Re-entering the workforce after being a SAHP

[Mrgwl29]

Hi, I was hoping if anyone had experience returning to work after being a SAHP - how did you find it, how did interviewers react to the CV gap/explanation, did you think it was more difficult to secure interviews then pre kids? I'm currently studying and looking at finding a job now I'm getting to the end of my course and wanted to get an idea of other people's experiences. Thank you

I was a sahp for 4 years, left my last career entirely and went for retail jobs after. I stumbled into a job with a decent link to my old career which certainly helped but I had no shortage of interviews or job offers, was just lucky to find one I actually wanted rather just a necessity. The work gap is easily explained, and if employers have a problem with it, then it is discrimination.

No experience of being a SAHP but have been on the other side of the interview many times. I wouldn't give it a second thought if someone said they spent 4 or 5 years starting a family. It's pretty commonplace for people to take time out until the kids start to go to school or nursery.

Thank you, that helps me feel better about potential interviews. Ive not always had the best reception to being at home socially and it's always met with doom and gloom on here, so really got into my head about it and the difficulty getting back to the workplace!

Similar, I would consider your experience/skills the same as any other candidate.

Had nearly 2 years at home, made redundant from my role whilst pregnant and in the interviews it didn’t seem an issue having a gap and the company that took me on have proved very family friendly and accommodating.

I was SAHM for nearly a decade. I have recently returned to the workplace. The gap was easily explained. The only snag I encountered was getting references and only being able to apply for jobs with certain hours.

I was out of the workplace for 9 years and I got the first job I applied for! I did have evidence of volunteering (in a relevant role) and a bit of freelance work during that time which helped. Good luck OP!

I was a sahm for 5-6 years. I did do occasional evenings in nice restaurants, but that was really for my own entertainment! I was able to put them as a reference though which helped and then I got a job in a boutique hotel as a breakfast waiter.

Then I got a job in a school which has been great. I'm now doing really well at that job and have just got a promotion. It will never be mega bucks as it's public sector and I get all the school holidays off, but I'm making more than I did as a ft admin pre kids so I'm happy.

They are recruiting my replacement and are definitely considering applicants coming back to work after a career break. As well as anything else, you don't have a notice period, so someone will be keen to recruit you.

Obviously, all my jobs are quite low grade and I don't know what you're looking for, but I've personally found returning to work absolutely fine. I had real trouble finding work at points pre kids as we had moved around a lot due to dh work. If anything, it's been easier lately than it was before

Thank you all so much, that's really reassuring to hear!

I was a SAHM for 7 years. I wasn't specifically looking, but I saw a part time job advertised that was loosely connected to my last job (which was quite steady - 12 years in the same dept, went up a few ranks), although the company is in totally different sectors, and sent my CV in. I was honest about the gap - I wanted to give up work to stay home with my child - but that now they're settled at school, I'm ready and excited to claim my working life back. I had a Teams interview with the manager of the job role and another senior person within the dept and got it. I've enjoyed every minute of being back at work. Whatever you do, don't feel bad or sound apologetic about staying at home. Its not a crime or anything to be ashamed of!

I returned to work after about 8 years off through volunteering. Initially with the kids in tow, I was then able to secure a place on a funded training course. I did probably about 1000 hours of volunteering and associated training (10ish a week, a lot remotely and in the evening) over 2 years. I was then able to step into a paid job managing volunteers, just 5 hours a week at first. I've since moved on into volunteer management in a different part of the third sector. I will never be rich as charity jobs (despite what the Daily Mail spin us) are not well remunerated, but the companies I've worked for have been self-aware enough to realise this and provide flexible working, decent annual leave and perks like your birthday off, which still have significant value to me.

Honestly please don't trot out the discrimination card.
Op absolutely some employers might discount you on the basis of a working gap ( whether you were off travelling the world or sahp is irrelevant ) it can be a deal breaker for some employers but in the real world less and less and 4 years is nothing.
It is now however discrimination to discount you because of the lack of 'recent' experience

@Crazycrazylady thank you for clarifying that, that's is handy to know regarding the recent experience

I've been a sahm for 4 years. Youngest is starting reception so started applying in June and got the first job I applied for said I couldn't start until September due to school holidays so I'm starting next week. Its pretty much the same role as I was doing for 10 years but left 7 years ago. Even though I haven't done the role for 7 years they said they were really impressed with my experience. The 4 year gap wasn't even mentioned in the interview! I'm also studying for a degree and have just started volunteering so I think that probably looked good on my CV.

Can I ask how you overcame references? I secured a retail job after an online application, 1st stage interview and then a 2nd stage 1 hour long interview with the store manager. He offered me the job there and then after the interview, I was delighted just to get back into the workplace.

However I had to complete the companies online boarding portal process and it really was a case of computer says no! I needed 2 employment references which I couldn't provide, the hr person was very unhelpful and robotic. I explained I'd been sahm, we were actually under kids hospital for years too. My old managers in previous place of employment years back had all moved on and I didn't have their contact details - but she didn't care and said I needed the references for the online system.

I popped back into the store and manager said he wanted me to start 100% but his hands were tied.

They withdrew my job offer because I couldn't complete the on boarding process.

I was incredibly disheartened.

This was for a national minimum wage retail job on a part-time temporary contract.

It put me off for a while but I've started re-applying for jobs again, I've done 30 applications in the past 2 weeks and had rejections or no response.

I went back to work after 10 years as a sahm. Applied for an NHS job which matched previous skills, the 10 year gap was addressed on the application but never again mentioned. I was offered the job the same day. The only realy fly in the ointment was having to provide a character reference as I obviously had no recent references. In short all was fine. Good luck.

I think it depends on what you’re applying for.

I really struggled. Even a year out of my old job and I was far behind on latest developments and research. Employers weren’t taking on someone who had 4 years worth of work to catch up on, over someone currently in the workplace.

however I couldn’t get admin or entry level interviews either, as I was over qualified. Employers assumed I’d move on as soon as I could or be bored and quit.

in the end a friend suggested my skill set might suit the civil service. Their recruiting is points based as well, as long as you can demonstrate x y and z and get the minimum points you get an interview. Once I hit the “formula” I got interviews for everything I applied for. Cv’s and gaps are irrelevant, as long as you can demonstrate you can do the job.

i started at a mid entry level, and found that promotion and moving around the service is very much encouraged. If you want to move depts or up the ladder you just tell your supervisor and they will help with courses, work experience etc.

@busybee90 apologies just seen your message.

To cut a long story short: I had to approach my previous line manager directly despite her having moved on several years ago. The organisation I had previously worked for no longer existed due to several mergers. I also got an academic reference as I had been studying part time whilst being a SAHP. Some professionals, I know, were also willing to give a character reference.

Sorry to hear about your crap experience with a potential employer. They don't sound all that flexible, do they which doesn't bode well, IMO.

@Mrgwl29 I took 5 years out. It was an issue for some but agencies just said I needed to get anything to fill the gap/get the ball rolling. I reframed it as something I wanted to do ie I took time out to have my children and once they were at school, I decided to work again. I didnt want it to sound like a negative thing. The resistance came from companies who didn't like that I'd need flexibility but I quickly found one which was fine with it.

Well I had an interview yesterday, my 1st since last year. My 2nd in several years.

Except I didn't get to interview as when I arrived they asked me for 4 references!

I explained I didn't have 4 and so that was me on my way.

I have wasted my time prepping about the company and for competency questions, wasted money we don't really have on clothes and shoes and wasted my emotional energy being upset yesterday.

Super upset at the job application/interview/reference bureaucracy that exists in todays world. Again this was for a minimum wage job.

One of my local librarians explained to me how she got her job decades ago: Her friend told her the library was looking for someone, she went along and the librarian made her a cuppa and they had a chat and she got offered the job there and then...

Going to take a break from job search, even though I feel super guilty as our mortgage has near enough doubled.

4 references!?!?!! Whatever happened to 1 professional and 1 personal? Absolutely ridiculous. I'm sorry that was such a waste of time for you. Chin up

I'm going to hazard a guess that employers have become a little more flexible about people taking career breaks and mixing caring responsibilities with working (not at the same time obviously) but the general acceptance that people have lives outside work. I went back to work after 15 years (overachiever for this thread😎) out of the workplace. I've been back 5 years now and I see massive changes. Sure some employers haven't changed but you probably don't want to work for them anyway! Best of luck.