To think it is impossible to get back to work!

[skippykips]

After 5 years of being a SAHM!
How did you do it? I have spent 5 years being a SAHM. I am now ready to get back into work! Its more of a need financially than a want to.

Understandably many employers do not like a big work gap on a CV. Surely there is somebody out there who will give me a chance to prove I am what they need!

I am feeling so disheartened right now!

How many jobs have you applied for, and got interviews for?

What sort of jobs are you applying for? You could start by volunteering in that field first.

I was a SAHM for 7 years. It is possible.

It is very difficult, even after a relatively short time out like you have. I took 2 years out and found it difficult. Are you trying to get back into the same kind of work you did before? Have you maintained any contacts?

I went via recruitment agencies, but ended up getting a job by contacting a company I had previously worked for as I still had some contacts there. Is that an option for you?

I'm a SAHM too and we've planned for a year, maybe two of volunteering before I think I'll be able to return to work. Or I could go back to being self employed (I was before dc).

I have had 1 interview. I didn't get the job, they offered me something better...but on a zero hour contract. I had to decline. 0 hours does not feed my children.

I have applied for so many! Every day I apply for at least 10. Some in my field and others as a cleaner or retail assistant. Just to broaden horizons - to better my chances.

I am an administrator. I have tried to keep myself updated with it and completed a diploma in Business Administration.

I’ve just gone back to work after 16 years it is possible

I think the volunteering route is possibly the best option.

The place I worked at before has had to make redundancies. I did call them, she said if it hadn't been for the redundancies she would take me back.

Could you do any freelance work first?

I was made redundant but picked up some low paid work o People Per Hour etc. first just to keep my hand in. This led to better paid freelance and eventually a job.

Office temping via an agency to get some recent work?

It is possible but it is not easy. I would take even the zero hours contract just to be able to have something recent and a fresh reference in my CV.

I did volunteer in an admin setting, which led to other jobs. But I wouldn’t waste time volunteering on something that doesn’t build in that CV.

My cousin has lived in three different locations in the past year, in each she has got an admin job after 3 years as a SAHP.
It’s doable, good luck

Have you tried local colleges? Learning support etc or tutors. Or teaching fe in whatever you used to do.

I think however, that if you are able to apply to 10 jobs in a day that may mean you are in an area where you will face strong competition from people with more recent experience (I have friends who have got admin jobs at small towns/villages even when they didn’t even know how to use MS Word- honestly! But I am pretty sure they wouldn’t have had a chance in hell to get shortlisted for something in amore populated area).

Another possibility to update your CV is to get some recent training, is your EDL up to scratch (nobody checks for it but being able to say you are good at excel and access DOES help).

Public sector will probably be more sympathetic, but also more likely to be fixed term contacts.

Thank you. Some good ideas I will definitely take on board!

My DP thinks if I call the places I have sent CVs to, tell them not to dismiss me because of work gap then they will see me as enthusiastic and eager! To me, that just seems desperate and may come across as annoying!
The one time I did this I got an interview. Offered a better job, but with a contract that didn't suit.
If any of you lovely people are employers, would me phoning you annoy you or would it come across as pro active and enthusiastic?

It can be disheartening I know but you will do it, I've just got a job after being out if work for 17 years ( due to dfc needing more care than first anticipated.) My qualifications, experience and references were all out of date. I'll be working at my local hospital, the nhs are keen to help people back into employment, they were interested in life experience and transferable skills in the interview.

@NotSureThisIsWhatIWant, thats an idea! I love in Birmingham so very populated! I don't drive, but to look in more rural areas and working out if commuting is possible could give me a better chance!

Im willing to try anything! I am taking on board all of your suggestions! I am willing to do anything.

Thank you all so much! I started to feel disheartened and in a rut! Lots of ideas I hadn't thought of!

@greedycushionhoarder what is it you do?

I'd go and register with some agencies

If you are applying for that number of jobs a day are you tailoring your application to the job specification?

I went back to work after 5 years. I started retraining in something different for two years once kids went to full time school and volunteered one day a week in chosen career. I then got offered a job there but only 5 hours a week which I accepted as a foot in the door. I worked my way up from 5 hours to 32 in a year. Maybe I was lucky but its totally doable x

The only places I'd even consider ringing are small setups that don't have a HR department and might have a bit more flexibility. If you apply to a big company that has a list of criteria they need to make the decision based on, and one of those is recent experience, you ringing them telling them not to apply it has no chance of helping you and might put them off.

I wouldn't necessarily even ring the small setups actually, but there's literally no point contacting anyone bigger.

Perhaps it depends where you live. I went back after a 10 year break with no bother but that was Greater London where there are lots of jobs.

I was just going to say tailoring your application to each job.
Maybe it would be worth someone checking over you cv for you?