What job opportunities are there for parents with no "recent" work experience?

[Starfish]

DH has been a SAHD with DD for the past two years. We are struggling on just my one wage so he is looking to go back to work. However every single job ad that we have looked at calls for recent experience... To make things more complicated, he can't go back to what he used to do because due to an injury he can no longer do physical labour. Does anyone have any suggestions of where and what types of jobs we can look for? It's getting frustrating not finding anything remotely suitable.

[Mummy&Daddy2Be]

just an idea.. what about cleaning schools? (not sure if that counts as physical work) or he could go to tafe and get a cert III in aged care? plenty of aged care jobs!!

[sushee]

I would still apply for jobs that say 'recent experience'. Don't let that put you off.

[Starfish]

Thanks for your replies.

Mum2b - unfortunately I think that cleaning would be too physical, as DH has a hip injury. He is planning on doing a Cert 3 in Children's Services next year (already has an aged and disability care qual), but will probably need to do a desk job or something...

Sushee - if a large number of people apply for a job, would the ones without recent experience even get a look in?

[Gigi]

i couldn't get a job packing shelves, due to "lack of experience packing shelves", i sympathise. (Despite getting a very good score on the three hour apptitude test). Where i live (city), you need "recent experience" for any job, so much competition.

[Mummy&Daddy2Be]

i couldn't get a job packing shelves, due to "lack of experience packing shelves"

wow that's very harsh...

[lady_neon]

Is truck driving an option Starfish? My dad has no trouble finding all sorts of work from local delivery to cross country, and he's got a dodgy back & hip. Trucks run this country so there's always work, your DH would just have to get a license.

[Astrolady]

Yeah I was going to suggest courier work.

[nothing2lose]

Call centre work? Telemarketing?
Many office jobs would require a qualification or training. Can he do some courses to help boost his chances?

[Miss_Dee]

Many level 1 desktop support jobs don't require recent, or any, experience.

[sushee]

Depends on what they mean by recent. I don't think someone who is in IT but whose last experience was 3 years ago would be suitable, but someone who was in childcare, for instance, 3 years out of the job is recent enough.

[Janie71]

Could he do some temp work to start with to build up some experience. What sort of skills does he have?

Janie xxx

[~Kim~]

What about a temp agency to get some experience up. They will do the ground work to find suitable roles.
Casual can be a pain but it's often a foot in the door.

[Starfish]

Thanks for your replies everyone. Sorry for not replying earlier

Gigi - It's so hard, isn't it - you have "no experience", and it seems that if you're over 21, no one will give you the opportunity to to get it.

Lady_neon - How does one get a truck licence? DH has previously driven cars with trailers, as well as a ambulances, but only has a normal car licence.

Astrolady - thanks for the idea. Courier work could be a good option. Although they all seem to want experience with a "busy courier company". Sigh.

N2L - call centre work is another good idea. Will try this too.

Miss_Dee - really??? I would have thought that desktop support was quite a specified skill...

Sushee - thanks for that. You're right - it depends on your definition of "recent". Maybe I need to stop dismissing job ads immediately as soon as I see that word. because you're right - 2 years ago could be recent enough.

Janie and Kim - Temp work is a good option. Will look into this too.

Thanks everyone.

[lady_neon]

Try your department of transport center (if that's what you Sydney-siders call it). Same place you go to get learners permit for car license. They should be able to direct you to truck driver lesson providers.

[Miss_Dee]

Miss_Dee - really??? I would have thought that desktop support was quite a specified skill...

Got my job titles mixed up. Desktop support is level 2. Help desk (or service desk) is level 1 which often requires no experience. People having problems call help desk in the first instance where they follow a script so no prior knowledge is needed cause it's all there. If help desk can't solve the problem it then gets referred to desktop support. According to DF who works in IT, if you have half a brain you can move from help desk to desktop fairly quickly too.