SAHM forever, now want to work

[Aloneonprecipice]

Hi all

In need of some desperate advice. I have been a SAHM for over 15 years. I have 4 kids between ages 15 and 6. I am done now and really want to get back to being a bit independent. Have a separate personal life.
Before anyone criticize being SAHM was my choice and I am willing to take that I put my self in this position.

My degree in masters in computers is 16 years old and I think that professional world is far far memory now. I don't want a career now, just a bit of getting out and earning some money.
I feel like I don't know a single thing in job world, I am scared and feel utterly incompetent and my self confidence is no where to be found.
Am I being stupid thinking of job now with stupid covid and home schooling. Should I just satisfied by home schooling kids.
Please advise.

I’d personally postpone until children are back at school. Or maybe you have a solid plan of who will homeschool them?

Do you want to find something part time or full time?

Do you have any work experience at all?

You may have to take something less than ideal to start with. The jobs I see advertised locally is mainly care work.

Start with volunteering to gain your confidence back.
Then maybe a course? Find what you're interested in and take it from there.
You'll find it will then lead you into more things and meeting different people. Then onto work once you've gained more skills.

It can be done.

Coding!

Someone was on here about coding courses you can do from home to skill up and the job demand is huge at the end.

Look at code academy x

Start doing some work related activities to build your applications now. Do Futurelearn or Openlearn courses. If you are in the UK Volunteer for the NHS responders if you are able to (to help with the vaccine effort). Or maybe you already volunteer in your community? Aim for September but start thinking about childcare options and school runs now and look out for job openings. See what is around. Apply if there is something that will work for you.

About 2 and a half years ago I went back to work after 14 years as a sahm. I'm really enjoying it. It is possible. I would have thought with your masters, possibly a route back into work would be a course to update your computer skills. You could do this from home while supporting home-schooling and then be in a good position to start looking for a job when kids are back in school.

I'd look for a volunteering role, as that will also get you a reference.
I went back after 5 years at home in November. Covid has been a nightmare (I foolishly thought when the schools went back in Sept, we wouldn't have primary schools closed again). So personally, I'd spend this lockdown coming up with volunteering opportunities locally (some are more prevalent in covid times, some will be on pause). My volunteering also gave me a confidence boost.

Hi OP, I was you 3 years ago - sahm for 10 years and homeschooling my 4 dcs.

I looked at the skills I had gained being a sahm, and looked for jobs that required those skills. As a sahm, I excelled at running a home, I could cook, clean, attend the the emotional needs of my children, do house admin etc .I started out as a support worker, working one evening a week in a residential house, cooking, cleaning and taking care of the residents. Over time I attended various training courses, slowly moving up. I'm still mostly a sahm, but I work 15 hours a week, usually in the evenings, working in a safe house for children who have been placed in emergency care due to mental health reasons. It's satisfying and interesting work, and due to covid there is a high demand for mental health support workers.
Don't be put off by your years as a sahm, your experience and skills are worth a lot in mental health support.

You definitely are not being stupid thinking of getting back into paid employment. You've had one job for 15 years, and now you want a change. Nothing surprising about that!

Now is NOT a bad time to think about it. Home schooling won't go on forever, and you won't (probably) walk straight into a job.

I do agree with a bit of volunteering, not because it will necessarily help you get a job but it WILL help retrain your family to think of you as someone with a job outside home.

I also agree with doing some skills refreshing. Previously what area of computing did you work in? Big difference between becoming a web designer or doing network management.

If you just want a miscellaneous fill-my-time job, then look at schools and universities- sometimes they need admin people. Badly paid but often good hours and a useful, sociable job.

I would look into updating your computer related skills. You have good qualifications which will put you in a much better position than others, so depending on your interests I would look into online coding or cybe security courses.

Get a job, any job, that way you have recent experience of working and a reference.
Stacking shelves in Tesco, anything.

Have you done anything to maintain your skills in thr mean time? If not what kind of Job would you like?

I don’t think you need to wait to apply till the kids are back in school, but have you child care for holiday periods?

I'd update or create a LinkedIn aswell. I worked in IT recruitment a lifetime ago but one unusual thing was some of the candidates with older languages did really well because no recent grads learned them and there were some organizations who needed people to work on older systems. So couldn't hurt to talk to a recruitment agency either. I'd also recommend volunteering to get you out of the house and your brain back to the idea of dual roles.

Oh god...I wasn't thinking I would get so many responses. I will look thru them soon. I have some work experience ages ago and did very little volunteer work before covid.
Is am thinking of delaying a couple of months for when school goes back.

What i don't know is where to start and what to do. I feel like I have no practical knowledge of anything in working world. I think I might be a bit depressed too these days...but who isn't.

Thanks for some good examples and experiences. Surely I will benefit from them.

Start getting work ready - eg top up your computer skills by doing an online refresher course, will be easy for you and you could do it independently but it shows employers you have tried.

Think about what you want to do? Eg how about using your computer skills to work for a charity part time, most need webmasters and people to manage databases, communications etc - could you adapt your skills to website building etc? I've worked for a charity who had someone in this exact position! Aim for September, should be better by then

Volunteering from home is a good idea too btw, even perhaps for small local businesses struggling due to lockdown, could you help them with a web presence, they can repay you with a reference and it will give you purpose - my youngest dd was 6 when I went back so I know that feeling that it's time for more

I would recommend a computer course too. Adult Education learning centres are a good place, though will be online at the moment. There should be a local one to you if you Google it.

You'll find once you start, it will naturally lead to more things. It's the starting.
I've gradually moved onto other things and realised i now work in a sector I never would have thought I would enjoy as it's completely different to what I did at Uni.

Once you start learning, I found anyway, I wanted to carry on. But if you had said to me 5 years ago I wouldn't have even considered it. Small steps.
Don't underestimate what you can do.

I was a SAHM for 15 years - have been working now for 2 years - really enjoying it. I have no regrets about my time with the kids - except maybe my pension - which is where 75% of my salary goes now.

Not that much has changed (despite everyone banging on about how much it has) and what has changed in terms of ways of working is easy to grasp - it's been designed that way, please do not let this put you off. I agree with others about doing some refresher courses - stuff online - lots of it free. You could volunteer at a large charity who require these sort of skill - that will help you get your confidence back - which if I'm honest it the biggest hurdle and it was a bit of a shock for the kids too - ds found it hard as he relied on me for emotional support and he finds change more challenging but we had some good chats and dd helped support me and him - so make sure you talk it through with your kids so that they understand what and why it's happening.
In terms of recruitment - for skilled workers - people move jobs for a change of direction or a step up the ladder - those who have most to prove, work the hardest at getting there - companies are increasingly realising this - candidates who are hungry for it, will make the best new recruits and believe me - whilst everyone is banging on about unemployment certain industries are booming at the moment and the software industry is one of them. People are not moving around jobs and talent is thin on the ground. Good luck!

Some great advice here. I’d also look at local jobs and read them to see if anything catches your eye. When I was made redundant I did this a d a job completely different to my usual career grabbed my interest. Bizarrely the chief exec recognised my skills and developed the role to suit me and I’ve ended up in a senior role beyond my dreams. Look for things that interest and excite you, go for it and let life happen. Don’t be scared, you’ve nothing to lose and managing 4 dc means you’re well equipped to handle anything.

Thanks you all. Loads of really great advice. I think I will go for online courses and volunteer work as well. Test the waters and when I get confident a little maybe go for a proper job. Really second the opinion and a pp that even my family needs to know I can go for work.

Thanks you all so much. I always get great advice here.

Yes you can. You will be realise what you can achieve once you start.
Not that being a stay at home parent isn't achieving! I meant outside the home

You have a Masters. Don’t be unambitious - if you’re working might as well be well paid for it. Cyber security is a very big deal now and will continue to be so. There is a big drive to get kids in to it. Maybe have a google and see if you can find any training etc or guidance on what areas to aim at. May be flexible too in terms of family life.

Open University courses are highly regarded and you may be eligible for a discount as you are not currently earning.
You could refresh or update your Masters - contact OU student services for advice.

Also look at returner programmes with big firms, typically banks and consulting/accountant (designed exactly for your situation). They are typically competitive but I would think this would be less the case for roles fitting with your masters and experience.

What were you doing before you had kids? Was your masters full time or were you working as well?

If you do decide to go more down the career route (I think you could with your qualifications, by the way) there are plenty of professional services firms running return to work programmes. Some may even help you update your skills as part of their on boarding.