going back to work full time/and childcare

[georgiana]

Hi,am checking out my job options at the mo and have disregarded bramble picker! Anyway,I'm looking at full time now my youngest has started school.Living somewhere we have no help at all from family I'll need to send the kids to an after school club.Is anyone doing this?Is it a better option than say a childminder?Will the kids be v tired if not picked up till 5.30?Any advice welcome or comments.
Another thing bothering me is my lack of confidence now after working only part time for 8 years.Big interviews are a bit daunting too.I haven't got an interview yet but have applied for 2 jobs and am waiting to hear.I hate that q where they ask you what your weeknesses are,I know what mine is,I don't really take well to critisism.At least that's what my family tell me but how can I put a spin on that? Has anyone got any words of wisdom for me or even where I can buy a decent trouser suit perhaps?

Can't offer any advice on the kids side - not reached that stage yet, but on the interview front a good answer to that horrible "weakness" question is "I'm a perfectionist and always expect very high standards from myself" - which of course isn't a weakness at all !

I hate criticism too - I find it's best not to mention that at interview though as you don't want to appear stroppy before you start.

BTW - looking after kids is full-time even if it's part-time, so you've been working time and a half really for 8 years - don't sell yourself short and be confident !

Trouser suits - not sure, Next quality is a bit dodgy now but the catalogue looks like there might be something promising in there, M&S maybe, do you have a Kaliko near you - they have slightly different things, nice colours/fabrics etc - otherwise department stores usually have some good stuff.

HTH - Good Luck

i agree with scatterbrain - you don't need to mention it. i have been interviewing a lot recently and don't even bother asking that one any more - but something like expecting high standards of oneself and others is probably a safe bet.

i would second the advice re next and m&s for basic and reasonably good value interview wear. if you want to splash out a bit more, i would also recommend episode and jaeger.

sorry - can't advise on the after school clubs issue, got all that to come!

good luck with the job hunt!

ha ha! i am showing my age recommending episode and jaeger! but as a general point, i would stick to safe, conservative clothing for a job interview.

georgiana -
I have one ds who is at an after school club and a dd (now 14) who was at an after school club during most of his primary school years. My ds started at the after school club when she was at the school nursery. As with everything, I think it very much depends on who is running the club and the ethos. There are good ones and bad ones. In my experience, it has worked very well because the supervision has been of high quality, with different types of activities - from quiet time and home work time to pool and games etc. I think an after school club would not work so well if the supervision is slack. I also liked the fact that the children stay at school and don't have to be picked up by someone else.

Hope this helps. Apologies if I have got abbreviations wrong. Am new to contributing.

Hi Georgiana

my ds (aged 5) and dd (aged 11) are both at an after-school club,
Agree with Cecilia that a lot depends on the club itself and the staff. Also know from experience that lots of clubs have v. high turnover of staff (many of the staff stay no more than 1 year max) and so the situation can change, for better or worse, pretty quickly.
Both of mind enjoy their club but ds is absolutely exhausted at 5:30 when we pick him up although this might be because he's still settling into starting school. Because of this and because I feel dd would get bored with it, I've limited their time there to 2 days per week, but obviously I'm v fortunate in that they can go to grandparents for the other days.
Also, there is the option if you've got the time, to become involved in the running of the club yourself. I was on the management committee of our one for 3 years and at least then you'll feel you've got some control/influence over what's happening.
Warning - once you get onto these committees you may find it practically impossible to leave they're so desparate for people to help.

Lol Bossykate,you'll be recommending country casuals as well then? My mother likes jaegar,don't know episode? Thanks for the interview tips and the best wishes,will have to let you all know how it goes.
Gillymac and Cecilia,good to hear about the after school clubs having quiet time,I'm so worried they'll be absolutely shattered and will feel so guilty if they plead with me that they want to come home after school's finished.
Scatterbrain,thanks for trying to bolster up my confidence,I'm hoping once i get the right power suit on it will transform me into this super confident being.I've been getting interview tips off anyone who will listen,now all I have to do is get the interview lol.

country casuals - yikes! not that old

oo err, Country Casuals, please shoot me the day I start gazing longingly in their window...bet it will happen though Georgiana, there was a whole thread of interview tips a while back. Its here. Good luck.

ks, apparently all the New York fashionistas (hate that word but) make a beeline for Top Shop when in the UK. I agree, feel v. intimidated by TS and other 'young' shops, especially because lots of it is midriff showing, size 10 clubby wear!