I did an MYOB course through my local council-run learning centre, three hours a week for about 8 weeks I think. Wasn't too expensive - less than a thousand dollars I think - and I'm now qualified as a basic bookkeeper, apparently!
All sorts of things are out there.
Look into distance/correspondence education, short courses, the CAE... do some googling!
I think I'm going to show this thread to DH. We have issues hiring admin staff. We always end up having to let them go because they spend more time on FB and arranging their social lives than working. I keep telling DH to hire a mature woman who is re-entering the workforce because IMO they're more likely to be ambitious and hard working than 22 year olds but he won't believe me.
Anyway, another thing to look into would be your council and state government programs - they often have initiatives to get women into work. So does the federal government. As well as discounted courses they often offer seminars in things like resume writing, interview skills and so on.
Also the Public service used to have public service exams. If they still do maybe you could sit it.
Also the careermums website might be worth a look.
Last edited by Phteven; November 21st, 2011 at 06:27 AM.
RB - I was basically in the same position as you. 10 years out of work doing absolutely nothing paid work wise at all. For the first 4 of those 10 years, I literally sat on my butt. After that Kameron started Kindy etc and I began my life as a volunteer, eventually becoming a Playgroup Co-ordinator, and President of their Governing Council for 4 years. The director of the Kindergarten was going to offer me a job, but I was pregnant with Ashton. That was the only reason I didn't get it and she told me that herself Nothing like a kick in the guts after 4 years of being at the Kindergarten nearly day in day out, even during school holidays.
That really put me on the back foot again and I lost a lot of confidence. I stuck it out for a little while longer as by that time Lachlan was going through Kindergarten and when he finished I resigned from all positions. I vowed never to join another committee again. Then I got onto the school scene more LOL.
I have been on the Parents and Friends committee at the school now for over 2 years. I have done basic computing courses at the kids school as well, just to freshen up on my skills and this year the school offered a TAFE course Cert II in Business, so I jumped at the chance to do that as the school got the course heavily subsidised so instead of paying over $2000 to do it, it only cost $180. With the course we had to do 80 hrs work placement somewhere. I did part of my 80 hours at a different school's library and I love it. I have kept on volunteering there even though my 80 hrs are now finished. and 2 weeks ago I applied to become an SSO (school support officer) with my main interest being library work. Still waiting to find out though if DECS will approve my application.
I have also done a couple of short courses this year. Senior first aid, & child safe practices (reporting child abuse/neglect) something I needed when I knew I was going to apply for an SSO position.
So it's definitely worthwhile to do courses. There are 2 more that I want to do. One being a Cert III in library services and the other a Cert III in Children's services. The latter all SSO's here in SA will eventually need. but to be able to afford to do them I need a job. LOL.
Onyx thank you so much for you response, I hope you can do something to change your DH's veiws. Unfortunately there is a lot of employers who think like that and it does make it hard.
I think even though we (collective we) are older we come with a lot of life experience which I like to think is advantageous.
Great idea to try goverment programs, thanks. Money is tight which makes things hard.
I will take a look at the website.
Thanks for sharing Astrolady. It is great to hear a positive story.
I hope you can go on to get your Cert III in library services and Cert III in Children's services.
Good luck
I think some of it comes down to confidence, for so many years 'only' being like a mum and feeling a little unvalued has not done a lot to increase my self worth and confidence (if anything decreased it) even though the job SAHM do should be valued and praised more.
so that is probably something to work on also.
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Nothing like a kick in the guts after 4 years of being at the Kindergarten nearly day in day out, even during school holidays.
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