I don't know what job to apply for after a decade at home

[wildlifeintegration]

Sahm for 11 years and I've basically become less than a school leaver. I don't have any qualifications and I don't have any experience but I do have a big fat gap on my cv.

I have good GCSEs that is all.

I don't know what to do or what job to look for, I have 4 children 12 and under (youngest is 3 so starting school soon)

I just need a little bit of a push because September is approaching and I'm not ready. Should I give the first year up as a volunteer? I only have 15 hours free as it's nursery.

It didn't seem like such a big deal before but now the time is coming up I feel really under prepared.

If you like working with children what about doing an Early years apprenticeship?

I agree with this. Apprenticeships are a great opportunity to learn and earn plus see if you like a certain industry.

Plus, OP, you havent studied since GCSEs. A degree is expensive and a huge risk in terms of doing well when not only do you not have A levels (though I appreciate not always needed) you havent actually done any study recently. It is a big step up for many who have just sat their A levels let alone anyone else. An apprenticeship will be more manageable and free.

Also I dont think there is any point in a degree unless you know what you want to do. I will discourage my own kids from a degree unless they really Know what they want to do as it's a lot of money to spend on just delaying employment. And particularly in your case when you seem to be looking at part time work - not sure its value for money for you. A lot of people with degrees dont actually earn much more than those without but with experience.

I also am probably in agreement with your DH. You've made a huge sacrifice to the family in not working outside the home and caring for the family working inside the home instead. However I also cannot imagine the stress your DH has had as sole earner on 30k with 4 kids to support. That's not much money at all - I assume you're receiving benefits which you'll need to consider with what options you take.

In your shoes I would apply for entry level or retail type jobs in the immediacy and then do some research around professions and pick what I am interested in to pursue. I helped a friend who was a SAHM get a job after 10 years out in an entirely new profession by writing her application focusing on her skills as a SAHM. Don't forget those OP. Apply the skills you used at home to the jobs you are applying for I.e. great at working with as well as managing people (with examples of organising and managing all your family members as well as all working together).

Do you live near a big hospital? Try NHS jobs there are lots on entry level jobs either as domestics (cleaning), healthcare assistants etc.

Also there's lots of opportunity to progress in the NHS.

I’m a Parish Clerk of a big parish, it is a great job to have with children because it is so flexible but my job required a degree and experience in accounting etc… Small parish’s don’t require this but usually only have something like six hours a week and pay not much more than minimum wage, they will fund qualification though!

@wildlifeintegration what you really want - for inspiration, possible first steps, and general sharing of experience is the:

Mature study and retraining board.

You’ll find countless threads from people in the same or similar situations to yours.

Have you looked at the OU?

Have a look on eteach.com to see if there are any school jobs available, teaching assistant, lunchtime supervisor, office role.

What?

Are there lots of openings in parish councils? Is it a big employer these days?

Parish councils?

There are apprenticeships that lead to degrees. You get paid while working, plus the degree is paid for: https://www.ucas.com/apprenticeships/degree-apprenticeships

I did an access course, which took up 2 days a week and lasted 5/6 months and I could combine it with work. An access course could be a good way to get back into learning without committing to a course over several years. Mine was v supportive plus, even though it was a creative course, I learnt some good business skills

Lots of opportunity to progress in the NHS ? 🙄
OP may be lovely but why are health care jobs always cited when people (usually SAHM) haven't a clue about careers and what to do next ?

@Samphiredragonfly because she has no qualifications or experience and there are jobs available in the NHS like that. Sounds like she just wants a part time entry level job, not to be the next COO.

@MasterBeth yes, there are usually lots of parish council openings. There are over 10,000 parish councils in the UK that all employ at least one member of staff. Pay for small Parish Councils where the precept is in the hundreds is pretty low but generally 100% flexible and a few hours a week. You can also clerk a few different small parishes to increase earnings. Once you are qualified and have experience you can be the clerk of a ‘Town Councik’ which are just large parish councils, you can earn £60k+. There is a real shortage of qualified Parish Clerks.

I've worked my way up from a band 3 admin to a band 7 with training and development on the way so yes.
You don't have to be in front line care, the opportunities are vast.

How do you feel about working with children? You could volunteer as a classroom helper/reader at your DC’s school which is likely to lead to an LSA position. My DCs school were always desperate for helpers and I think most of their LSAs are parents.

It's not a bad wage, we are just above the threshold for help and receive only child benefit which is around £200 a month. No universal credit or anything else.

We managed to save for a house deposit on one wage so it's not been too bad. If it was I would have gone back sooner.

I was going to go into secondary teaching but have done a complete U turn as I don't have the time anymore with a family, I'd want more time at home, and also teachers have been leaving in droves and I don't think it'd be worth the hassle. My friend has only just qualified 2 years ago and is planning to leave the profession already.

I don't know what I want to do because I have to add on the time constraints of having 4 your children at home and a partner who isn't available for childcare. (and his shifts aren't the same every week. there is no consistency)

I've had lots of food for thought. Definitely going to be asking the nursery if they need any help, maybe read with the children or something.

My sister works in conservation and its mostly recording data, but that's the dream, I can't move around the country like she can though (no children) however it sort of annoys me that I've facilitated my dps career while he's had to work anywhere from Scotland to Wales to Devon, but I have to be a part time cleaner for the foreseeable as the same support cant be given to me and my potential career.
obviously weve supported eachother, I keep the children while he financially supports us all.
I just don't fancy waking up at 80 thinking I wish I'd tried harder.

Our kids won't be little forever and then I'll be stuck with an empty nest with nothing fulfilling I my life.

Definitely start by volunteering and you’ll get into your groove. Don’t be down, this is an exciting new start for you. You have the rest of your life to get into something. The website DOit has loads of opportunities on there. You can search for everything.

Let us know how you get on. I wish I had four kids and had been at home with them. 🥰

Lots of good suggestions already, but I’m going to throw something else in there: with four children, only 15 hours free and no car, I think geography is key. It could be useful to have a very good look at employment opportunities in your immediate local area. Turn on Google Maps and zoom in until individual business names are visible: you will begin to see dozens of businesses and organisations that are tucked away off the immediate high street or in residential areas. The side bar will link to their website if they have one. A job very close to home could be exactly what you need right now.

What type of conservation? There are degree apprenticeships in both cultural/heritage conservation and environmental conservation! The National Trust is a great place to get work experience for both.

If you are in London, Oxford or Cambridge think about science jobs - start as a lab tech and go from there. It sounds like you’re still quite young and this is an area likely to grow in the UK over the next 30 years of your working life.

Hi,

I am in the same position as you! I have four kids (aged 6-16), I have been out of work and at home with them for the best part of 16 years on and off due to endless re-location for my husbands job and various things.

Before kids I was doing admin/PA work - you could look into starting that? just basic admin/data inputting for any company/council. Or try getting on bank staff at your local hospital. They ALWAYS need people. Just somewhere to start and climb up from there. The NHS has their own website for jobs. I used to work for the local Children's Center doing admin and that was 16 hours a week, school term time only and within school hours.

I would think very carefully about starting a degree - If you do one make sure it will lead into a job - my husband did Classics and had to re-train. I did Literature and its done nothing for me. Zilch.
I would think about a vocational qualification so you can get into a profession. I am now trying to get work at nursery school and would then want to do an NVQ in childcare (I think the nursery (or possibly government) pay for it and you are working while getting qualified). Because the nursery are open so long 7am - 6pm, there is much more flexibility with hours then an office can offer me. This nursery seems to offer shorter days/hours then I have seen elsewhere. It might be a nightmare or it might be ok. My dream is to do a Masters in Creative Writing, so I am saving up for that 😬
I think what you need is just a profession - something focused to work towards. Maybe think what kind of job you could do while training towards something? I think if you don't have a plan, its easy to just end up drifting.

It is so hard to get back to work - but see this as a new era, a new challenge, a chance to re-train. You have good GCSE's - there is so much more you can go on and do now. Good luck!

@MichaelAndEagle band 3 to band 7 ? 30 odd years in the NHS but only a nurse so chances of any kind of band 7 are zilch.

I've gained qualifications on the way obviously. But it is possible and there are lots of entry level positions that the op might be interested in.

NHS jobs? Bank and you can work around childcare? Or admin if you want it?

or social care or local councils? May offer a bit more working from home etc .

@wildlifeintegration If you ask MNHQ they will happily move your thread to the Mature Study and Retraining board - where it will be of interest and use to other women wanting to return to work but hesitating to ask for help.

(That is what the board was, relatively recently, set up to address.)

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/mature_students

You may also find the many experiences discussed in the threads help to suggest routes to you.