back to Work

[dadDave]

Ok the obvious bit out the way first, I am a dad who has took time out (5 years) from my career to spend with my son (now 12).

In any case son is now at senior school so time to return to work, I have kept my toe in the water by keeping upto date with courses etc, but the normal story of sending in CV to 100's of places and applied for > 500 jobs but no joy. For the odd interview I have had the fact of a chap taking family time out is seen as 'strange' (bizarrely men seem more understanding than women).

Have had the CV checked over & all agencies etc say it is upto speed, just that in the current situation people can be more fussy and anything 'out of the norm' can hold you back.

Guess this is a problem which affects women more often (as they take time out more often) so hope there is some good advice to come from the collective wisdom out there

Have you been looking for permanent or temporary jobs? Only in the current climate I think often temp jobs are the way into a company and then if you're good and they like you, they somehow manage to find budgets to keep you. What is it you do?

Tried all 3 - Permanent / temporary / part time / including those away from my home region.
Perhaps should have said it is in area around IT project / service management - not sure if that makes any difference

I'd imagine then it's timing, I've been told by a few agencies that employers are waiting for election result before hiring so could be that. You sound like you're doing everything you can and all the rights things. It's just taking time.
Have you looked at the census recruitment campaign, is there anything there you could do? It'd be perfect, short term temporary contract but get you back in the working world.
Census jobs
Not brilliant pay, but might be a start.

Hey, look at that, I just got a link to work.

thanks for that Indie,I am going to check out those jobs as I had not seen that site before

Am also in the IT industry and get all my jobs via Jobserve mainly, or cwjobs. Have you tried those? Not only do you need apply, but also when you send your cv into an agent you need to keep phoning to chase and see what else they have.
I go on the premise that if I phone often enough, they'll give me interviews just to get me to stop pestering them!
What area of the UK are you?

Hi Daddave,
I am in IT project management and just wanted to say you have all my sympathy. I had 1 year out and was in the same situation as you. I only found a job in the end through a personal recommendation but even then they really grilled me on my 1 year out. Shocking really.
Just wanted to send all my sympathy, I don't have a lot of advice apart from keep plugging away. Do you have any contacts in the industry that could recommend you/point you to a job? (Obvious question I know)
Good luck!!!