To think it's impossible to get a job after being a SAHM?

[NotAHope]

I've been a lurker for a while but needed to post this because I am just so frustrated
My dh is in the military and is away a LOT. I've stayed at home with our ds for the last 5 years and we are finally in an area that is not in the middle of nowhere.
I've been applying for jobs for a year. The only thing I won't do is telesales (been there, done that) but nobody will even give me an interview
I was in the military myself for nearly 10 years and have done a good few jobs since I left, all of them I did well!
But nearly every job I apply for initially asks why I have been out of work for 5 years, and when they find out I can only really do school hours, due to the unpredictability of dh's job they don't want to know.
I'm a keen worker. I work hard and I am desperate for a life outside of raising my ds.
I just don't know what else I can do. I thought about voluntary work but we are at the stage where we need two wages coming in, even just part time!
I'm feeling really offended! Especially when I go to some of the places I have applied to and see some of the people they employ. Usually students. I'm guessing because they are cheaper to employ and can work evenings and weekends.
Sorry for war and peace, just feeling sorry for myself..

Some great posts here op! Sticky sticks was particularly inspiring I thought. I really hope you find something soon. I have to agree that putting yourself out there (perhaps by volunteering first) is a great way to get yourself known and also to see what it is you enjoy.

Ok, so you aren't really restricting yourself to school hours - that wasn't very realistic unless you get a job doing lunchtime barwork or something.

It could well be the military family problem - but there's not a lot you can do about that.

Otherwise, chin up, lots of SAHMs return to work, so it's not impossible. Any retraining needed? Even just to show you've updated yourself after a gap? Voluntary work can really help your CV, both for the skills, and also to show that you are used to working in a routine/sorting out childcare etc again.

We employ quite a few mum returners, and it always works out well for us, so it's not something we hold against candidates at all.

Here's another inspiring story for you then!

As I said I am dubious about job ads (unless you really want to work for the civil service) but I should probably share the below links for anyone looking for part time and flexible opportunities:

www.timewisejobs.co.uk/?gclid=CLiniPrN-sQCFQjKtAodBUkAow (all sorts of part time roles)
jobs.capabilityjane.com/ (part time professional roles)
www.hurstoneliot.com/ (part time/project roles, professional type stuff)
www.cmocentre.com/Welcome.html (part time B2B marketing roles)

They are all worth a look, but please, please do not let up on your networking efforts in parallel. Why?

I briefed Timewise (in my pre-maternity job), to recruit a part time HR person for us, but ended up hiring via personal contact instead. The person we eventually hired had had three years out as a SAHM and wanted to get back to work, but her confidence was really low. However, she sorted out her CV and sent it out to absolutely everyone she knew, explaining what she was looking for (part time HR work, preferably in a small informal company). Meanwhile, I had emailed the former HR director of a company I used to work for, asking him if he knew of anyone. A few days later he came back to me, saying that someone he used to work with had a CV of someone she knew... and voila!

Once we had established she was competent and would be a good cultural fit, we had a pretty open conversation about what we as a company needed in terms of availability and workload, and what she needed in terms of flexibility and pay. I think she ended up doing three days a week, with two early finishes because of childminder pick ups.

At one point, she said she felt like she was doing more work than she was paid for, because she was spending a lot of her non working days dealing with urgent emails during a particularly busy period. So we increased her pay by half a day, to cover the time she spent working from home.

From her perspective this was pretty much the ideal job - part time HR work in a small informal company, a good foot back in the door after three years out (she's now working at a bigger company in the same industry) - and from ours we were happy because we had someone super motivated and hard working, plus it saved a fortune on agency fees - all it cost us was a bottle of nice wine to the guy I used to work with!

Go for m-f 9-5 jobs.

You can cover the wraparound and holidays with childcare.

No point in going for sectors which want evening/weekend/shift work if you don't have a DP or family to do childcare in those hours.

It's almost impossible to find paid childcare outside m-fr 8-6.

I just had a job interview and for some reason, I'm not sure I'm gonna get it. Stupid interview nerves.

www.tinies.com/our-favourites/transferable-parenting-skills.html?utm_source=Sign-Up.to&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=10258-337862-WFP+Update+April+2015+%28Tinies%29

This might be of interest if you get to the interview stage

Hi OP, I know how you feel. I've been out of work as a SAHM for 10 years! It really has flown by.

I've only just started looking but have already had immediate knock backs before any sign of an interview. And it's from jobs as you say, that seem to hire anyone (I know, I'm just being bitter)

Sticky Thank you for that post. It's really helpful and confidence inspiring.

Can I ask an opinion?
I have found many, many positions require you to have C+ grades in GCSE English and Maths. I never got C in my Maths It was never an issue 10 years ago when I was working. Does anyone think it's worth trying to take this GCSE (maybe online learning) or should I apply for those jobs anyway and hope they don't bring it up?

tametempo

if you are able to spare a couple of hours a week, your local college will run free Maths and literacy level 2/ equiv to GCSE for free.
If you get in touch they will probably have day and evening classes.

Thank you morethan I never realised they would be free at the college. Will look into that!

I was a SAHM for 8 years and got the first job I applied for after that- school hours, term time only. It is possible! Try looking at the schools near you- private as well as state- not very well paid usually but offset by the lack of childcare expense and the fact that you get the time after school and in the holidays with your child/children.

tametempo which one, the one on the previous page, or this one?

Well, they both are actually!

But your post on the previous page has reminded me I do actually have something to offer. I don't have to be at the mercy of all the job site adverts who seem to only consider applications from Mr/Mrs Perfect who can tick all the boxes.
I don't need to go into the interviews (if I ever get that far) feeling like I'm wasting their time and kind of embarrassed to be there. I will hold my head high and get some confidence and motivation coursing through me!

I have been a SAHM for 16 years (OU degree in the last 6) and have been given a new training position starting soon. It is part time but I need to use some childcare. School hours is great but can limit your options and you may be up against high competition. It also can be low paid. Don't give up there are opportunities! Would you consider training or new career? I know a few sahm going back to uni. Eg NHS careers will pay bursary and childcare and some are part time.

YES definately do GCSE maths and English if you haven't got it. I have friends who were turned down due to their lack of these even though they had lots of experience.

I look at some people in certain roles especially in retail and do wonder how they got the role in the first place, are these employers just not that fussy!

My DS (17) got a summer job by mail shotting local accountancy firms.

He didnt want to do a retail or waiter type role because he wanted his weekends free! He got two offers on a temp basis and is going back to his old firm before he starts uni. One young man started the same day as him and even though its potential boring office junior type work left saying he couldnt get his head around the role!

supermarkets are great for shifts within school hours. I worked in one pre DD and we got to choose our 3 hour shifts. Could do two back to back (with half hour break) or 3 hours each day etc. Lots of my friends work in supermarkets due to flexible hours.

You could also try to get a job in a school.

Our local Sainsburys offers term time school friendly hours. It will be zero hours I suspect which just might suit you.

I was a sahm for 7 years and i didn't think anyone would give me a job. I'd applied for loads but hadn't even got a response and then i got 2 interviews in a week and got offered the job from the first one!
I know it's disheartening, but you never know what's around the corner. Somebody out there is looking for someone just like you.

I was a sahm for twenty five years, started volunteering and a year later am in full time work with them and earning more than my husband! I've been trained up for a specialist job and it's amazing, don't give up!

I guess a lot depends on what you were doing and the level you were performing at prior to becoming a sahm. I worked at a senior level in a very creative field prior to dc being born. I was a sahm for just over 6 years. I toyed with the notion of looking for a part-time job when dc settled in school. Out of the blue I had a call from a former colleague to head up a project for the last 3months of a pilot project. They were willing to work around whatever hours I would be prepared to give. I worked 3 mornings a week on that, and finished the project out in time to spend the summer holidays free with dc. Later that year I had another call offering a very senior position as emergency cover. I took it, again I had the opportunity to negotiate hours. Then I was offered the role permanently, with the same hours I had started on, radically different hours to the last person in the job (but less salary too) it suits me as I am home every afternoon for dc. I am the most senior person in the organisation and I love my job.

I agree with the posters who say networking is really the way to go!

Good luck with the job hunt.

What sort of job are you looking for? anything? Or something specific?

Look at jobs you like and re define your skill set. Look at gaps. Re do your cv. Tailor it to every position before sending.

Join a women's business network and go to everything, take a biz card with your name and number on it. Chat to everyone, be positive and say you would love to do anything to get back into work. Look at company's in your area you like the sound of and email their HR and say you'd like to be kept in mind.

Shamelessly network your working friends and get them to interview you, to see if you can improve. Ask them for help. Go on linked in and look for jobs.

I'm in a part time job which I hate passionately, my boss is a tosser! I've never been out of work, think I've got a pretty good cv and a degree under my belt. Last interview I has was January, got offered the job but the hours weren't suitable with childcare and being a single parent.
I apply for jobs everyday but not heard a peep in 4 months :(

I don't mean to be too harsh but there are lots of people claiming they cannot find a role yet their expectations seem rather high.

I think one needs to remember that childcare costs, single parent issues, waste of space ex is absolutely nothing to do with a potential employer.

As I have mentioned on another thread I did some interviews a while back. I interviewed two women one of whom didn't turn up despite changing the interview to a telephone one and the other asked about the company's arrangements for inset days. One of the panel didn't know what an inset day was.... (And why should he!).

Neither of them got the role and even then some posters said I should have given them a 2nd chance....

Ovary

Can I ask what kind of volunteering?

Think transferable skills! Ok so you have been 'at home'....doesn't mean you haven't had to juggle a million and one things. It's the most difficult (unpaid) job on the planet being a mum. Dedication, commitment, time management, organisation, able to work alone, team work, financial management, honestly the list IS endless!!