to think ill never get a job once i decide to return to work?

[ditsydoll]

Ok so abit of background..
I left school at 16 and went straight into an apprenticeship. I found out that I was pregnant at almost 18 and really struggled to keep it up due to really bad sickness and problems during pregnancy so I left..

DH and I got married and four years later I am expecting my 2nd Dc. I have stayed at home to look after DD and will be at home with DC2 until he/she is school age and I am able to look for work.

I really worry about the future and how any employer will ever take me seriously as all I have to show for myself is an unfinished course and bits of voluntary work.

I'm.very lucky in that DH has a good job and more than able to support us on his wage alone but I would like to have some identity of my own eventually and just worry if I will ever be able to have it.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

As Henry Ford said, If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right. Think of all your good qualities, ask friends about them too. Voluntary work is great!

[Ragwort]

Start thinking about what you would like to do and get some voluntary work in that area - ie: do you enjoy retail? Do some hours in a charity shop. Do you want to work with children? Volunteer at a playschool. There is loads you can do and there will be a voluntary opportunity somewhere. It will also look good on your CV that you were doing something 'outside' the home when you were bringing up your children - if it is actually difficult to get out you can do lots of voluntary work from home. Just be creative in thinking about what you can do.

[Sinkingfeeling]

If you aren't planning on returning to work for another 4-5 years, that's plenty of time to gain some qualifications or some additional experience (voluntary or not) to enhance your CV and your employability. I do think you need to be thinking now about what you can do, and not wait until you really need a job.

[CailinDana]

Would you consider going back to education?

[ditsydoll]

Thanks for the ideas everyone, I would go back into education but wouldnt really know what to do now, i have been 'mum' for so long I don't even know what I'd do. I do a lot of cakes from home just for family as a hobby but have no qualifications and it obviously isn't a career but I suppose I could retrain in that.

I just feel like I have lost all sense of myself sometimes, don't get me wrong I adore being a SAHM but it does worry me that that's all ill ever be able to do now.

[redexpat]

Could you find an aptitude test online? That might give you some ideas about what you want to do. Also I would say get some temping if you can, because I learned a lot about the job market that way, and about what kind of workplace I wanted to be in, HOW I wanted to work etc. At one point I ended up temping in the local prison and learned so much about hte justice system. Fascinating stuff.