What jobs have you done when Returning To Work?

[lulupop]

I need to get myself a job, as a)I think it is highly likely that dh and I will be separating soon; and b)I need to feel I can support myself and the kids, whether separation happens or not.

However, the children are just 3, and 8 months old. 3 yr old attends nursery for 3 hours 3 afternoons a week.

I am 28 and although I have a good degree, I only worked for 2 yrs before becoming a SAHM. I was a City headhunter, clearly not something I could return to now (totally incompatible hours with being a mum).

I live in Kent and am fairly sure I wouldn't be able to get a "normal" (ie 9-5) job that would cover the cost of childcare for 2 kids. So I need to think laterally and come up with ideas that might work in a work-from-home kind of way, or part-time.

I know most return-to-work mums go back to their old jobs, or something similar, but that's not an option for me. So am hoping to pick your brains on "new" jobs you can do to fit around young children. Your suggestions please!

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sorry for being stupid but what is wftc?

Hi lulupop, Ive been back to work for 4 days now after being a SAHM for 2 years. Ive got a job as a receptionist working 12:30-5:30 Mon-Fri. I'm hoping that things will sort themselves out when I've been working here a month but hopefully I'll be better off than I was as a SAHM. Working Tax Credit will pay 70% of dd's nursery fees for me, so it shouldn't be too bad.

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hmm its a toughie, could you sign onto a nightclass course to get your basic adult teaching quals, then you could teach in colleges? or if you could stick a pgce for a year you could become a normal teacher, as these do have hours vaguely compatable with kids.....self employment is always an option, what is your degree in? I guess it all depends on how stimulating you want your job to be?

Some Secondary schools have admin jobs avl at start of some terms - usually only advertised through letters home with children. DD's last advert actually said ideal for returning to work mums. The pay wasn't brill, but you did get school hours & terms so great saving on childcare when they are older. Also 2 schools round here have nurseries with highly subsidised staff places. Worth phoning round?

milliways, that's a good idea about the schools. Though, Frizbe, I don't think I'd ever cut it as a teacher. Firstly I am the world's most impatient person, and secondly my mum's neen a teacher for the last 30 yrs, so I've grown up hearing about what a nightmare the whole non-contact side of it all is.

My degree is totally useless, as although it is a Cambridge degree, it's in Spanish so not really directly applicable to a specific job.

I think I can help you lulupop. I work for a company called CARES UK and basically I do escort work with children like taking them from secure unit to court, picking up runaways taking them to new placements etc. The office ring me up and tell me what the job is and it's up to me wether I do it or not. It could be to go asap or a planned job iyswim. The pay is quite good I think and it's ideal if you have children I only work 1 day a week normally and earn just over £100 a day. I know the team thats down your way and their very nice.
Any good?

If its spanish, why don't you work as a self employed translator?! have you looked at prospects.co.uk?

newbarnsley girl, that does sound very interesting actually. The only thing is, I would only be able to do things which I cld plan ahead for, as my children are still so little and not in school all day. Do you think they'd be interested in someone like me?

Could you CAT me with some information if you have the time and think it might be worth me investigating?

Frizbe, I don't know much about professional translation (though am about to look at that site you mentioned), but had always had the impression that, apart from a very high level of aptitude in the language, you need some professional quals? My main tutor at university did a lot of professional translation and she was fluent. I speak good conversational Spanish but that's worlds away from fluency.

Still, you've got me thinking. I will look into it. Certainly Spanish to English translation wouldn't be a problem - it's the other way round I might struggle with a bit!

I've cat you lulupop. I've got loads of time tonight if you can get back in touch.

I don't know how quick this cat thing works though and how it does work?

lulupop - I could be wrong but I think most translation is into mother tongue, not usually the other way round. Especially with modern Euro languages where native speakers would be fairly easy to find anyway. What about home tuition? Coudl charge around £20 per hour.

nbg, when you cat someone, mn just forward on the msg, but think it may take some time as I haven't had yours yet. You can do it directly if you like, on [email protected]

OK I'll do it now.

I'm a translator and it is fiendishly difficult to get well-paid work without years of experience and translation qualifications. You also need to have lived for several years in both countries really to be good enough to pass the trade exams agencies are looking for. Even successful translators often don't get enough freelance work to count as a full time salary and do other jobs for a regular income.

Having said all this, I agree that you should consider teaching. Maybe you could do a part-time PGCE, with modern foreign languages you get a golden hello of £6000 when you finish, and you get paid for training. Could you ask a secondary school for some work experience to get an idea? Maybe you are cut out for it, you never know.

thanks geekgrrl, that;s pretty much what I'd thought. I was quite friendly with my tutor at university and I remember a) how good she was; and b) how well qualified, and despite being an eminent academic, she didn;t get that much translation work so that's why I'd thought it was a non-starter.

Just don't fancy the teaching, I have to say. I know beggars can't be choosers, but I think there must be a lot of jobs out there that I haven't thought of yet, but could do, that I'd be much better cut out for.

I've had to send my number to you lulupop as my mail keeps logging itself off for some reason and it loses the info I've put in so if you want to ring me now I can fill you in. It's ok if you don't want to.

well, Prospects offer a careers guidance service. And, depending on what you want out of a job, have you considered cleaning or ironing? Ironing you could do at home and it seems to pay very well - around here they charge £10 for a basket, which would take me an hour. And it would fit in very well with the kids. Not much career progression though!

you're right geekgrrl. no career progression but actually, I had considered cleaning etc as an option.
at the moment we have a very nice cleaner/ironer ourselves, but I am perfectly capable and if the sp.it turns out nasty then at least it's something I can do when it suits me.
I started this thread thinking more along the lines of something whihc might turn into a career though.
nbg, just putting kids to bed now and also dh is around, but perhaps I cld talk to you another day?

Give me a ring in the morning if you can and I'll tell you all about it and give you the phone number for the company. I could post it on this thread but it could be a bit dodgy!