SAHM returning to work after 13 years!

[TwinkleToes8613]

Hi,
I have been a SAHM for the past 13 years, I had a weekend job for two years between having my oldest and middle child. I have had no responses to jobs I have applied for and I am getting concerned that I am being seen an ‘unemployable’. I am restricted to working hours between 9.30-2.30, due to school pick up and also school holidays, as my husband is the big earner, we would lose a lot more money. Has anyone been in a similar situation, or offer advice please?

Thanks!

You have been out of the job market for a long time, so it may take a while, but I'm sure you are not unemployable

Part time work is hard to find, but throw into that you can't work school holidays and I think you are going to struggle. This would restrict you to jobs in schools and these are like hens teeth

Try volunteering at your children's school with the longer-term aim of applying for a TA position.

I was out of work for almost that long (11 years) and only (I believe) got back in by returning full time to what I was qualified to do. They were really desperate for competent staff! It meant paying for childcare after school and in the holidays.
I tried getting family friendly (school) jobs, but didn’t realistically have a chance as I wasn’t qualified or experienced, despite volunteering throughout that time.
What qualifications do you have? Are you certain you can only do those hours? Why do you want to work?

I was a SAHM for 9 years and returned to work 3 years ago. My hours are 930 to 230, Monday to Friday, term time only so there are jobs out there. Where did you work before your career break? I returned to my original place of work, pre kids, so they knew me and my skills which I think was half the battle as I was low risk to them.

I'm a lunchtime supervisor at a school

I was in a similar situation (SAHM for about 13/14 years), although I had been self-employed doing a couple of different things during that time. I did some volunteer work, and have just been offered an interview for the first job I applied for!

I'd try volunteering. Maybe local charity, PTA, something like that.

How old are your children?

I was in your position and it was very hard. I felt as though I was on the scrap heap and it did take time.

The shackles suddenly seemed to come off me once my youngest had started secondary school and childcare for after school and in the holidays was no longer the issue it had been. Potential employers were suddenly more interested and I felt better about applying for more things because I felt that the freedom to do so had returned.

I work mornings only Monday to Friday, including school holidays. During the winter I work from home. I might get a chance to increase my hours over the next few months.

It took a good couple of years to get something, and was disillusioning at times. I hated the searching and regular rejections (or more often than not no reply at all), and hated even more the impersonal online application systems that seem to be so popular now. I feel much more able to sell myself face to face with a human being, which was how it was with the job I did eventually get.

Good luck. Keep pegging away and hopefully something will come up soon for you.

You are really restricting the jobs open to you by saying you need to work school hours and term time.

Most working parents do use childcare- are there breakfast/ after school/ holiday clubs nearby? Childminders?

I'm finding nursery jobs are great for school term hours HOWEVER they need one reference at least from a "previous employer" - and mine from 9 years ago can't bloody find any record of me working there as they now use an agency. So my job offer is on hold but I'm fucking screwed.