I can’t find a job after being a SAHM

[GroovyMinx]

I gave up my full time career (dental nurse) after having my eldest who is 10. It’s not a job I would want to go back to, especially now I’m nearing 40.
I had a few cafe jobs since (I now have 2 children) but after having a MH breakdown in 2024 I haven’t worked at all.

Youngest DC starts school next week and I cannot find a job at all. I’ve had 4 interviews - all of which actually ghosted me after the interview even when saying they would let me know either way.

i feel so useless.

Have you looked into being a child minder as you have plenty of experience with children.?

I'd be willing to bet you were a SAHM in the 80s/90s. This does not work now.

Why don't you volunteer? That will fill the gap in your CV.

Have you searched your local council and applied for jobs?

Correct but I still used that in my cv as recently as 2018

8 years ago isn’t recent

It’s not 1980s or 1990s though 😂

Oh god OP, don't do this. Call me unprofessional but I'd laugh my head off if I got a CV detailing nappy changing, playing with building bricks and hoovering. Particularly if you described it as 'the hardest job in the world'. Apart from anything a CV should be tailored to a role. Unless she's applying to be a nanny or a cleaner, the so called 'duties and responsibilities' of a SAHM will be entirely irrelevant.

So you have a gap from the 80s-90s and you were still explaining it like that in 2018? I'm sorry but I will not be taking CV advice from you.

That’s absolutely fine but it got me the promotions I was looking for 😊😊

Absolutely under no circumstances do this.

I would try looking at some part time parish clerk jobs, they can struggle to recruit but provide full training and decent career progression.

Still doesn’t mean it would work now! Honestly people arnt reading back to the 90s on your cv to see your SAHM comment anyway. Putting she has caring responsibilities or similar would be fine, but nobody wants to read your roles and responsibilities of being a parent on a cv

Awful advice ....

The job market is abysmal. DH and I advertised a role last month, and we received over 2500+ applications.

You should play to your main strength and look at roles in dentistry. Its irrelevant if you don't like it, you need to work so can't afford to be applying for the same generic stuff every other unqualified person is going for

Her experience is 10 years out of date and she’s not been able to work since her mental health breakdown so it not being what she wants is actually 100% relevant, any job needs to be sustainable for her. Has she even said she ‘needs’ to work? And can’t afford not to?

OP cannot afford to be picky, especially in this climate... after such a long time off work.

SAHMs planning to return to work need to upskill while raising the kids.

The best job I ever had after a period of not being able to find one was being a dispatcher for my local police force. Loved it, got loads of skills and it's a niche role that you don't need much prior skill for just the ability to learn it and the right mindset and ethics. Please look into it! I really loved it and it sprung me onto my current career.

It is relevant if her old job contributed to her breakdown. Why would you go back to a job that made you ill?

I suspect it's more the fact you have young children than the gap on your CV.

When interviewing for similar roles after two very lengthy stints as a SAHM the prospective employers were much more concerned about me needing time off for sick children/leaving early for school runs than the gap on my CV. It was very obvious what the gap was for.

You need to reassure them that husband/grandparents/friends are happy to rally round and support with childcare and it's not all on you.

I think it's just a case of keep going, don't give up. You just need to get your foot back in the door with something and then at least you have something on your CV. Perhaps consider volunteering/charity work as that always looks good on your CV and keeps you busy while looking.

Does your local council or DWP have an employability team? In our neck of the woods (Scotland) these teams help link up people who are at a distance from the labour market, and in our area around half of the individuals we help are parents (so it's not just a school leaver thing).

Hey I am a dental nurse, I love my job. But I work in hospital not practice. So I have the cushy life. On peads I see three patients all morning. Adult restorative you see one patient in the morning. As the role is focused on teaching the clinician how to be a good dentist. So the pace is very slow. No decon as the hospital steralise your instruments. Also if you work with the student dentist department you are there to supervise the student cross infection an They are always looking out for dental nurses. Recruitment shortage. The pay is good for what it is. You can also work annualised hours in hospital just term time

I worked at least three days a week after mat leave ended when mine were 7 months old. I did all my cleaning and laundry and shopping with DH cooking. I’m sorry, but I would not be impressed by someone trying to present being a SAHM as a job requiring lots of skills. Yes, parenting does require lots of skills but practically every mother I knew looked after their DC 4/5 days a week, worked 2/3 days and did most of the housework. I knew not one single woman who was not employed at least part time once all her DC were at school.

My post above referred to this. Don’t do this.

Blimey!