SAHM looking for encouragement in going back to work.....

[nigelslaterfan]

I'm over 40 and haven't worked full time since having my ds over 7 years ago. I also now have a dd who is a year old.

I worked in the media (tv) and the culture was so unsuited to family life that I just stopped working. I was freelance so had no entitlement to any work.

My dh earns enough to support us all but not in a grand manner, money is really pretty tight.

I would love to go back to work but the recession and my age just makes me paralysed that I'll just be laughed out of any potential employers company.

I have done a little bit of exam invigilating and am school gov and have helped loads in ds's school with the school 'friends' raising money and in class as well. I have really good people skills, phone skills, communication skills and an arts degree. I just don't know what I'm worth to the job market in this climate. It all makes me want to hide under the bed. But I know dh resents taking all the responsibility and to be honest I would love to work! I just need some confidence to start looking I think. Maybe I'm more employable than I think?

I had wanted to do the pgce but didn't have the required gcses. I would love to do some part time work and go back to studying for my counselling training. But I don't know where to start to look for part time work. Is there any left any more?!?

I have just done and passed Maths GCSE after failing it terribly 11 years ago when I left school. I am yet to finish my degree but as soon as I do, I'll be off to do the pgce.

I think the key thing is to have some belief in yourself. Consider the things that you are good at and how that would be a strength to a potential employer.

I was sacked from a job 3 years ago and was recently re-employed (same management etc). I was nervous taking the first step of initiating contact again, but now I am so happy that I did and things are a lot better this time. I know its not the same thing, but hopefully my example shows that sometimes you just have to bite the bullet so to speak.

Good luck

Thanks SecretSlattern, congrats to you

bump

I have just attained my maths gcse after failing it twice 20 years ago! I start my pgce next week. (v apprehensive!) I also worked in the media for about 10 years and like you found the hours unsuitable for family life so I decided to take the bull by the horns and retrain! If you haven't the GCSE grades you need, perhaps you could start in the classroom as a TA. Its a fab training ground for teaching and you'd be earning whilst learning... then you could judge if you want to train as a teacher and take it from there. Loads of teachers start off as TA's. It sounds as if you have good experience with the school, so the first step might be to ask them if they have any vacancies.....good luck...I'm sure it will all work out for you.

How about working for a charity? You could start off doing a bit of voluntary work in PR etc to get your confidence back, then start applying for jobs? I did this for a while when i was in a similar position and ended up being offered a job at the charity.....it certainly boosted my confidence. I'm now retraining in a different field but will always look as the charity work as the bridge between being a de-skilled SAHM and someone who has the confidence to get back out there!!

You sound like you have loads of great skills - all that's lacking is the self-belief and direction and only you can find those things!!

Agree with the comments about becoming a teaching assistant. You're interested in education, have experience of helping out at school and thinking about doing a PGCE. From the sounds of what you've done in your previous life, you'll breeze it. If you like it, you can study for your Maths GCSE and do the teacher training. Rather than PGCE you could do GTP (Graduate Teacher Programme) which is a one year course based within school. Google it and you'll finds loads of info.

Ooh, how exciting! Don't worry about it, if it's meant to be it will work out perfectly. Early 40s is not over the hill, believe me!

thanks for your encouragement! I really appreciate it.

dh found this open last night and he was furious because he thought I was saying he was a useless breadwinner and lived in a mud hut!

I said I just wrote not 'grand' be cause we could actually do with some more cash for the house etc...... oh well, the male ego is a mysterious thing! I feel guilty for just coming on here now!

thanks though, what I wished people would say was:
Don't give up just because of the recession
There is always work for those with good people skills
Over 40 isn't over the hill!

So many thanks again any advice gratefully received.

I'm in the same position, though am 44 and have 3 children. No advice, but will read your replies with interest. It's a bit terrifying isn't it.