Interview after 13 year break, would you go?

[Xztop]

When DD17 started school I couldn't make my job (I was a legal secretary) work around it so I quit and took up various cleaning jobs to work around school pick ups and holidays. 13 years later I'm still doing it.
However I applied for a role similar to the role i did when I was a legal secretary and have been offered an interview next week. It's a good job and £10k a year more than I currently earn. No brainer to go to the interview right? However I'm terrified, have lost confidence and feel like I can't do it and that as I've had such a long break I wont get it anyway so might as well cancel, I also love my current job but it's the people I like, not the actual job. WWYD?

It’s better to go and try than not go. What do you have to lose by going?

You’ve nothing to lose, go in there thinking you don’t need the job, I find that helps with confidence.

Go.

if you don’t get it you’ll get valuable interview experience and an idea of what the current job environment is like. So if you decide to go for it again in the future you’re one step ahead.

if you do get it- well you don’t have to take it if you decide you like your current work better. It’ll be a huge confidence boost regardless and you’ll again know if you change your mind in the future you have options.

Do you still know anyone in your old field who could give you some useful yo to date pointers?
They will have reviewed your CV and will know you have been doing other things so although you might be up against others with more current experience, you clearly are someone who does what it takes to work hard.

Do a bit of research, try to pull in the skills you have applied over the last 13 years, and what have you got to lose.
Good luck!

feel like I can't do it and that as I've had such a long break I wont get it anyway so might as well cancel

1. What made you apply in the first place?
2. They wouldn't have invited you in interview if they didn't think you were capable of doing the job.
3. They know from your application that you have had a long break and they still want to interview you anyway.

Go for it! Good luck!

You need to do the interview as the first one after a break from the process is always a learning experience. Just do it! 😊

Definitely go to the interview!! Back in 2024 I had my first interview in 18 years, I was absolutely terrified but I’m glad I went. I wasn’t successful but I didn’t embarrass myself either and it was a confidence boost regardless.

I have since found a good job and very thankful that I found an employer who was willing to give me a chance despite of my long stint as a SAHM. I’m so glad I did few interviews with other prospective employers before hand though.

Absolutely go. When you come out, regardless of the outcome, it will give you a massive boost to your confidence.

Thanks everyone. Yeah I need to woman up and go to the interview! I would say the same to anyone else, just go and see.
I applied because my plan was always to go back to that type of work when DD was old enough and I've put it off and put it off and I have no excuses now. I'm tired of having no money each month and my house needs some tlc in places which I just cant do on my current salary.
I just feel like I dont have the ability anymore which I suppose is a lack of confidence issue.

Go and think of it as practice.

It doesn't matter if you don't get it, just practice for the next interview, and then you won't be as scared as you would have already had a recent interview.

Be proud that you have got the interview.

Go for it! I got a job in a Uni after 10 years of not working at all! It was a temporary role but after 4 months, i applied for and got a permanent role. I didn't think I stood a chance at the first interview but I prepped well and gritted my teeth and made myself go to the interview. I just thought, if it's an embarrassing disaster, I will never have to see these people ever again anyway

You have to start somewhere.

Good luck!

I just feel like I dont have the ability anymore which I suppose is a lack of confidence issue.

They shortlisted you because they feel you DO have the ability.

Please go! Prepare by working up three or four examples of you at your best at work, using the STAR technique (lots of short videos on YouTube). Being a mother and working as a cleaner demonstrate high levels of organisational, prioritisation and multitasking ability.

Don't over explain anything. Make it sound entirely positive that you have chosen to work part time in an energetic, useful role and you are delighted that you are now available to apply yourself to your preferred career.

If necessary use the phrase famility responsibilities, no list of problems, issues or ailments!

All the best.

This is your chance OP to get out of cleaning, when you're (to be blunt) better than that! You used to be a legal secretary and I promise that if you get that job you will get right back into it. How do I know this? Because I didn't work for 17 years and last year I got back into a professional career job again. I was unbelievably lucky to get that opportunity and I definitely wasn't going to squander it and you shouldn't either.

I know what it's like to have zero confidence, to feel like you can't do it, that all those years out of professional work make you useless - because those are the things that were going round my head - but my DH gave me a stern talking to. He reminded me of all my good qualities - that I'm hard working, that I'm friendly and outgoing, that I don't mind asking for help, that I know the systems, that I will receive training and also that many companies have schemes to encourage 'returnships' and that helping mid-life women back into work is actually good for their diversity and inclusion figures! Yes, really.

So choose an outfit that makes you feel confident - blouse, smartish dark trousers, shoes and bag - jacket is good if you have one or can borrow one but if it's a warm day you can do without. Do some interview preparation if you can - there is stuff online if you don't have a friend or family member who can do this with you), and then hold your head high and go in there believing that you can get that job and that you can DO that job. Because you can! Go for it.

Oh - and remember that all skills are transferable. Those skills you've used in your current job and as a parent will come in useful in a professional workplace. Your maturity and experience count.

I would go and treat it as a practice interview to get you back into the game. Great if you get it, but try not to put too much pressure on yourself. Try to remember you are interviewing them too. See it as a two way process, and that you are exploring options.

Good luck!

Go for it!

You’ve been lucky to get an interview, it’d be mad not to go. You might hate it and realise your current job is actually fine, or you may realise it’s time
to start trying for this career again properly. You need to go and give it a shot though

Go, you won’t regret it in the long term. Just getting an interview after so long out of the field is a huge thing - it’s definitely not a given. If successful you have options and if not it’s just good practice for other opportunities to come. I returned after 15 years a couple of years ago. Did some temp work first doing something I could effectively do in my sleep but the first day was utterly exhausting, it got better and I got into the swing of things pretty quickly. Had a few interviews and got a permanent job reasonably quickly - very glad I took the first step.

They know whats on your CV and have decided to interview you anyway, so they’re obviously open minded to people who’ve had a different background.

Take confidence in that and believe in yourself! Worst case scenario is you get some interview experince!

Of course go, you’ve nothing to lose.

Do some prep - focusing on yourself, your skills, examples of you demonstrating the skills they ask for in the person spec.

Then go in ready to make friends, expect nothing, do your best, ask for feedback afterwards.