To think that if all us 'unemployable' mums pool our skills...

[KissingPotion]

We could build a fantastic company and take over the world, or sell ourselves out for billions!!

I decided a while ago to go back into the 'real' world after trying/working at home for 4yrs, (which I love but not making enough money).
Apparently I'm too old for the jobs I could do and want but as I've also had no recent 'proper' job experience,
I'm stuffed!
Volunteer jobs near me are shite.
BahHumbug.

[Bowlersarm]

It's a difficult position to be in isn't it. Hmm, I'm lucky enough to not need to work as dh earns enough and is supportive whether I want to sah or work, but I've been out of job market for about 15 years and totally lacking confidence about it. Do you get to the interview stage OP?

[KissingPotion]

I've had a couple of interviews, and got to last 2/3 candidates but jobs went to younger more experienced candidates and while I agree 'best person for the job' I just felt a bit old and useless.
Luckily I am also supported by DH in either choice of working or sah,
I just felt like a personal change of pace, something different etc.
But I seem to read a lot of people in similar situations hence the post

[PumpkinsMummy]

Would it be worth you doing some courses OP? Perhaps something you have always been interested in but didn't have time to study. I have been told (I am at OU) that employers look favourably on those who study in their own time as it shows excellent time management and commitment. For my own sake, it gives my brain something non mummy related to do to keep sharp, and lets me fulfill a long held wish to go to uni. There are loads of courses you could do and probably some funding you could access as well.

[KissingPotion]

Funnily enough Pumpkin my local uni has an open day soon and I was going to pay a visit.
I wasn't sure about funding if your OH has a reasonable income though, I wouldn't necessarily expect him to do it. I need to look into that though.
Trouble is, I have No idea what I'd like to retrain/study.

[newnamefor15]

You can't give up after a couple of unsuccessful interviews. If you are getting through to that stage, then you can't be too far off what they are looking for.

Recent training is good when you are returning. Vision2Learn do some free online courses, that are done through proper colleges and you end up with a qualification, in generally useful areas such as Admin and IT.

[KissingPotion]

I'm not giving up Newname, luckily I'm not desperate but I just feel like I'm wasting my time atm. I am thinking about brushing up on training though I've been having a look and thanks for those details.

That's it exactly Derek, I've applied for loads, but there's so many people applying for the sorts of things I could do though, that I have more going against than for me atm. I hope you find what you're looking for soon too.

[BoozeyTuesday]

This is why many women struggle for years to balance home and work, to avoid giving up their careers. It is tough but usually worth it the long term. You can't expect to have the same career prospects as someone who has consistently worked.

[MrsKoala]

6 years ago (when i met DH) i was quite high up the pay scale on £38k doing a job i loved. Then the recession hit and i was made redundant and out of work for 9 months. The only job i could find in my field was part time but i also loved it. Redundant again as the recession really bit (jobs were public sector/education). Had to get a job on £21k in a call centre. I was shite at it and i hated it. Had a baby 2.5 yrs ago and another 5 months ago.

I've got no chance at all of ever working in my previous role again. My skills have stagnated, they want way more for way less money now, so couldn't even cover childcare - even if i did find a rare job still existing. I have no time or money to retrain. So i'm fucked. DH keeps saying 'when you go back to work...' He lives in a dream where i walk back into a job at almost £40k.

[morethanpotatoprints]

I don't believe any of you are fucked at all.
There are always people on here who say they got jobs as good as what they had before and some soon get promoted.
maybe going back to a high powered career isn't an option but most people who have these don't usually leave, unless made redundant.
For most people wanting a job it is possible, not always immediately but it happens.
Good luck to you all.
sorry i have no suggestions, well maybe except for management.
friend did this and ended up as a hotel manager on a huge income, after many years as a sahm.

[KissingPotion]

Thanks for the messages.
I'm not really expecting or even possibly wanting to go into a high power career, I think the main trouble where I am is too many better placed people going for too few jobs.
Being somewhat remote also unless we get a second car, (I gave up my car 3yrs ago thinking I'd be lovely and green) transport is quite difficult too.

[gotthemoononastick]

I am eagerly waiting to hear about the new chocolate factory that is going to be run by Mumsnetters!

It was discussed in a 'nasty tasting chocolate' and easter egg thread.

So hoping this will happen!Imagine worldwide distributing from homes and lovely ethical ingredients and jobs for all!(dreaming here).

[IdaBlankenship]

I am apparently unemployable! I don't even get to interview stage, but before I had kids I was quite high up in a specialised field. I do regret not staying part-time after maternity leave.
Now we have moved to a rural location, I think I have no-bloody-chance of getting a job, as I am applying for more generic admin-y type jobs and am up against bright young things who are more flexible (in a non-yoga sense) than me.
It is very frustrating.

[KissingPotion]

Ida, this is more or less exactly the same situation I'm in, lol, it is frustrating, I am thinking of doing some extra training but still wonder if it's worth it. Even to get me out & about a bit more.

[KissingPotion]

O moononastick, I missed that :)

[Hoppinggreen]

True. I was " too experienced" but without enough recent experience.
Started my own business instead - work my own hours and earn plenty. Not trying to recruit as it's not a Forever Usborne Temple Juice at Home or whatever type business by the way !!!!

[notsogoldenoldie]

Me too. I'm 55. I'm spitting feathers about it, as I have a perfect cv pre-dc. I agree with the retraining, though, and perhaps some volunteering. I've been retraining to teach piano (by accident, really) and I'm slowly getting there. And I love it. I'd like a "proper" job, though, but I know my age as well as lack of recent experience is against me.

[funnyossity]

Decent chocolate. I'm in!

[IdaBlankenship]

Trouble is, the longer you are out of work, the harder it is to get back in. And my confidence is not exactly sky-high anymore.
Hopping, working from home in my own business would be ideal, but I cannot think of anything I can do (which considering i have quite a diverse skillset seems insane).

[funnyossity]

Derek I've seen your previous posting about job applications - just keep on going. It's so competitive out there that you mustn't take it personally. (I know that's easier said than done.)

[Lilymaid]

I was told by a specialist agency that I was virtually unemployable after being an SAHM for several years. They eventually found me a temp job in my specialist area and I have been there now for over 10 years in a professional role doing exactly what I had wanted to get back to doing.
I was often asked back when I was whether I could manage Word, Excel, Outlook and that strange thing called the Internet! Obviously such things were far too advanced for people who had been SAHMs.

[IdaBlankenship]

Depressingly, Lilymaid, the internet didn't exist when I did my degree , although I have caught on fairly quickly since I spend quite a large proportion of my time pissing about on it

[morethanpotatoprints]

I think it is tough for everybody atm and believe you are no worse off for time out as a sahp.
Obviously scaling the dizzy heights may be out of the question if you worked in a field that has seen much change, but some jobs are pretty much the same.
there are people who have always worked, been made redundant recently and can't find work, it is not good atm.
I wouldn't take it personally or put too much store on these who say its hard after being a sahm, its hard per se.

[Kahlua4me]

I too would struggle to return to my old job. I gave up nursing 10 years ago when ds was born and it has all changed too much to return. We didn't even use computers at work back then!

I often think that there must be a whole army of extremely capable mums that want to work and are but the jobs just aren't there anymore....

[NormHonal]

Unfortunately some jammy cow already set up Mumsnet .

I often think this, OP. With the women I know who are either SAHMs or in lesser jobs than their qualifications, if we saddled our collective brainpower and what's-left-of-our-energy, we could rule the world probably set up and run a damn fine business.

All I need is an idea...sadly lacking due to post-natal mush-brain.