Hi everyone,
I’m reaching out to you kind Mumsnetters for some words of encouragement, please. I know I’m very fortunate in many ways, but I’m going through a tough time at the moment and could really use some support.
I have three kids, and my youngest has just started secondary school. My husband works long hours in a stressful and time-consuming job, so while the kids were in primary school, I took on most of the weekday childcare. Alongside this, I’ve been running my own business, which allowed me to earn a decent—if not particularly high—salary (similar to a teacher’s salary).
However, things have changed recently. My income has dropped due to factors beyond my control—my industry is volatile, and many of my clients are tied up in mergers and acquisitions. At the same time, our outgoings, including our mortgage, have risen.
I started looking for a permanent job in September, but despite my best efforts, I haven’t found one yet. I know 3.5 months isn’t a long time, but I’ve been looking diligently: responding to job ads, attending industry events, networking, contacting recruitment agencies, and preparing for interviews late into the night. On top of that, I’ve been continuing to work to bring in some income.
I’m feeling a bit burnt out and disheartened. Feedback from potential employers has been mixed—they say I’m either too senior or not senior enough, don’t have certain XYZ skills, or that my permanent-role experience is outdated. Some interviewers (often younger tech professionals) have been condescending, and I’ve even been told my salary expectations are too high (though I don’t think they are!). There’s also been the implication that I’ve been self-employed for too long.
Unfortunately, retraining isn’t an option right now due to financial constraints, as I need to keep earning money. I haven’t talked much about this with my husband or friends because I don’t like moaning and prefer to be seen as a positive person.
Am I unemployable because I’m “too old” (47)? I keep worrying that I didn’t build my career strategically enough or that I was too complacent. But it is what it is now. It’s hard not to compare myself to others—I was one of the top students in my university year, and it feels like everyone else has brilliant careers, while I’m stuck as an unsuccessful job seeker.
It’s a relief to get all of this off my chest here. Sorry for the long post, and thank you so much for taking the time to read and offer your support and maybe some success stories!