Good for nothing

[winkywinkola]

I'm finding it hard to believe after 10 years out of the workforce as a sahm, I'm really going to be able to get work again.

Does anyone really take the cooking, organising, counselling, time management skills of a sahm seriously and into account?

I hopefully have at least 20 years left of working.

I think I have to retrain. But I don't have a clue in what. I feel like I'm 18 again and so unsure as to which job direction to turn.

How does one find out?

[Babyroobs]

Could you see a Career guidance person, even if you perhaps have to pay privately, they may be able to help you sort out re-training or what options you have. I think many mums really struggle having been out of the workforce for so long, but it is definately possible to start again. What did you do pre- children?

[NaffOrf]

Does anyone really take the cooking, organising, counselling, time management skills of a sahm seriously and into account?

Alas, these are all things that are also done by working parents - including the ones who are sifting your applications, in all likelihood.

Agree with PP - you need to look at your previous working life, not your home life, for evidence of skills/experience.

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

Check out libraries for free IT courses.

What sort of hours do you need? Truthfully, do you want a job or a career?

[twentyten]

There is lots of advice in books and on the net. Search for careers advice/ aptitude tests- what colour is your parachute is a great book to help you identify your skills and how you can use them. There is a website associated with it. Finding work is a job.

Ask a number of people what they think your skills are. Get in touch with ex colleagues to find out how work has changed. So any jobs come via contacts. Some good breads on here.

[Minnieisthedevilmouse]

FYI I employed one lady off the back of her experience with horses. Not directly indicating skills in an office does it?! However I managed a very stressful team and needed an unflappable calm assertive individual. Skills I felt used with the type of stable she had worked at.

It paid off. She was one of the best I ever worked with. A conversation later indicated she had nearly removed it from cv but had no idea what else to put in hobbies. However on my end it was the key differentiator in a sea of same cvs.

So, no being a sahm won't get you the role. But aspects might help. Phrasing is key.

[Viviennemary]

No I'm afraid I don't think they do. Because these days most people man or woman has to join in with the running of the household. But saying that you can do a lot as people have already said to get back into the workplace. I think an IT course is a good place to start whether it be a free one or one you pay for.

I think you should have a good think about what you want to do with the next 20 years career wise. If you are unsure read some careers guidance.

[twentyten]

Try volunteering in an environment you might like to work in.

[RhinestoneCowgirl]

I went back to work after 5 yrs out, and that felt pretty daunting, so understand a little of how you feel.

Voluntary work is a good idea, it could give you new skills but also shows commitment to working. I was able to use examples from volunteer work in my interview, as my paid work examples were a bit old.

[CareersDragon]

There is help out there Winky, everything from self-help books, to websites such as that run by the National Careers Service (also offering advice to those in England), and private Careers Advisers/Coaches, some of whom also offer psychometric tests. It depends whether you want to just find out information about careers (entry & training requirements/job info/salary/job availability etc), or you would like some careers guidance & counselling focussing on you as an individual, your skills & abilities, interests, ambitions, dreams for the future etc. A careers adviser/coach will get to know you & what you want; they will suggest areas you might want to consider & they will challenge you.
Look at the help available on the National Careers Service first: nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

If you decide that you want to go private, to make sure that you employ a qualified & experienced adviser, look at the Professional Register of the Career Development Institute: bit.ly/19pxU9h

[winkywinkola]

Thank you all. I'm researching.