Nobody Wants to Hire Me

[Anonymous]

I have a PhD in the social sciences and have been a SAHM for the past 10 years. I want to work part time and have applied for over 25 jobs (in my field, not in my field, including entry-level jobs). I have even left my graduate degree off of my resume in hopes I am not immediately seen as overqualified. I mist work remote and have applied only for those jobs.

I have gotten exactly zero interest. Zero.

I’m a woman in my 40s with seemingly zero opportunity to on-ramp.

I’m starting to get really depressed.

[Anonymous]

*must

[Anonymous]

25 job applications isn't many. Try more.

Meanwhile, volunteer in a field of interest. You have zero work experience for a decade. Volunteering will help close the gap.

[Anonymous]

You must work remote and part time? Okay what are your salary requirements?

[Anonymous]

Are these jobs you’re applying to full time

[Anonymous]

I was in your shoes. Volunteering helped me get some short term, not super attractive projects. And there I met people who then helped me with a permanent position.

[Anonymous]

Part time is generally harder anyway, even without the remote requirement. I’d start with a staffing or contracting agency.

[Anonymous]

25 jobs ia really not a lot. I also have a PhD in the social sciences and it took me more than that to land a good one even without a resume gap

[Anonymous]

Rather than send resumes into the oblivion, figure out things you'd like to do and start connecting directly with people that do them.

[Anonymous]

25? I worked consecutively for over 10 years and I did over 80 networking/cold call/application this year for my new role.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Part time is generally harder anyway, even without the remote requirement. I’d start with a staffing or contracting agency.

I agree. I hire a team with social science backgrounds and we generally prefer one full timer over two part timers (because it’s a lot less hassle and more continuity etc). When we hire contractors/part timers it’s usually former employees who already know the ropes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a PhD in the social sciences and have been a SAHM for the past 10 years. I want to work part time and have applied for over 25 jobs (in my field, not in my field, including entry-level jobs). I have even left my graduate degree off of my resume in hopes I am not immediately seen as overqualified. I mist work remote and have applied only for those jobs.

I have gotten exactly zero interest. Zero.

I’m a woman in my 40s with seemingly zero opportunity to on-ramp.

I’m starting to get really depressed.

Sorry - that is a tough spot. I have to say, if I saw someone with a 10 year gap, there is no chance I'd proceed- you fear it may be like trying to teach your grandma to use the internet- business technology changes. Plus you clearly didnt need to work (since you didnt for all those years) and may quit if you dont like it, leaving me back to square 1. Plus most working mothers would like to find part time work remote and its almost impossible to find a company interested in doing that unless they know you and see it as the lesser of evils of losing you. This is not to bum you out but just to give it to you straight from the other side of the desk. FWIW, I'm a mother in your age bracket myself but I always worked (and I did score one of those reduced schedules for many years) so I get your plight - it's why I never stopped working to be honest, I saw it was near impossible to re-onboard at anywhere near the level you left. That said, you spent your time on something infinitely more meaningful so you can cheer yourself up with the fact that you were there for your kids

In terms of work, you need to project scarcity (ie- you are wanted/employed) and competence. You need to get some recent work on your resume. Start a LLC and do some pro bono work if you have to. Just figure out some way to start getting some real work bullet points on your resume in the last year.

Second, 90% of the time, people get jobs due to word of mouth. Tell all your friends to pass the word, go to industry group events.

If you think you can submit your resume for remote part time work and that something nice will email you back, it will never happen. I am sorry but the screening AI will immediately discard your resume for the gap alone. You may have to agree to return full time if you really want a job.

I do wish you the best of luck. It's an ego-breaking spot you are in but it's really not you, its just the circumstances, and possibly your slightly unrealistic expectations that you can find part time meaningful decently paid work at home after being out of the workforce for 10 years.

[Anonymous]

Op can you get involved with a professional association in your field? That will give you more connections for jobs especially part time which often aren’t advertised. With part time or contract gigs I usually reach out to my network and hire someone.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP. Another person in your shoes. Phd in the humanities, SAHM for the last 8 years, applying to a bunch of things now but not long enough to be discouraged yet. I recommend following The Professor is Out on Facebook. Not everything will be relevant but there are a lot of good discussions about using a Phd outside the academy.

[Anonymous]

See op is proof that this job market is not hot.