to think I will never get hired for a job?

[InkyStamp]

Am looking for some work to boost the household income. Will do pretty much ANYTHING as long as it fits around the children i.e. nights/weekends/school hours (although then the pay would have to cover childcare for the youngest).

Writing up my CV and it looks shit. Definable career progression (although not as high as I would like!! :) ) then a gap for kids, then back for a year at a good-ish job (in the same field as others, natural continuation) then two years off again. BUT all work was in another country so no-one really available for references. Four volunteer positions. Havent 'worked' for two years.

Sigh. It all looks so ..I dont know..out of date? Can barely remember my last position description and duties!!

AND I am only 30! Who would want to hire a loser mother of three that hasnt worked for two years??

I AM FUCKED!!

(and before anyone asks, no I dont claim ANY benefits as I am not allowed to and DH salary wouldnt let us anyway!)

are you looking for work merely to increase household income, or would you want career progression too?

If it's the former, then try for Christmas temp jobs and then you will have some experience after Christmas IYKWIM.

Emphasise all the non-work things you do which are relevant; time management, organisation of busy household, budgeting. Don't discount the value of volunteer work just because you weren't paid. Point out that it involved working as part of a team or self-motivation or whatever.

Also, maybe see if someone can help you revamp your cv as a traditional work experience biased cv may not be the best option for you but a skills based cv would have more impact.

Good luck.

Start off temping. It is easy to be good at temping (as they are usually expecting you to be shit) and then you can get some pretty good references. You may have to do a couple of contracts for essentially nothing due to childcare but it will be worth it to get the references, and you may be able to temp around school hours.

atm it is just for extra as we are skint ad have big expenses coming up, but will continue to night work/whatever until youngest is in school full time at which point I will then try and retrieve the shattered remains of my career.

Temping might work. hm. Will have a look around. Good idea. not sure about CC though - how would that work being so sporadic?

It is the first time I have EVER questioned having children so young. You want to do the best by them by being home for them but then your career is in tatters if you take any 'chunk' of time off. I thought I was doing the right thing having them young so Icould then develop my career as I got older

(dont get me wrong, they are not generally 'entry level' jobs, I just feel a bit crap!! and outdated!!)

I used to be happy with where my career was and were I was on the ladder etc, just after so long off I think I have taken a beating confidence wise!! Ooops! But then had I put them in CC and gone back straight away I would have had that whole guilt thing. Gah! It is true when they say you just cant win!!

Inky, have you thought about being an Avon rep? Most don't make a fortune, but there's no outlay and if every penny counts...?

What have you applied for so far? Have you had feedback? Or are you not getting interviews?

LOL I am so crap I havent even gotten around to applying! Am jsut typing it up today and then starting searching tomorrow. I wanted a CV ready to go first!

The jobs you'll probably be going for usually have their own application forms rather than requiring a cv. Have a quick look on directgov website for jobs in your area and see what they ask for. Supermarkets etc won't need a cv and most advertise on their own websites.

You'll be fine. I had 8 years off and then reinvented myself at 43! You might have to lower your sights to get the foot back on the rung though. I still don't earn as much as I did in 1996! Start off gently, perhaps a bit of exam invigilating, or even volunteering.

Don't write yourself off so quickly, that sounds like you have lots of experience and most employers aren't put off by that kind of broken history as it's not unusual among mothers.

Having your children young has benefits, once the children are older you (in theory) won't have to have another break and you have 40 years of working life ahead of you - more if you choose.

Don't beat yourself up for having your children young. Many women find it hard to get back to work after having children, no matter how old they are. When I return to work next year I will be 36 and I'll have been out of work for 6 years But I have done a lot of high-powered volunteering and started a (very) small business, which I hope will help.

I think temping advice is good, and also if you are looking for an easy income in the short term, perhaps you would be better off looking for work at unsociable hours as you would presumably not have to pay for childcare. I'm aure it will all work out ok

Hi I am in exactly the same position as you had my kids really young and have got nothing to write on a C.V. Left school and had first kid at 17 was a SAHM to her till she went to school, then went to college and got some qualifications but then had my next baby and have been a SAHM Mum to her (like you haven't had to work as my husband always has so we have never claimed benefits) but does not look good on a C.V. I have been so busy looking after my Dad who is ill and helping in my daughters school but can't really write that. Now my youngest is in full time school I am at uni but am thinking how bad is it going to look when I finally finish because that will have been another 3 or 4 years of not working!! Just think i have no chance against people who have been working for years and are really experienced! Don't really have any advice but just wanted to sympathise with you!

Thanks all. You have made me feel better :)

I know it can be hard to get back into the workplace and many people feel this way, but I didnt anticipate how anxious about it I would feel! I thought I could just jump in and out - how wrong was I? Young and naive!! LOL

Re the having children young thing, I guess one point in my favour is that at my age people are only starting to have maternity leave whereas I have done that bit - that must go in my favour, surely?

Thanks Madz (sorry we xposted!) I guess I am lucky that I have had a few good positions, but it is daunting, isnt it! I used to be so career focused, then shifted to child focused and the switch to career AND child focused is a tricky one!

my experience is similar to onceamai
How about bar work for extra cash? I have worked in all kinds of environments but always enjoyed this as it's sociable and good for the confidence
or do what I did, get work in a preschool/school, it might open up a new career in itself

May I suggest this book

I am 27 and have never had paid employment, yet in this market with millions of people fighting over 1 job, I got a job... experience speaks for a lot. I have a lot of experience in the job role I went for.

Don't count yourself out of the game yet!

I would make your CV out like this.

Name Address and details

Personal Profile

Write something good about yourself. The fact that you love listening to current affairs on the radio. Have developled a keen interest in recycling and belong to a group. Cycle everywhere, I dunno, just put strong positives in.

Work experience

Supervision, First Aid, Teaching, housekeeping etc etc. All stuff relating to parenting.

One page, but make sure your covering letter is handwritten, that's the test for most company's.