Going back after seven years out

[back2work]

I have an interview tomorrow and I am swotting up today in preparation. God I really want this job! When i applied it was just for the money but the more I prepare, the more I realise i wnat to go back to work for my sake too.

I gave up work when DC2 was born and DC1 was just starting to walk. I felt I couldn't cope with the commute, doing things at work that seemed pointless and missing out on my children's early years. I earned more than enough money to pay people to look after the DC and to buy them everything they could need but I felt that I needed to give myself too.

But wind a few years on and they are both at school, doing well, happy, well-adjusted children and although they still need me, they also are beginning to need their independence from me. Now I want the hugs more than they do!

It will take a lot of adjustment from all sides but I so want to get back into the workplace. To do what i am actually good at, instead of what I've just learned to do - cooking, washing, cleaning, helping with homework etc.

The main fly in the ointment is that I might want to go back but my old industry may well not want me back. My experience now looks dated whereas I was working in the cutting edge areas when I left. The job tomorrow is something I would not have even considered when I left but now it seems very desirable and I will be very lucky to get it.

The only other problem on the horizon is that DH got made redundant a while back. That's why I originally applied for this job. Now he's in final talks for a job abroad and if he gets it, then we will have to decide what to do.

There's not really any question here - I just wanted to tell someone how excited I am (and nervous) about tomorrow.

Good Luck!! Your experience may be dated but it shows that you could do the job in the past and therefore can again! Yes, things change but you have learned how to deal with them in the past and will be able to in the future. Most of what we learn in our studies / qualifications / previous experiences isn't repeated in our day to day jobs but we use this knowledge / experience to work our how to do our to day jobs. Also, new things can be learned / caught up on etc, but there are personal characteristics that are crucial to most jobs. There will be lots of people on the "pangs of grief" thread (including me!) who will be really interested to hear how it goes, the interview as well as the going back to work bit!! Get your mind back to the kick ass woman you were before (I'm sure you were one!!) and go and kick some ass!!

Remember all the skill you have learnt in the last 7 years, in particular the inner confidence you will have gained from successfully bringing up 2 kids. Good luck! Get in there and shine!

Thanks for your replies.

I had the interview yesterday. It was in London and it took me an hour and half door to door each way - that's day trip distance these days!

As I went in I didn't feel nervous any more, I just felt that I done my best to prepare and there was nothing more I could do, so they were either going to like me or not.
Then when it was over, I walked away feeling that I had done well but slowly that feeling has been wearing off and I'm cringing at the thought of how they must have perceived me. I can't say how I did badly, although there were times when I was asked a question about the industry today and i could only say that my answer had to based on how it was seven years ago and my best guess for the direction it is headed in.

It was only the first round though. They said they would let me know next week if I have made it to the second round. I'm going to try to put it out of my mind now before I screw myself up into a nervous wreck looking for evidence that the interviewers were horrified by me!

It's easy under any circumstances to pick over and analyse reactions. Good luck with the waiting! Hope it goes well and I'm sure they were not horrified. And well done for not being nervous in the interview!!

I did not get it. They called this morning and said that I didn't know enough about some of the more recent developments in the industry, although my interpersonal skills etc were good and I had a good knowledge of the areas in which I had experience. They actually drew their conclusions from an answer I gave almost at the start of the interview which is annoying because I knew more than I said in my answer but I hadn't got into the groove of the interview at that point. The later answers were better.

I am disappointed.

Sorry you didn't get the job, it was not meant to be and something better will come along. Worth re-grouping and considering your options maybe from a different angle.

What work-friendly skills have you been gathering over the last 7 years which you haven't taken into account? This may sound really obvious, but SAHMs are undervalued as employment prospects.
This 10 minute free test goes some way to looking at your 6 key skills areas and how 'transferable' your skills are:
www.venturenavigator.co.uk/skills

Have a look into franchise opportunities, or banding together with someone else to form your own business based on your skills and passions. There are niche markets waiting to be plundered.....