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!!

@AhAgain thanks so much for posting, this was all so good to hear! A positive story!

I volunteered at a well known London Theatre as a steward in 2015. Did that for about 9 months then applied for a job as box office clerk at a different theatre. It was long, unsociable hours and relatively low pay but I loved it.

Was promoted to supervisor after 6 months and am now a visitor services manager for another arts organisation.

Should say that I was a SAHM for about 14 years.
I was worried about my office skills being out of date but I learnt on the job pretty quickly.

What do you do re references?

I haven’t been employed in 13 years. My last employer has given me a standard reference. My previous employer no longer exists and the site is now a housing development.

I decided to do some voluntary work to get a reference, but organisations such as CAB or charities themselves ask for references. Or I could volunteer at the local petting farm but they want people who can start at 7:30 am in the morning and finish at 4-5 pm, which I think is cheeky for no pay!

Volunteering in your local charity shop would give you valuable experience of a current retail environment and you would also have somewhere to use for an up to date reference.
Any christmas jobs now will also give you good experience but will be crappy hours and probably a minimum of guaranteed weekly hours although it could give you a foot in the door
Good luck OP it's a very competitive job market out there!

I volunteered in a charity shop for six months, then the manager told me she was leaving and encouraged me to apply for the job. I did and got it. That was after being a SAHM for over ten years.

@Panicwithmephisto I had a similar problem with references, luckily I had been "volunteering" with my local children's centre as a parent rep, which meant attending quarterly meetings to provide feedback and add a "service user voice" to proceedings. They didn't ask for references for that and it was a minimum of time/effort. The children's centre manager then provided a reference for me for my current job.

I appreciate you will need small children and to use a children's centre for this, but maybe something along these lines, or helping out at your children's school a couple of mornings a week, as they will then provide references for you.

I volunteered at CAB then worked two jobs for them after a year, best thing I ever did, just loved it, lots of training and really interesting xx

Re references I was asked to provide a character reference and that was enough. When they offered me the job they were obviously aware of my lack of recent experience and therefore references and still offered me the job.