SAHM needing to go back to work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As others may have mentioned, being a fT nanny is going to be the best paid job you can get right now while. And, some are really well paid.

Yep, would not waste time looking for an admin job. An adult with a college degree and preschool experience could be very desirable as a $20/hr plus nanny.

Agree with this. And you could provide overnight care for people who have jobs that require travel. Get on NextDoor.com and check out the people who post want ads. Or go very high end and try to get on with an agency. You could also be a doula - they make decent money and it's pretty flexible.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So, I have a few thoughts:
(1) Consider relocating to a lower cost of living area. A pre-school teacher salary goes a lot farther in Texas than in NOVA (though in a less extreme way, also further out in Virginia, Maryland, or Pennsylvania). Work on your credentials for teaching elementary or middle school, which will enable a livable salary and keep you on the same schedule as your children. Also, its one of those jobs people go to sometimes after SAH'ing, so you will be less out of place.
(2) You should be due some sort of settlement and child support. Use that as a cushion to take the time to improve your professional credentials -- go get a degree or training in something useful and employable.
(3) Also consider any other super stable jobs you can find, even if low paying, with good benefits and flexibility, I am thinking of jobs with the city/county/state government, work with professional temp agencies, etc.

She can't relocate if she and husband have joint custody

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look for an admin job with the Feds. You need to prepare yourself to send out a ton of resumes and then interviews. I went back to work after 7 year as a SAHM. It was brutal. Think about how to sell yourself. It’s easy to see what’s wrong, think about what’s good then highlight that in a resume.

Do you realize how many applications come through for a secretary position with the Feds? There's no way OP is going to get on the cert list with 16 years out of the workforce.

What is the cert list?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Heck, I make $20/hr just to babysit part-time.

Exactly and nannies can make more.

[Anonymous]

Sorry but I wouldn’t hire you as a nanny OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would look for an admin job with the Feds. You need to prepare yourself to send out a ton of resumes and then interviews. I went back to work after 7 year as a SAHM. It was brutal. Think about how to sell yourself. It’s easy to see what’s wrong, think about what’s good then highlight that in a resume.

Do you realize how many applications come through for a secretary position with the Feds? There's no way OP is going to get on the cert list with 16 years out of the workforce.

What is the cert list?

Exactly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry but I wouldn’t hire you as a nanny OP.

Not OP, but why?

[Anonymous]

I might hire OP as a nanny and I pay well (currently pay $28/hour for 20 hours a week). When I had someone FT she ended up making $50,000/year factoring in OT plus I paid for part of her health insurance. But I would expect you to clean up and cook and generally help out around the house. is that something you would do OP? if so, you could probably do well as a nanny.

[Anonymous]

OP, I’m not sure what state you are in or if you are interested in teaching, but google “teacher career switcher programs.” I’m looking at programs that cost $4800 and take about 3-4 months, going to school twice a week to get a Virginia teacher’s license. Old Dominion Univ, Shenandoah U and NOVA comm. college offers them.

[Anonymous]

Get your name out there...if you hustle, you can be an independent childcare provider. Other PPs have suggested, but I'll go a step further;

- there's a huge need for before and after school care for students not quite able to get to the bus/be home alone after school and whose parents would gladly pay for a pick up drop off homework help service...bonus points and pay if you offer shuttling to after school programs

- anything available at your preschool? Is it affiliated w a church? You could be on call for church events and do paid childcare. My church always needs childcare helpers for church events.

- how about letting your director know? Families at the preschool? Could you move up in preschool administration? Look for a director position elsewhere?

- White House Nannies? Same deal. You might be able to wrk weekends only to supplement income.

[Anonymous]

OP, are you in any position to finish your MA degree? How much do you have left, and was it a school that doesn't expire your offer?

That might be a better bet, since you can enter the job market as a new grad. Your prior experience and work gap won't matter as much.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I might hire OP as a nanny and I pay well (currently pay $28/hour for 20 hours a week). When I had someone FT she ended up making $50,000/year factoring in OT plus I paid for part of her health insurance. But I would expect you to clean up and cook and generally help out around the house. is that something you would do OP? if so, you could probably do well as a nanny.

OP has kids, and it is important to her to be home for them. I would not hire OP as a nanny, because I would be rushing home so that she can do the same.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Try a temp firm. Almost all of the admin/coordinator positions at my org are filled from temp to perm. The unemployment rate is low. Your years out of the workforce hurts you, but on the plus side, you probably don’t have a criminal record, you probably don’t have a record of being fired, etc. I’m being serious. When unemployment is this low, you start to dip pretty down deep into the barrel of candidates for entry level jobs. This is actually the best time in years to get back into the workforce.

This. Try a temp firm

Yes, this. It likely would take that much time to get started and there are typically lots of admin type positions. Even if the position is for only for a few months, being able to add something recent to your resume will help you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is sad. None of these jobs allow a person to support themselves independently.

That isn't the point. The point is to start getting some recent job experience on your resume. Agree with PP that you need a great attorney who can get you alimony for a period of a couple of years and your share of STBX SS, retirement, health insurance, etc.

I'd focus on 1) getting a job quickly as you need a job to get a job. Hustle for admin jobs. In the meanwhile, take the day care position or teacher aide job. You may be able to get free child care for your kids, but even if not, it'll get you started. 2) I'd focus on jobs that offer steps up, so a teacher's aide position may have more upside than a day care position.