s/o SAHM for 20 years, where do I begin to find a job?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, talk to a temp agency, and get their take. You would go through a skills test, but they get a wide variety of assignments and that may get you in the right direction.

Also, and I may get blasted for this, but look into working at a college writing center. I don't know if you have to be attending a college or not, but since you mentioned you have editing and writing skills, that would be beneficial to college students.

MCPS high schools also hires part-time English Composition Assistants to review student papers. They'd probably welcome someone with your background. The positions will be posted during the summer, for the upcoming school year. Other local school systems probably have something similar.

Thanks! I will look into this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My only skills are writing and editing. I can use MS word, Excel, and Powerpoint (from helping my kids), but not in a professional capacity.
I suppose I'd like to be an editor. That's what I did 29 years ago. My editing skills are fine. I'm not sure what computer skills I would need for an editing job, if I could get one. I'm over 50, so most people hiring would be a lot younger than I am. I could do an admin type job but would likely gwt bored pretty quickly. Not sure I even posess the skills to ne an admin, though.
Thanks for the suggestions. More, please!

Could you start by temping for Editorial Experts, I think they are still around. Than venture from there

Looks like they went bankrupt in 2012.

But I found this company in Greenbelt: EEi Communications http://www.eeicom.com/

Could that be the same company? I can't find temping on their website, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, the climb might be too steep. Why don't you capitalize on the skills you built as a SAHM and offer yourself as a personal assistant for working families? I pay my PA $35-40/hour, which is a bit on the higher side (lots of complicated billing/medical issues). Others I know make $25-30.

OP again. Please forgive my ignorance, but how would I go about doing this? Who would hire me? How would I find them?

I'm very organized, good at decorating, managing complicated schedules, etc. I have typical SAHM skills. It did not occur to me these are marketable, though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My only skills are writing and editing. I can use MS word, Excel, and Powerpoint (from helping my kids), but not in a professional capacity.
I suppose I'd like to be an editor. That's what I did 29 years ago. My editing skills are fine. I'm not sure what computer skills I would need for an editing job, if I could get one. I'm over 50, so most people hiring would be a lot younger than I am. I could do an admin type job but would likely gwt bored pretty quickly. Not sure I even posess the skills to ne an admin, though.
Thanks for the suggestions. More, please!

The fact that you don't know what computer skills you need for an editing job shows you may want to volunteer some first...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, talk to a temp agency, and get their take. You would go through a skills test, but they get a wide variety of assignments and that may get you in the right direction.

Also, and I may get blasted for this, but look into working at a college writing center. I don't know if you have to be attending a college or not, but since you mentioned you have editing and writing skills, that would be beneficial to college students.

Thank you, PP. I have no idea how to get a job at a college writing center, but it's an interesting suggestion. There are a lot of colleges near where I live.

I remember temping when I graduated from college and was looking for a job in publishing. Those were pretty awful jobs. One of the worst was as a receptionist at an ad agency. People threw things at me, literally. And screamed at me when I didn't know where to direct their calls because no one explained the job to me. I lasted one day there.

I'm still looking for that group that helps SAHMs re-enter the work force. I've googled, but can't find it. Anyone?

Found this article by googling. Looks like there are several companies now.

http://www.revivemycareer.com/2010/02/02/niche-websites-help-moms-return-to-work/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Honestly, the climb might be too steep. Why don't you capitalize on the skills and innate talents you ALREADY HAVE and offer yourself as a personal assistant for working families? I pay my PA $35-40/hour, which is a bit on the higher side (lots of complicated billing/medical issues). Others I know make $25-30.

I agree with this.

What are your hobbies, OP? Are you handy? Do you have a great eye for organization or decorating? Were you the PTA auction chair and able to raise a ton of $$$?

I think you need to look at your current skills.

I'm a former SAHM for 12 years (age 48) and I agree with the above, based on my experience trying to on-ramp back into the workforce with skills similar to OP's. I tweaked the advice a little above, because "SAHM skills" are just "people skills" -- unless you mean changing diapers or actions truly tied only to mothering. (i.e., working mothers organize too, you know. They also raise PTA money ).

After not getting any solid bites by using some of common advice on this very thread -- volunteer! leverage the PTA/organizational thing! -- I assessed my strengths and went back to school for a Master's that builds on that specific area.

So for OP, that might mean a certificate from George Mason or GW in, say, medical editing. (side note to OP: nobody pays others to write or edit anymore. It's depressing, but new economy employers don't care . Only exception I've found is medical / technical / academics. But forget about, say, "journalism").

OP. I know journalism is dead, but there are lots of publications, airline magazines, for example, newsletters, etc. that must need some sort of editor. College alumni publications, etc. I'm not sure I could find or get any of these editing jobs, but they must exist. Someone has to edit those publications. I don't think I could edit medical or technical journals. I've done some of that in my past and it was excruciating.

Other things I've thought of: librarian (I love books!); social worker (I love to talk to people about their problems!); historic preservation (I love old buildings!). I assume all of these would require another master's degree,which I can't afford without a job. A certificate is likely the most I could manage.

Thanks for the suggestions. I can see this will be a long process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My only skills are writing and editing. I can use MS word, Excel, and Powerpoint (from helping my kids), but not in a professional capacity.
I suppose I'd like to be an editor. That's what I did 29 years ago. My editing skills are fine. I'm not sure what computer skills I would need for an editing job, if I could get one. I'm over 50, so most people hiring would be a lot younger than I am. I could do an admin type job but would likely gwt bored pretty quickly. Not sure I even posess the skills to ne an admin, though.
Thanks for the suggestions. More, please!

The fact that you don't know what computer skills you need for an editing job shows you may want to volunteer some first...

What type of volunteering? Where can I volunteer my editing skills? I'd love to work for free at Washington Magazine or the Post, but I doubt they'd take me, even for free. They'd have to train me, and that would cost them money. I've done lots of volunteering, for the PTA, etc., but I truly cannot figure out how volunteering will help me get a job as an editor. If you have any ideas, please share!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My only skills are writing and editing. I can use MS word, Excel, and Powerpoint (from helping my kids), but not in a professional capacity.
I suppose I'd like to be an editor. That's what I did 29 years ago. My editing skills are fine. I'm not sure what computer skills I would need for an editing job, if I could get one. I'm over 50, so most people hiring would be a lot younger than I am. I could do an admin type job but would likely gwt bored pretty quickly. Not sure I even posess the skills to ne an admin, though.
Thanks for the suggestions. More, please!

The fact that you don't know what computer skills you need for an editing job shows you may want to volunteer some first...

What type of volunteering? Where can I volunteer my editing skills? I'd love to work for free at Washington Magazine or the Post, but I doubt they'd take me, even for free. They'd have to train me, and that would cost them money. I've done lots of volunteering, for the PTA, etc., but I truly cannot figure out how volunteering will help me get a job as an editor. If you have any ideas, please share!

Contact all of your kids' schools and see if you can be the adult volunteer for the student newspaper and yearbook. I believe there is generally a teacher overseeing those clubs, but with shortages in school budgets perhaps they would be willing to consider a volunteer editor. Contact any organization that you are passionate about and offer your editing skills for their communication. Volunteer to edit your HOA's newsletter or website.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, talk to a temp agency, and get their take. You would go through a skills test, but they get a wide variety of assignments and that may get you in the right direction.

Also, and I may get blasted for this, but look into working at a college writing center. I don't know if you have to be attending a college or not, but since you mentioned you have editing and writing skills, that would be beneficial to college students.

Thank you, PP. I have no idea how to get a job at a college writing center, but it's an interesting suggestion. There are a lot of colleges near where I live.

I remember temping when I graduated from college and was looking for a job in publishing. Those were pretty awful jobs. One of the worst was as a receptionist at an ad agency. People threw things at me, literally. And screamed at me when I didn't know where to direct their calls because no one explained the job to me. I lasted one day there.

I'm still looking for that group that helps SAHMs re-enter the work force. I've googled, but can't find it. Anyone?

Found this article by googling. Looks like there are several companies now.

http://www.revivemycareer.com/2010/02/02/niche-websites-help-moms-return-to-work/

Thanks PP. I was mis-googling. I think this is the one I remember from a few years ago. They had a conference in DC.

http://www.irelaunch.com/

[Anonymous]

OP, if you haven't done so already, you might visit your local workforce center (find your nearest one at careeronestop.org). There are counselors, workshops, and resources available to assist with your job search planning.

[Anonymous]

I feel you OP, because I'm in the same boat. I'm 47, and been out of the general job market for ten years. I'm hyperventilating about the job search and, frankly, I need a paying job and don't have much time to volunteer.

[Anonymous]

OP, maybe you could become a task rabbit in the personal assistant category:

http://time.com/money/3714829/working-for-taskrabbit/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. My only skills are writing and editing. I can use MS word, Excel, and Powerpoint (from helping my kids), but not in a professional capacity.
I suppose I'd like to be an editor. That's what I did 29 years ago. My editing skills are fine. I'm not sure what computer skills I would need for an editing job, if I could get one. I'm over 50, so most people hiring would be a lot younger than I am. I could do an admin type job but would likely gwt bored pretty quickly. Not sure I even posess the skills to ne an admin, though.
Thanks for the suggestions. More, please!

The fact that you don't know what computer skills you need for an editing job shows you may want to volunteer some first...

What type of volunteering? Where can I volunteer my editing skills? I'd love to work for free at Washington Magazine or the Post, but I doubt they'd take me, even for free. They'd have to train me, and that would cost them money. I've done lots of volunteering, for the PTA, etc., but I truly cannot figure out how volunteering will help me get a job as an editor. If you have any ideas, please share!

Charter schools

[Anonymous]

Call it pro bono:

https://www.taprootfoundation.org/do-probono

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, talk to a temp agency, and get their take. You would go through a skills test, but they get a wide variety of assignments and that may get you in the right direction.

Also, and I may get blasted for this, but look into working at a college writing center. I don't know if you have to be attending a college or not, but since you mentioned you have editing and writing skills, that would be beneficial to college students.

Thank you, PP. I have no idea how to get a job at a college writing center, but it's an interesting suggestion. There are a lot of colleges near where I live.

I remember temping when I graduated from college and was looking for a job in publishing. Those were pretty awful jobs. One of the worst was as a receptionist at an ad agency. People threw things at me, literally. And screamed at me when I didn't know where to direct their calls because no one explained the job to me. I lasted one day there.

I'm still looking for that group that helps SAHMs re-enter the work force. I've googled, but can't find it. Anyone?

No problem - Mason has a writing center for certain. I suspect the other colleges in the DC area have them as well.