use the languages that you used. With my current employers (a multi-national insurer) our core mainframe is written in the same language as was used when the company was launched 25 years ago and we are now the only known corporate user of the language... the majority of people have never heard of it.

In addition to that I know that our IT departments at least look at programming ability more than specific languages. As long as you understand the concepts of object orientated programming etc they are not overly bothered about if it is Java or VB or C# that you happen to know as it is only the syntax that really varies and people generally can pick this up fairly quickly which is much better than having people that happen to know some of the syntax but really dont get the concept of object orientated programming (or what ever the relevant company uses)

full-time-mum

My experience was mainly in C. By the time that C++ was around, I wasn't programming quite so much and was doing more project management.

Small firm producing budget DTP package.

I've got a degree in computer science (abacus science maybe! :rotfl: ) but have never written a program from scratch. (except in a uni course work type senario)

Quite like the idea of learning website design, just for the hell of it if nothing else but can't afford business course prices.

Spendless

full-time-mum wrote:

I still want to be at home for them in the holidays and after school so need something that fits around them.

The only places that I know that will offer this is to work within a school itself.

Fizog

There are a lot of IT support departments in secondary schools crying out for computer literate techies. School hours, lots of holidays.... Pay isn't amazing or maybe since you have a degree you could diversify into retraining as an IT/math teacher?

full-time-mum

Spendless wrote:

The only places that I know that will offer this is to work within a school itself.

or some sort of home business.

I'm working on the school thing. Volunteering in Reception and also as a govenor but so far it hasn't got me anything (other than backache - have you seen how titchy the chairs are!) LSA jobs are few and far between and everyone wants one, its a case of being in the right place at the right time. I did get an interview for an LSA but not the job

It would be interesting to find out what non-teaching type jobs are available, probably more in secondary schools than primary, I guess.

I'm really enjoying my work as a governor - mainly organisational and admin type skills, I'm chairing Curriculum and Standards sub-committee and the Travel Plan committee - pity it doesn't pay really.

msmicawber

Hi full time mum,

It might be worth trying your local Council as they provide IT and other support services for schools, and may well have some term-time only positions.

There are a few companies that provide IT support for schools so, again, have some term time only jobs. It would be support, though, not programming. It may be worth contacting some educational publishers to see whether they have something more in your line and, if so, whether there's any flexibility in hours/working patterns. PM me if you would like me to give you some names.

Best wishes.

Dr.Lou

https://www.equalitec.org.uk

You could try these for help / advice / funding for training courses/ work placements etc. It's an organisation to help women working in IT, or women returning to IT after a family or career break etc. The people there are very helpful.

Also have a look at: http://www.setwomenresource.org.uk/
Similar resource centre for women in Science, Engineering and Technology.
There is quite a good, free Open Uni course run in conjuction with them. Its called T160 and it covers a lot of ground on returning to work/childcare/ CV's etc.

Also, if your doing some soul-searching to find out what you really want to do with your life, try this book. I bought it a few weeks ago and it has really helped me analyse what was important to me.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Unlock-Your-Potential-Liz-Wilde/dp/1841725919

Good Luck and hope you get what you are looking for!

On a side note...what about work as a software tester or a document QA controller in a software house? For both these roles you would need IT experience but not necessarily be up to date with programming and I assume they would be roles that could be made part-time/ flexible.

full-time-mum

Dr.Lou wrote:

https://www.equalitec.org.uk
On a side note...what about work as a software tester or a document QA controller in a software house? For both these roles you would need IT experience but not necessarily be up to date with programming and I assume they would be roles that could be made part-time/ flexible.

Testing software would probably work for me and support, particularly in schools would be good too but probably not the document QA.

Thanks for the web addresses, will look at them seriously next week when the kiddies go back to school and I can have five minutes peace and quiet!

Astaroth

Do you have any project management qualifications? (prince2 etc - though if you did then presumably it has expired)

Are you keen to get back into programming or would you be equally happy in the project management/ programme office/ resource planning type roles too?

full-time-mum

Astaroth wrote:

Do you have any project management qualifications? (prince2 etc - though if you did then presumably it has expired)

No

Astaroth wrote:

Are you keen to get back into programming or would you be equally happy in the project management/ programme office/ resource planning type roles too?

The honest answer to this is I'm really not sure. Its so long since I did any programming that I'm not sure I can remember how. I used to get a buzz out of writing code and problem solving, but I am also a people person. I did project management on a small scale but fear that it may be too difficult to fit around the children.

I'd also quite like to do something different, but the big question is WHAT?

I like crafts but not that skilled.

I really enjoy baking cakes, making jams, soups etc but there is all the hygiene and health and safety issues. If it wasn't for that, I would do that on a small scale just to earn a bit of cash. I've done it on a casual basis for a friend (making cakes for her childrens lunch boxes) but there isn't enough money in it if I have to have a special kitchen etc etc.

I'd like to work for myself, from home (wouldn't we all:rotfl:) but haven't come up with any ideas. Maybe some sort of ebay business until youngest is at secondary school and a lot more independant. I thought about making wheat bags but I can't find a way to make them cheaper than they are selling on ebay.

I've done the party plan thing and whilst it made a bit of pocket money at the time, I couldn't make it work - not ruthless enough and probably not living in the best area.