How Long Did It Take You To Find A (Decent) Job After Lengthy Break?

[fionas]

I'm feeling that it might be time to go back to work, at least part-time.

I was a Communications Manager, v well paid but haven't done that for 5 years. Went back to a lower role (because that's all they would offer me part-time) between DD1 and DD2.

This is complicated by the fact that I'm hoping to change career to social research and am currently studying my Masters.

I guess I'm just hoping to hear some positive stories from people who've found rewarding work after a reasonably lengthy break.

I'll be taking a big wage cut, I've accepted that - I just want the work to be challenging and interesting.

[fionas]

anyone?

[Astrid]

It took me a few attempts to find a good job. Initially after DD1 I worked for myself bookkeeping, then I found what started off as a good parttime job.
We then did the big tree/sea change move.
When DD2 was about 18 mths I found a temp job (which was awful, but helped with $$ and with getting into childcare). About 7 months after that I found my current job, which is pretty good. Pay is ok and I can work school hours.

REally I think it is a matter of time, just waiting for the right oppurtinity to come up. Along with that being in the right mind set to see that opportunity and being able to grab it. If I had seen my current job a year earlier I probably would have not gotten it.

[fionas]

Thanks for the positive vibes Astrid.

Did you sense any negativity from potential employers about having time out of the workforce?

[HotI]

i don't have experience in this, but it is a great question to ask.

[Jaycee]

I think the fact that you're studyig will go a long way with employers.

Whilst you've had time away from employment due to your little ones, studying is a very positive step to show employers you are still serious about wanting a career as well.

I don't think you'll have too much of an issue. Put your resume out there and see what happens

[Astrid]

Thanks for the positive vibes Astrid.

Did you sense any negativity from potential employers about having time out of the workforce?

No actually. I had more issues with the hours I required. Initially I think I was to restrictive (really had no choice), plus I was breaking into an area outside of my experience (I previously was corporate and I was looking at the smaller firms). The main thing I encountered was those business did not create part-time positions for new staff, but more an existing staff member required part-time, so they made changes for them.

I learnt to be upfront and non apologetic about being a parent and I what I could or could not do hours wise.

My current role he was actually looking for part-time and had thought the role ideal for a parent returning to the workforce, so I was very fortunate there.

I did apply for a full-time role at DH's work place at the same time, I explained the hours I had and how DH with myself would juggle things (basically one I of us would use our afternoon break to pick up DD1 from school to drop her at afterschool care). I noted that it was not even written down So much for a business that touts itself as family friendly, all about work life balance, blah, blah, blah.

Basically a work place is going to be ok with you or not right from the start.

[wysiwyg]

The main thing I encountered was those business did not create part-time positions for new staff, but more an existing staff member required part-time, so they made changes for them.

This is my current experience, I am looking for part-time (made redundant after DD - whole teams jobs moved to Kuala Lumpar - went back full time to contract job for 12 weeks (DH part time but I hated working five days a week) so then negotiated part time contract for 7 months before having DS.)

Now I can't even get past recruitment agents - jobs are never advertised (SAP WM/Logistics Consultant) as part-time (3 days a week) and recruitment agents just are not interested once can't convince you 5 days a week, trying to do everything via old contacts but is hard as market is flat (most jobs are moving to India, or require travel). I don't really know what to do, have got the kids in daycare as need to for the places, but can't do that indefinitely - we could borrow some money for a bit and I could just take kids out of daycare and stay at home - but then worry about what would do in a couple of years down the line, when would want full time again - would the extended time out of the workforce be a problem? - maybe I need to do something different given the way the market is going - not really sure what. Maybe I should suck it up and get a full time contract role - somehow work out daycare, and then hope I can negotiate it down to part time - I really don't want to do that also annoys me in principal how closed the market is to part-time.

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

I had 18 months off and recently went back to work, and yes, there were a lot of questions about why I'd been out so long. Maybe an answer like maternity leave would be more satisfactory than my vague hiding-my-nervous-breakdown answer, in which case you wouldn't have a problem. Surprisingly, I even had trouble getting back into temp work. My field is admin/accounts, so there may also be a difference in the environment to what you'd be going in to.

[Starfish]

I think I looked for work for about 5-6 months before finding my current job.
I applied for literally hundreds of jobs and was starting to get really despondent that I wasn't getting anywhere. Before having DD, I worked in PA/senior administrator jobs in universities and educational institutions. These were the jobs that I initially applied for, but as I was getting nowhere, I started applying for more junior roles, then for entry level roles. It was getting very disheartening.
At that time, the place that I now work for was advertising several positions. I applied for a part-time reception/admin job, but then got a call telling me that they thought I would be more suited to the full time management position and asked me if I wanted to apply for it, which I did. I made it clear from the start that while I was happy to work full time, I was still breastfeeding DD and asked how I could manage this. I've been there for over three years now.

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