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Original poster

SAHMs - if you've gone back to work after a long career break what job do you now have?

17 replies

Sprogstersmum · 13/09/2013 11:45

That's it really. Have been a SAHM for 8 years and now am looking to return to work as youngest DC has started school and just struggling. Have applied for jobs in my previous career but am unlikely to get back in I think and don't really want to go back to full time long commute which is what they'll all be. Have a place on a childcare course with a view to being a teaching assistant but have just found out today that school cannot give the volunteer role that they previously said they could and cannot do course without work experience. If I can find another school to take me now then I'll need childcare and I can't pay for childcare without earning. Just feel so disillusioned as v keen to work and am hoping someone else's story with inspire me. Thanks!

OP posts:

WhatSheSaid · 13/09/2013 11:46

Watching this as I would like some ideas too.

ditavonteesed · 13/09/2013 11:47

I am a clinical support worker in the maternity hospital, after nine years at home.

healthyoption77 · 13/09/2013 12:03

bumping this thread, as I will be in this position (8 years as SAHM and counting... I still have an 18 month old at home, but suspect I will have to retrain at some point when he goes off to school. I have looking at Occupational therapy, as it seems like an interesting and family friendly career.

ChocsAwayInMyGob · 14/09/2013 10:47

Similar position here. Looks like I'll have to go back to work but v reluctant. I'm worried about who looks after them when they're sick? What to do about INSET days? summer holidays? plus what job can I do when I haven't worked for 7 years?

ben5 · 14/09/2013 10:55

I was in the navy( dh still is). I left as I felt both of us couldn't be in at the same time and I ( we) wanted to be a SAHM. 8 years later and a move to australia I now work for Ngala ( help for parents of those who have children under 5). I'm a HIPPY ( home interaction programme for parents of youngsters ). Home tutor. I love it as its school hours and term time. Not very good pay but I also don't need to pay child care. I used to be a dental nurse

Scrounger · 14/09/2013 11:06

I'm 3 years out as a SAHM (had twins) and I'm doing a similar TA NVQ volunteering at a local school. I'm not sure if being a TA is going to pay, jobs are hard to get and to be financially viable it needs to be close to home, so cutting down on which jobs I could apply for.

I'm going to keep it going but also look at temping in accountancy roles in which I worked previously. I can then avoid temping in the school holidays (at least the summer ones) and it should pay better. I'm just about to start applying etc so fingers crossed.

chlobo76 · 16/09/2013 13:34

chlobo76 Mon 16-Sep-13 13:29:03

my children are 5 and 7 so both at school.
I was made redundant 6 years ago. THis week I have been asked to go back to my old job part time 20 hours a week 2 and half days a week.
Half of me wants to (for me and the money) half of me is so so scarred about it. Don't know what to do for the best. Have I got the confidence to go back to an office.
My husbands work said they will let him have the time off in the school holidays to cover when Id be working
HELP

MadeOfStarDust · 16/09/2013 16:46

I used to be a computer network support manager - on call, worldwide 24/7 etc..... major career, major money - not family friendly AT ALL - had my girls, was SAHM 'til they started infants, then a dinner lady, now work part time in a shop..... and am just as happy - if not as money-rich...

ChocsAwayInMyGob · 17/09/2013 12:37

Made of Stardust. I think that's lovely.

MadeOfStarDust · 18/09/2013 10:00

shucks....

I was in the lucky position of having a hubby that earns just about enough that we can afford for me to work part time... and we are not "consumerist" type people... so it leaves me mainly free for sickness/holidays, (hubby can cover some, and the girls are old enough at 11 and 12 to be together at home without us for a couple of hours)

and it was easy enough to find work (low paid and part time) after being out of the loop for years...

firewatchingfan · 17/01/2014 23:03

I'd like to bump this a bit. I'm struggling and feeling down after nearly 6 years off. I feel a bit embarrassed about applying for jobs in my former field, and starting to feel like a bit of a lost soul. I've sent of a few applications and the few rejections have disheartened me totally. I had a well-paid, professional job, with travel - and loved it - but just can't see myself doing something similar now. I've been applying for jobs with no travel and similar level in other ways.

But I just have a bad feeling about the whole thing. Why would anyone want me?? I can't bring myself to write myself off yet though! Sigh. The whole idea is sapping my energy and making me regret spending so much time at home. At the same time I love having some free time and freedom to do stuff and cuddle with the kids in the morning - but what will I do when the kids are big and don't "need" me anymore. We can live on one income but what if DH loses his job one day? I always thought I'd be the back-up and this is getting me worried. Any tips, please share them!

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 17/01/2014 23:06

Also watching with interest...

sweetkitty · 17/01/2014 23:09

I've been out if work for almost 10 years

Won't go back to my previous job but I'm currently volunteering in a school with a view to doing a PDGE and becoming a teacher, how feasible that is with 4 DC I don't know

verdiletta · 18/01/2014 16:06

I went back to work in the Autumn after 8 years of being a SAHM(doing the odd cleaning job in the evening). I'm a college tutor working with adults with learning disabilities. It's term time which is great and the money is brilliant (though I don't get paid in the holidays, and it's only a temporary contract). I'd worked with people with learning disabilities before, but only got the job because of voluntary work I'd done - adult literacy tuition and being on the playgroup committee. Without that I don't think I'd have had the confidence to even apply for this job, as I don't have a teaching qualification (though I'm hoping to start on a distance learning FE teaching certificate in the summer). Teaching a college course might be something to consider if people have industry experience?

Sprogstersmum, what a shame your work experience has fallen through. Does it have to be a school that you volunteer at? Could it be a club or something that your kids could come along to, so you wouldn't need childcare? Hope you find something.

MoreBeta · 18/01/2014 16:14

I didn't work for 10 years. Then someone found an old piece of my academic work on the internet and asked me to do some work for them based on that old bit of writing. I refused at first. Told them I was retired.

They told me I had to help them. I agreed reluctantly to do a few hours and an ad hoc meeting. Well 18 months later they still insist on ringing me up.

Old employers or firms in your old industry can be a good place to start.

Chottie · 20/01/2014 18:26

I was a SATM for 16 years (!) and I went back to work firstly as a volunteer and then as an adult education tutor. I now work full time as a manager in education.

morethanpotatoprints · 20/01/2014 18:27

Hello OP, you can do a level 2 TA course whilst working in a nursery. Maybe you could get a volunteer place at your child nursery. I know a couple of people who did this.
The main problem was the ICT unit, but they managed to get a placement in a school just to assist the dc when they did computer work, usually one aft a week for about an hour.

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