Struggling to find a job after time off to have a family

[CurlieSue]

Hi, my daughter was born July 2015. I had been working 8 years for my company in my last role and due to very difficult personal circumstances, I had to leave my employment. I've been a stay at home mum ever since my daughter was born, so almost 2 years now. I am desperate to return to work as apart from needing to go out to work for my own wellbeing, as I am struggling being at home day in day out, I have to work for financial reasons and keep a roof over our heads. The problem is that no-one wants to employ me. I've applied for loads of job in my specialist field where I have about 17 years experience but have had no luck. I recently applied as a checkout assistant at Tesco but was uncucessful. My confidence is rock bottom and I think the only thing I am good at is caring for my daughter. I want a job so badly. I will lose this house where we live if I can't find a job. I'm willing to retrain if necessary but I just need to be given a chance. Does anyone have any advice? Thank you.

I don't have any advice but I can say I know exactly how you feel. Ive been off for almost 15 years and cannot even get interviews half the time. Ive been job hunting seriously for 3 years but we can just about manage if I cant find work. At least your experience is fairly recent I used to use a typewriter when I left my last job

Don't just apply for roles in your specialist field. Think outside the box, are you great at organising/planning? Try looking for work as a PA or Project Assistant. Do you have skills in CAD then look for Web/CAD design assistants. Do you have finance qualifications or HR? Try a school academy administrator who needs both HR and finance. etc

Just keep plodding along. Apply for anything at all where you have the right skills. Once you have a job you should be able to move on to something more suitable.

It's so hard to get back to work after a spell of being at home. Does your dd currently go to any sort of childcare?

Youngest dc goes to (council) nursery for his free 20hrs and since last August I've paid for him to stay for lunch 3 days a week. This has meant that I've been able to take on a couple of admin volunteer roles to get my skills/confidence back up and to increase my employability so that this year, when he starts school, I can start looking for work in earnest.

Maybe this is something you can look at for the longer term? Do a year of volunteering then start applying again...at least you'll have a year of current work experience under your belt?

I agree it is really difficult to get back into work after having kids. I have found a solution that works for me. After years of juggling a corporate career in fashion buying with 2 children, I am now working flexibly from home with a global health and wellness company and it's the perfect solution. The company is expanding and actively looking for Mums who are looking for work/life balance.

rach MLM perhaps?

Don't lose heart OP!

There are more and more initiatives, groups, programmes and networks to help the many women get back to work.

Govt has even announced some funding for this: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-39204525

Because they have worked out EXACTLY HOW MUCH THEY ARE MISSING OUT ON ECONOMICALLY by excluding us.

We are a valuable asset.

Google 'women back to work' and see if you can find a programme to help.

Good luck!

I don't know, not sure what that is.

Global health and wellness that's expanding? Sounds like JuicePlus or similar. Do you have to sell products and try to recruit others to sign up and become sellers too? If so that's MLM and it's a scam. You won't make money.

Googled, sounds like VieLife.

I was so nervous about going back to work after having my son, Noah (3). But my husband convinced me to start applying for jobs again and I'm so glad I did! I uploaded my CV to this website called DYWAJ and a few weeks later I ended up finding a job out of it! Good luck in your search - I know you can do it! :)

Could you try agencies. Also look for voluntary work to boost your CV.

What do you give as the reason for leaving your last employment on application forms?

I feel for you {{{{ hug }}} It is really hard after a career break (mine is almost 9 years), people don't seems to think you can perform anymore.

I did find something fairly quickly after updated my CV and uploaded where ever I can online! My CV was visible to everyone! Unfortunately I have to start from scratch, every experience I have on my CV doesn't seems to help me getting anywhere back to where I was unfortunately.