SAHM for 12 years - any success stories at getting work after this length of time?

[MillyONaire]

I have mostly been a sahm for 12 years. For the past 14 months I have been unsuccessfully looking for a job - mostly admin jobs as my previous work was quite specialised and is thin on the ground after the recession. In my 12 years "off" I have done voluntary work, admin and sales work for my families business and have done several courses (most recently a Microsoft Office one). I think my CV doesn't look too dusty, the one time I got feedback from a rejection they said I'd just been pipped to the post by someone with more specific experience. I have just applied for the exact job I did Before Children and if I don't even get to interview stage on this one I will feel like giving up completely (though not really an option of course). In my lower moments I feel a bit like staying at home was a massive mistake (though my dc would disagree thank goodness). Can anyone throw a ray of light over here and tell me a success story of Work After a Long Break???

Yes, I went back after 9 years, so was off almost as long as you. Like you I'd done voluntary work, admin bits & pieces & a couple of courses so I'd have something to put on the CV.

It took a while, but I managed to get a part time sales job which I did for six months (hated it!) then I got a part time admin job which I did for a few years before finally taking the plunge & going back full time when my youngest DC was a teenager. I'm now in a completely different type of job, but I enjoy it. I don't regret for a minute the years I spent at home with the DC.

Just remember all the skills you had before DC are still there, and you've acquired a good few more while you've been a SAHM. Try not to get disheartened, keep trying & I'm sure you will succeed eventually.

My mother went back to work after 12 years, but she retrained as a teacher. Tbh, everyone I know who went back to work after long breaks didn't go back to the field they were in before they had DCs. They all retrained for second careers.

I heard that at the large public sector organisation they used to say they get 400 applications for every admin job - admin jobs draw by far the most applications, therefore some of the hardest types of jobs to get. Hang in there - can you look at temping? Temp to perm can be a good way to get your foot in the door of you can afford the uncertainty.

Are there any refresher type courses you could be doing? If you are applying for office based jobs maybe a computer update course would be a good idea?

Temping could be good as they'll progressively give you better roles once you get some experience and they get positive feedback. Also you'll get to meet different companies etc and that could lead to a job.