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Original poster

SO what do you do when you have been a SAHM for over 10 years...

23 replies

gorionine · 30/07/2010 06:55

Here is the situation, I am Swiss I went to school there and did all my work qualifications ther but have never worked there (exept asside my studies to pay for them, not career jobs). When I came in the UK my English was very basic and to get me started I worked as a waitress. After 1 1/2 year I became pregnant with DD1 and was really not up to it anymore as really not coping with food to well.

Foreward to now, 11 years and 4 dcs on, I have no qualification I can actually use (obsolete) but would like to gently ease myself back into work. OUr school is advertising for a "lunch time organiser". I have shown interest and talking to the HT he would be quite happy for me to be it ( he saw me arround children as I lead the toddler group in school once a week). My problem is that now I have got the application form the job but appart from my name and adress it is pretty bare. I do not know what to do ,If I struggle for something I do know I would be pretty good at how on earth am I going to ever get back to work. What am I supposed to put on that application? I do not want to give up but it seems pretty bleak.

OP posts:
Original poster
gorionine · 30/07/2010 07:21

bump

OP posts:
ragged · 30/07/2010 07:32

Hype up the toddler group experience and your other time with kids. Have you done any other volunteer work, on a preschool committee or for the Guides, etc.?

If you don't get this job, look at other
volunteer work, any sort where you can pick up skills (and maybe references) and have something to put on CV.

zandy · 30/07/2010 07:38

Just fill in the factual parts, then for the experience, mention your toddler group work, and the fact you have been a 'stay at home mum' for 11 years.

The headmaster has already shown interest in employing you, so don't be too panicked about not having a 'full' c.v.

Bonsoir · 30/07/2010 07:41

Are you an organised SAHM whose children's lives are full and whose family functions, or a chaotic SAHM whose children are a walking disaster?

What can you say about the skills you have developed as a SAHM that would be useful for the role for which you are applying?

Original poster
gorionine · 30/07/2010 07:43

I was planning to retrain when DD4 starts school. She will be in nursery from September so half day only. This would be a good opportunity for me to get a foot in working life before that though. Dh said the same thing about the toddler group and sais as well that even SAHM could add value to how I deal with children, I am not so convinced about the later though.

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Original poster
gorionine · 30/07/2010 07:50

X posted

"The headmaster has already shown interest in employing you, so don't be too panicked about not having a 'full' c.v." yes that is great, he also said that he would be very happy to accomodate the fact that Dd4 start nusery 1/2 hour after my "shift " would start and that he would have no problem with her having her lunch with the school children ub=ntil her nursery session starts. I guess I am worried because the application form seems to be a coincil one rather than a school own one and I dio not know if people at the council make the decision or if HT has any sort of imput in it as well.

I am not the most organised SAHM but I have disciplined children who do well in school.

I have down loaded a thing about what the qualities a lunch time organiser should have and I know I have them, it is just that I cannot actually prove it.

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Original poster
gorionine · 30/07/2010 07:53

coincil ??? council

I suppose it is a blessing that I will be hanwriting the form rather than typing it!

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KnottyLocks · 30/07/2010 08:06

Blimey G, sounds like the Headteacher is desperate to have you. Quite right too!

Anyhow, is there a section on the application form that is for you to either write a 'letter' or add any further details? If so, that is where you write about your tranferable skills - skills that you have now (through being a mother and from your previous work) that will be useful for this job.
Look at the job specification: make sure that you cover each bullet point for the 'Essential' and as many as you can for the 'Desirable'. Play up all your relevant experience.

As for the form being a council one, this is absolutely normal. Where does it ask you to return the form to? The school or the council offices?

KnottyLocks · 30/07/2010 08:10

Oh, and generally speaking the appointment of employees to work in a school environment will be overseen by the headteacher.

Sounds like you will have no problem with persuading the headteacher!

CindersIsNotApoet · 30/07/2010 08:35

bugger

wrote a post and wasnt logged in ....

okay

maybe list hobbies
or pastimes

get a couple of personal references

do a first aid course
always useful working with children

and Im sure your exams will still
look good on paper...

babster · 30/07/2010 08:49

I just got a job as a TA after several years as a SAHM and yes the standard council form does look a bit intimidating! Don't let this put you off. Just make sure you write a good covering letter emphasising your work at the toddler group. Perhaps one of the school staff could provide a reference? Your best advantage is that the school knows you and the head is already keen to appoint you... sounds like it's in the bag

PestoEatsPastiesandSurfboards · 30/07/2010 10:24

Sorry, I don't have a lot to add except that Registered Childminders have to do a First Aid course at regular intervals, so you could maybe find out when their next one is arranged for and tag along on with them.

EmmaHewett · 30/07/2010 10:35

Have you thought about transferable skills? Often you have skills that employers want even if it wasn't gained through a conventional career path.

Here's a link to a free and quick transferable skills assessment: bit.ly/dBskus

Perhaps you could use the results to consider more skills for your CV.

Original poster
gorionine · 30/07/2010 11:07

Oh thank you all! I will do as Knotty says and pack as much as I can on that "supporting information sheet".

Good idea babster about asking someone from the school to do a reference for me as I have really no thing other to offer.

Thanks for le link Emma!

I will now sit down and get to it. Thanks to you I feel a littl bit more confident now!

Thanks all for your support!

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Original poster
gorionine · 30/07/2010 11:12

Emma, just tried your link and do not get anywhere (I tried both as you wrote it and with added www.)

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EmmaHewett · 30/07/2010 11:43

Oh dear... try this: www.essex.ac.uk/reo/ecif/assessments.html

Sorry about that!

KnottyLocks · 30/07/2010 11:47

Have a look at this link:Transferable skills

Especially the 2 sections about Human Relations and Work Survival etc. Most of those are relevant to the job you are applying for.

Original poster
gorionine · 30/07/2010 12:23

It is OK, I have just finished and it really helped, I had no idea that I actually had transferable skills!

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KnottyLocks · 30/07/2010 12:29

Excellent. Well done. See, you do have talents, oh one of little faith.

CindersIsNotApoet · 30/07/2010 12:49

well done

and good luck...

Original poster
gorionine · 30/07/2010 13:42

I will keep you posted

OP posts:
StripeyMoon · 30/07/2010 18:15

Came to this late, good luck G!!!!!

Original poster
gorionine · 31/07/2010 07:58

Thanks Moon!

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