Looking to return to work after a looooong break, what skills should I re-learn?

TopQuark

Hello OP,

I would second the opinions already given on a foreign language. Unless you are fluent or near-fluent, it isn't really an asset. I work abroad at an international organisation where English and French are official languages and you need a very high level of language ability to operate effectively in a business environment.

The voluntary work is a great idea and a soft 're-entry' into the market place. Try timebank.org for ideas.

If you feel that your PC skills are rusty (e.g. if you don't know your way around outlook, word, excel, powerpoint), then a course here may be useful and could build your confidence.

Finally, if you want to enter a admin-type role, being able to touch-type might be useful. Although I don't need it for my job, I've taught myself with free online courses and it's really helped to make me more efficient.:o

Good luck!

Trixxie

Getting touch-typing speeds improved can be done with online typing tests; I think I just googled for some.

sketchingkari

Thank you so much for all of the replies, lots to think about:D I put out feelers last night to do some administrative volunteer work, which I think would help no end, get me some recent experience, references and hopefully a little bit of confidence.:money:

I am sat my ATT exams a good few years ago, but I don't really want to go back into tax accounting, too stressful :eek: lol

I haven't claimed any benefits in the last 14 years, so no funding for courses unless it comes out of my own pocket.

Eventually, I would like an office management position, but for now would be happy with admin assistance, customer service etc, I can touch type and use a PC all the time, but I do need to brush up on the current programs, as we don't have them.

It is a scary idea to return to work after so long, but i'm feeling a bit better about it today, thank you.

melb

I remember well that feeling of knowing that I wanted to get back into the workplace after 15 years looking after the kids full-time - and, in my case, the feeling of relief when I looked through the local paper each week and there was nothing I could apply for because I was scared of getting back into the workplace! In the end I just struck really really lucky as a part-time job came up in the same company I had worked for pre-children and even more luckily the people who interviewed me remembered me (could have gone either way I suppose!) and were willing to take me on even though I had very few computer skills because they knew me as a person. So what I'm getting round to asking is whether you could approach your old employers and see if they have anything going? Also what about trying temping although that was always suggested to me (as my previous job had been office-based) and the thought of going somewhere different all the time terrified me! Good luck!

Pennywise

sketchingkari wrote: »

I am sat my ATT exams a good few years ago, but I don't really want to go back into tax accounting, too stressful :eek: lol

That's a shame because people with decent tax experience/qualifications are always in demand. I know that after so long, you may feel to have been away too long as the tax regime has changed dramatically, but you'll still have the basics and would probably be back up to speed fairly quickly - it's surprising how much stays the same! Think of the basic skills, such as understanding the difference between capital and revenue, the theory behind basis periods, the accruals concept, the different types of tax and how they are charged/paid, i.e. IT, IHT, CGT, CT, VAT, NIC, etc etc - most of the fundamentals don't change - it's just the rates, thresholds, etc. that change which software sorts out these days.

These days, I think it's a lot easier and less stressful due to far superior software compared to the bad old days - far more analytical work and management and planning, rather than the drudgery of adding columns of figures all day.

Why did you find it stressful first time around? Did you work for HMRC or accountancy practice or industry?