If you were a SAHM for a few years what was your first job back in the workplace? Tips please!

[millionaireshortie]

I've been a SAHM for several years which has been the best (and only) option for us. I didn't have a 'career' as such, just a reasonably paid but very niche job (which I can't return to as things have moved on) - I've lost all confidence and wondering how best to get back into the workplace? My admin skills are not up to date so think I'd struggle in an office role, although feel these would be better paid. I do have solid retail experience which would be valued. I'm wondering how to step into anything more than a minimum wage job. I need something that has room for progression as I do want to earn a good salary again.

What was your first job back after a break? Any ideas of what I can do when I'm almost starting from scratch again. I'm bright & degree educated but low in confidence! Open to all suggestions - just hope a mumsnetter can spark an idea in me as I'm at a loss!!

I didn't go back to work until DS started school. My first job back was in a call centre. It wasn't great but they didn't require experience and it was a school hours job.

I worked there for a year and then got an admin job, but very basic admin - filing and the like. Again it's a school hours position which I'm very lucky to have!

Obviously the pay is low, just over minimum wage but I'm happy with that at the moment to have a good work/life balance and there is opportunity to progress within the company as DS gets older.

For reference though I don't have any qualifications past GCSE and have always worked minimum wage jobs so I wasn't expecting the earth!

I worked in Boots and volunteered in my ds school as well, eventually got enough hours in the school paid to enable me to do my qualifications. Applied for a role in my local college and have completed many more qualifications since enabling me to successfully apply for a role as a tutor.
Took 5-6 years but worth it.

I'm actually going through this now but being a carer to my dd and I'm going back into retail. Bearing in mind I couldn't go to college due to my caring commitments. I was just truthful in my interviews and got offered two pt jobs and deciding which one to take.

@Darkestnight - what sort of retail if you don't mind me asking? I'm considering this as my easiest option to get back to work but just concerned there's no way I can move forward as wouldn't want to be a retail manager (pay very poor for for level of pressure and responsibility I think). Great you were offered 2 positions after having time out!! That gives me hope!

@DoingTheBestICan - that's fantastic. You've done so well. 5-6 years isn't too long really! I'd be very happy with that kind of progression!

@BitchQueen90 - like you I'm very very happy to start small and take things slow. It would just be great to know there is the chance of moving up a little when the time is right and once I've got my confidence back. What sort of organisation are you working in- is it a small business or large organisation? How did you find that job?

Both are cashier roles minumum wage and 16 hour contracts. One is a food store and other is more home stuff eg paint furniture etc. They will do me for now just need to sort out which and need to call the store manager. But have faith in yourself I didn't for years then I just started applying and got offered 6 interviews and two job offers.

I started off with a Level 2 qualification in CACHE, then I did Level 3.
Then I did my assessors Level 3, PTLLS, IQA, PGCE and now I'm studying BA(Hons) Education Studies.
It has been hard at times but the pay off has been amazing. I am now earning good money and have good qualifications that mean if anything were to happen I could support myself.

My admin skills are not up to date so think I'd struggle in an office role

Can you look at some training now? I attended my local college when the DCs were in pre-school and did computer skills. So I kept myself up to date and got an office job when they started school. Started at the right time as they were developing a new team and managed to be part of that.

I do have solid retail experience which would be valued.

Look if any any High Street jobs are taking on Xmas staff!!

I'm wondering how to step into anything more than a minimum wage job. I need something that has room for progression

I think you'll struggle unless you have great previous experience - but you may have to work full time rather than around the kids.

I'm in the same boat OP! Gave up work (admin) when I had dc2 in early 2014.

Have you done Any volunteering whilst off? I've done a bit with the Children's Centre and have come to realise I enjoy helping others, and am definitely more of a people person than a back office person! I'm hoping to start helping at school soon, listening to readers. Will be good to get a taste of what it's like to work in a school, as although initially I was dead against it after five years of being surrounded by small kids, I'm now seeing it would give me great job satisfaction and would be amazing not to have to sort childcare!

Retail manager jobs can be very well paid - and it's all relative - any job is going to have the added pressure if you want the extra money over time. I wouldn't discount it right away - I have many friends that have forged great careers in retail and are very well paid indeed.

I work for a local business. I got the job when it was advertised on our local Facebook page - the company directors have DC so are very understanding about juggling childcare etc. I was lucky, I think about 100 people applied for the role!

I went back to an admin role after 5 years out having my children. I was previously in graduate recruitment and saw a part-time HR admin role advertised. I knew I could do it, so took time with my application and interview prep. Was insanely nervous at the interview, had been in my previous role for 10 years so hadn't had an interview for 15 years 

Am v lucky as there is room for progression, so am already doing some chunkier stuff which keeps me interested.

I worried about my admin skills being up to scratch after 5 years out but if you're relatively computer literate and have used email/word/excel before then I think you'll catch up quickly once you're regularly using them.

@SatsumaFan I really can't see myself ever working in a school.

@BitchQueen90 - this is what concerns me so much - the competition for jobs seems to be huge! I'm struggling to believe I can get one.

@PeteHornberger - HR admin sounds interesting!

I went back to train as a health professional after 17 years out of work. I had no qualifications when i left school. I did GCSEs in the evening and an OU degree whilst SAH which helped. I also volunteered at my kids school.

The confidence was a big battle but being thrown into groupwork, presentations and work placements was a good way of gaining this. I would recommend retraining and many routes are part time. Some are funded depending on where you live. I get fees paid and a bursary which covers travel and childcare. Good luck.

I find there is a lot more flexibility 're hours etc with professional jobs. The min wage jobs I used to do were crap for conditions and we were treated disposable.

Dinner lady at my son's primary school. I'm now in hospitality- front and back of house - hoping to be trained for the kitchen because that's where my passion lies. I've got 2 fixed days off to manage childcare, rarely have to work before 8:30 or after 5:30 and I get fed. It gives me back a sense of being an individual rather than someone's mum. I'm not in it for the fat pay cheque, I'm in it because I enjoy it.

I have just done this. After 10 years at home I recently (3 weeks) started as a support secretary in our local hospital.only 16 hours and in the evening but it's a start and is perfect as my confidence is low and my skills possibly a little out of date. I'm enjoying it and there are good possibilities for movement up when I'm ready.

I thought it would be much harder to get back into work but this was only the third job I applied for and my first interview in 15 years. Have hope and good luck

@Dancetherain - hospital admin is definitely something I've thought of as the hours can be flexible and there are so many pay levels to essentially work your way up. Can I ask how you got that job? Was it advertised somewhere? Did they not mention that you've not worked for 10 years? That gives me hope!

I signed up to email alerts from the NHS jobs site. They have lots of different part time rolls. It's flexible too so as long as I work 16 hours no one minds which evenings I do.

The job itself is entry level, the support secs literally just do the typing but it's perfect for getting used to how everything works without too much pressure. Eventually as my youngest gets older (she's only 5) I want to move to days and something a bit more interesting.

The fact I've been at home for so long wasn't mentioned in the interview althiugh I mentioned it in my application and that I wanted to return to work and I relied on former work experience. I did used to do NHS admin before being made redundant which may have helped.

@Dancetherain - that's useful to know, thanks, I'll sign up and see what comes up locally :)