Considering back to work options - help!

[sammiLC]

Hi

I've been out of work for 3 years now and have a daughter who will be 4 in April '10. I'm so confused at the moment as I'd love to return to work but as my daughter goes to pre-school 2.5 hrs a day (except for Thurs where she does 5hrs) I don't know what work will fit in with these hours.
I currently work (self employed for a perfume company) and the money is great but as I don't often meet people things have dried up and I lack confidence to approach people I don't know.
I'm also a Life Coach and finally got round to setting up my website but I totally underestimated the amount of time, things to do and money involved in getting this business off the ground especially during the recession. It's overwhelming.
Lastly, in my previous employment the managing director often made false promises to clients and his staff. He last told me that he would provide a reference for me but given his lacksidaisical attitude - I doubt this very much. When applying for part time work I may only have one professional reference - not sure what to do if a second professional reference is required. The Team Leader of the same firm was a bully so I cannot rely on her for one.
Sorry to bombard you all with this, just need some advice and direction.
Sam

Hi Sam,

I appreciate that it can be a challenge trying to find work to fit in around preschool. Unless you work for yourself or work in a preschool I think you may have to consider some form of childcare if you want to ?go out? to work.

As a Life Coach I am sure that you have the toolkit to enable you to improve your confidence and help find some direction, you just need to apply these techniques to yourself. In fact I think you need to do this to enable you to help your prospective clients.

With regard to the reference I do not think that you need to worry unduly about this, many organizations don?t take up references until you have accepted a position and you know you have one professional reference already. In my experience employers will want to contact your last one or two employers regardless, so just put the MD down as a reference, if you get offered the job contact him and let him know that they will be contacting him as he said that he was happy to be provide a reference.

I hope some of that was helpful & good luck

MLx

Thank you both for your advice. You're advice and support has really cheered me up and made me see the reality of my situation. As a stay at home mum all my thoughts are insular and so I'm prone to overthinking and worrying too much. However I've recently decided that I will try and work on my fears and goals this year which are driving on a motorway - terrified, coaching on a voluntary basis, join the gym (at a discount rate and lose weight hopefully). I've also decided that I willl return to work when my daughter's at school full time (Sept) as it'd allow me more time to devote to a training course or working not sure just yet). In the meantime, a Children's Centre near me is offering an Asseriveness course for parents so I'll join that and start in Feb. As a Life Coach I'm good at helping other's, just not myself but I'm working on it. Thanks again for your advice. Sam