If you were a sahm for more than 5 years, how did you get back in the employment market?

[mrsruffallo]

Need some inspiration please- how did you do it?

First port of call was the local job centre. they interviewed me, sent me on a training course,(for which I had to pay, but it was a worthwhile invstment), I have been in work for over ten years since.

3littlefrogs-can I ask what topic your training course was? eg was it general work skills, something you were interested in or something they thought you should do?

Just basic computer skills. I didn't grow up with them, so had never used one before.

Thanks guys
I want to start work again this year, but it's quite a daunting prospect

Me too!

I emailed my old employer and asked them for a reference. They had a vacancy. I took it. I was pretty lucky really!

for any office job it is useful to show you have recently brushed up your computer skills, so doing something like an ECDL is worthwhile.

gulp

I've been out 5 years too. Was a medical secretary. Am now looking for a part-time medical secretary job and was just going to start applying for ones that I see on the NHS website and hopefully getting interviews.

I hadn't factored in that it might look unfavourable I've been at home for 5 years.

Might have a look at ECDL.

goodbyesun, I have actually been sahm for almost 7 years now
The hardest thing for me is figuring out how I M GHOING TO FIND A JOB WHICH WILL GIVE ME THE SCHOOL HOILDAYS OFF

Sorry about the gaps

It depends how much of a career you are after, I started off looking for temp christmas jobs so that I at least had a recent referance and ended up with a part time job in a local shop.

I'm not expecting it to give me a massive career but the job I have does come with a fair amount of responsibility so I am gaining a bit of experience and will have an up to date referee should I choose to move on.

I actually am in no hurry because I work one afternoon and 3 evenings of which dh is at home for so it is ideal for us for the time being and I actually enjoy it nice wee shop loads of regular customers.
By the time I got the job I was already pregnant as well and my boss took me on despite this.

For me it is about eight and a half years since I worked. I think part time would be best and that then the kids could go into holiday club during the holidays but it wouldn't be five days a week. But we shall see if I can find anything at all first......!

mrsr, I too am looking at how to get back into the job market, but want work in term time only. I've started looking at the local college and doing an "early years education" course which it looks like I can do from home. I'm hoping that this may allow me to work either in schools or nurseries. I used to work in accounts but now want something that will give me the school hols

when do you hope to start work? I'm looking at starting when my youngest starts school, Aug 2011 [gulp]

My youngest goes this September, and I think I can get on an early years NVQ2 course then.
I'll have to find something part time whilst studying though

I've just landed a part time role with the NHS, working as a healthcare assistant(I have no formal healthcare qualifications BTW) with the health visiting and school nurse teams. I got this off the NHS jobs website.

Before I got this job I was looking for part time roles and the ones I found that I thought were good for me and may be for you too were a library assistant, school office administration assistant or a school nurse and also a doctors/dentists receptionist.

Have a look on your county council website for library and school jobs. I registered with mine(Hertfordshire) and they send me daily jobs for working in schools. Not particularly highly paid but good hours for mums and term time only.

Thanks PC, they all sound ideal
I have been wondering what I can do for references as it's been so long

You can use friends as a reference for all the jobs I suggested I think, certainly for the NHS. Big places like a county council or the NHS are very good at family friendly schemes and understanding that mums returning to work won't have a massive cv or tonnes of references from previous employers but they also know that we'll have patience, understanding, empathy and great organisation skills.

I have been thinking about this a lot recently. I have been a SAHM for 11 years now, and I think that's enough!

I do a bit of voluntary work, and I always seem to be appreciated, so I know I am capable, but since I have zero family and dh is out of the house 14 hours a day, I am stymied as far as childcare is concerned.

I can't pipe up in an interview that I need school holidays off, any inset days, any random illness days off etc etc... Oh, and I'll need to come in late every so often because there's a special assembly...

If you need school holidays off, and you dont mind catering work, try your local council. Anyone based in Cambridge and interested just let me know!

DH had a chance meeting with my old boss, who needed a temp. Once I'd started, a permanent job came up, which I applied for as a job-share with another temp, and we got the job between us. I negotiated my hours/days to accommodate the school run, and work more flexibly in the school holidays (ie do 2 long days instead of 3 short ones, to save on holiday care).

Most of my WOHM friends have a similar set-up. The key is to be flexible yourself, so it's not a one-sided arrangement.

MrsR - do you know anyone still in your old line of work who could help?

I could look up a few people, yes.
I think I will do that next week

A bit of temping is also a good way to get back into work at hours that suit you and will give you an up to date referance too.