Getting back into employment after a long break

quietheart

How have others fared getting back into work after a long break?
I've been out of work for 10 years, I was a SAHM, then had serious health issues, then cared for elderly parents.
I have been volunteering for the last 2 years.
I've recently received qualifications in business administration and customer service but haven't had any feedback from the jobs I've applied for.

Rylynn

Have you phoned the jobs you applied for and asked why you have not got them? or have you not had any interviews yet?

It is never easy returning to work after a long period of time off, have you had someone look at your CV? and has it got all your new qualifications on it? Do you say about your serious health issues on the CV? if so do you need to if they are now gone.

There are many things that make an application of CV end up in the bin, you need to ensure your CV really promotes you, and it not too long, your covering letter should have just enough in it and state at least one of your strengths or recent training.

I have just been made redundant and I am going to be looking for work by the end of May, so I am already worried, having worked for almost 13 years for the same organisation and having to reduce my hours 6 years ago due to illness like you I can see myself finding it very hard.

Good luck and keep trying

quietheart

Sorry to hear about your redundancy. Fingers crossed you will find something suitable without too much difficulty.
I haven't had any interviews yet. I recall when I had a pile of 200 application forms to go through I was quite ruthless at rejecting people....
I haven't mentioned health problems on my CV, I don't want employers to assume it will make me high risk. I'd rather wait and see if I was questioned at interview and would explain then.
It's just getting an interview that I'm stumbling at. I haven't applied for many jobs. I've got a few to finish off tomorrow and will have to keep my fingers crossed.
I will get a couple of people to look at my CV. Good idea.
Thanks!

Rylynn

It is always a good idea to get your CV looked at, new eyes can spot things you may not. Also get someone who has not long had to use their own CV to take a look if you can, things tend to change very quickly with CVs.

I was told for instance that my first line should state "Over 25 years experience as a senior administrator" and not what I had put which was along the lines of "highly experienced senior administrator" it is little things than can make a difference.

I was also told to tweek my CV for each job, making sure that anything relevant to the job description was included in it.

I will not be putting on my CV that I have ME, and may only temp to begin with.

quietheart

Yes that 'over 25 years experience' is a much stronger line isn't it.
I must do some research!
I feel for you having ME, it's so misunderstood.
Temping may give you more confidence and lead to something permanent.

Rylynn

quietheart wrote: »

Yes that 'over 25 years experience' is a much stronger line isn't it.
I must do some research!
I feel for you having ME, it's so misunderstood.
Temping may give you more confidence and lead to something permanent.

I worked for the NHS and they brought in people to help with CVs, and the lady who looked at mine said it was too old fashioned, obviously I had not needed it for 12 years!

I can honestly say I wanted the redundancy, 13 years was long enough and the job I ended up doing was totally boring and mind numbing. I will be happy to go back to copy and audio typing and not matching invoices to credit notes!

ME is totally misunderstood, but sadly I have it and have to live with it. Temping I hope will give me some confidence, and many temp jobs do lead to permanent roles. Need an eye operation first so as I say it will not be til at least the end of May when I will want work, hopefully there will be more jobs out there by then!!

Another thing this lady said was to join social networking sites, and make sure all your friends and family know you are looking for work, as she said it is uncanny how many people get recommended in that way. The site she mentioned most was linkedIn you may want to take a look at it, I have not had time yet, as since being put off I have been ill, typical, wait for months to get out of there now I am stuck in the house unwell with pleurisy.

Also the fact you have been a volunteer looks very good on a CV as it shows commitment.

quietheart

I'd love to get into the NHS funnily enough. Maybe I shouldn't try too hard!
I had extreme fatigue and would probably have been diagnosed with ME if i hadn't had a stroke, caused by a 1cm hole in my heart. When researching PFO (hole in the heart business) I read something like 80% of ME patients have a PFO.
Having mine closed was life changing.

freyanneke_2

Just recently returned back to work after a break of more than 10 years. I got this job by phoning first and requesting as much information, esp. about what person they were looking for. During the interview I was very honest that I had not worked for a long time. I was lucky that during the interview I had the chance to see if the job was suitable for me. In the end it was not any of my qualifications, but my experience as an volunteer that landed me the job.

Most of my colleagues have health problems. Most of them have found a way to adjust work to their needs and build in enough hours and enough rest to recuperate. One colleague for example works only on a certain floor and another makes sure she has a certain pattern in the shifts she works.

Good luck, quiethart, I am sure you have a big list of transferable skills that you can offer combined with your recent qualifications.

quietheart

freyanneke wrote: »

but my experience as an volunteer that landed me the job.

do you mind me asking if your volunteering was directly relevant to the post that you got?
thanks for your positive message!

Rylynn

quietheart wrote: »

I'd love to get into the NHS funnily enough. Maybe I shouldn't try too hard!
I had extreme fatigue and would probably have been diagnosed with ME if i hadn't had a stroke, caused by a 1cm hole in my heart. When researching PFO (hole in the heart business) I read something like 80% of ME patients have a PFO.
Having mine closed was life changing.

I did not know that quietheart. Maybe I should look at the symptoms, I have high blood pressure and my heart races, but I have improved health wise since 2007 when I had to take 11 months off.

I do think your volunteer work is very important and needs to focus highly on your CV. I am pleased to see someone else has replied and been supportive about being a volunteer.

For me I need to find part time work, due to my health, and I think temping is going to be the right way for me to do that.

I would not say do not work for the NHS by the way, my organisation ceased to exist due to government changes, but it would not stop me wanting to work in a hospital as an administrator or secretary which I think I would find very interesting.

Your new qualifications should really help, employers like to see that people are re training and are prepared to take on new things, it means you are flexible which is important.

quietheart

I had high BP, heart palps, breathless all the time.
PFO symptoms are vague and affect some more than others even if the hole is large doesn't mean symptoms will be worse.
If you have a supportive GP, having it tested isn't too difficult. But getting funding to have it closed is the hard part.
I think the NHS must be getting a huge amount of applications. Scary.