SAHM - Going Back To Work Come September.

[SoSalliecanwait]

Hi guys, I’m looking for some advice and a safe space to chat.

I’ve been a SAHM for the past 9 years and will be going back to work in September when my youngest starts school and I’m terrified.

I’ll be looking for something to work around school hours if possible, happy to do anything really. I didn’t have a career as such before the kids. But I was working full time from age 16 - 34, in stable jobs.

I’m really worried no one will want to hire me. My confidence has taken a knock since raising the kids.

Does anyone have any similar, positive stories about getting back to work after so long out?

Could you look at upskilling? I’ve been a sahm for 8 years and while I’ve lots of office experience I know I need to upgrade my IT skills as it will definitely help with the job search and give me more confidence. I’m starting to look into training courses locally. Best of luck with it all OP

Oh lovely, nine years raising kids IS work, and the skills you've built, multitasking, patience, time management, budgeting, negotiating with tiny terrorists, are genuinely valuable. Loads of mums go back after long breaks and find their feet, employers increasingly recognise career gaps for childcare. Start by updating your CV focusing on any volunteering, school stuff or skills you've kept up, and look at roles like school admin, retail, or reception that often suit school hours. Your confidence will rebuild once you're in it, promise. You've got this, and September you will wonder what you were so worried about.

You will struggle to find a job that fits around school hours - they are highly sought after by all the other SAHM, you’ll need to have something special to make you stand out over all of them.

I’ve been looking for a year and the only jobs I’ve found are school admin (I haven’t worked in admin for 10 years (SAHM) and although I’ve applied for jobs I’ve never got an interview, the jobs seem to go to people who already work for the council or who have experience of doing the job recently). Or a school dinner lady - 2 hours a day on the minimum wage, 38 weeks of the year doesn’t pay much - it’s classed as “pocket money” job where I live!

Even if you work in school admin you’d still need to use breakfast club and after school club as you’ll need to drop off your DC allowing you enough time to get to work. School offices usually open before school starts and stay open for a while after. Having the school holidays off is why everyone wants to the job.

I would advise starting to look now and considering some training / upskilling. Areas like online meetings will be totally different to when you were last working. the job market is so competitive right now so be prepared for a slog of applying for jobs, even people I know who have been working recently are struggling. If you're really wanting / needing to work you may need to consider a year-round job, school term jobs are highly sought after.

Great post 👍🏻 @sarahd89