Help! Return to Work - am I looking for a unicorn?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Ten years does not seem to long. Now my wife on the other hand is looking to go back to work part time when out middle child goes college around the year 2020.

Her last day at work working for a major bank as an AVP was January 2001.

That will be around 20 years off. Kinda hard for her to network with old peers. How hard is it to find a job, she want to go to the office. As by then just the one kid at home.

Or and this I find crazy she is will to go back to work full time when youngest goes to college. But that is the year 2025. Is there even such a thing as a 25 year break from work. Honestly, things at work have not changed much from 2001 to today.

Cool story, bro.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not necessarily unreasonable. I telework part time for a government contracting firm and make more than what you are looking for. Also advanced degree, also took substantial time out of the workforce to be a stay at home parent. Found job through a personal contact who knew I was looking, and knew of a company looking for my skill set.

There is a lot of networking in this town. Much of it is purely surface, for show only. I think the real key to successful networking is for it to be authentic and based on actual relationships. I've never had a lead pan out from networking event, conference, random semi-cold call, etc. But I've had leads turn into jobs when based on relationships with former colleagues and friends, people who know your skills and interests and can vouch for you personally. And I gladly do the same for former colleagues and for friends.

Contact your old network. Don't worry that many are in DC. They may know of jobs in your area, or of telework opportunities.

When you were looking, did you specify that you wanted to WAH?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Won't work going in. MAYBE if you had already proven yourself somewhere.

+1. If you put anything like that in your cover letter, you will get no interviews as you sound like you don't really want a job.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Won't work going in. MAYBE if you had already proven yourself somewhere.

+1. If you put anything like that in your cover letter, you will get no interviews as you sound like you don't really want a job.

She's already said she doesn't need the money.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Won't work going in. MAYBE if you had already proven yourself somewhere.

+1. If you put anything like that in your cover letter, you will get no interviews as you sound like you don't really want a job.

+1. Put in your time, then in a few years when you are absolutely amazing and indispensable, ask for a more flexible schedule. You have been out of work for 10 years and any strange demands you make - unless you're in a super high-demand field - will seem ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Won't work going in. MAYBE if you had already proven yourself somewhere.

+1. If you put anything like that in your cover letter, you will get no interviews as you sound like you don't really want a job.

She's already said she doesn't need the money.

Sounds good, put it in the cover letter then so she can remain staying home if that's what she wants.

[Anonymous]

OP - check out Flex Professionals -- https://www.flexprofessionalsllc.com/

Three women started this company to get back into the workforce.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Won't work going in. MAYBE if you had already proven yourself somewhere.

+1. If you put anything like that in your cover letter, you will get no interviews as you sound like you don't really want a job.

I may have been out of the workforce for awhile, but I do know better than to make a list of schedule and salary demands in a cover letter. Thanks for the tip though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - check out Flex Professionals -- https://www.flexprofessionalsllc.com/

Three women started this company to get back into the workforce.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Might work better if you were on site first. And are your kids old enough to fend for themselves during summer?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Might work better if you were on site first. And are your kids old enough to fend for themselves during summer?

No, they're not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Not necessarily unreasonable. I telework part time for a government contracting firm and make more than what you are looking for. Also advanced degree, also took substantial time out of the workforce to be a stay at home parent. Found job through a personal contact who knew I was looking, and knew of a company looking for my skill set.

There is a lot of networking in this town. Much of it is purely surface, for show only. I think the real key to successful networking is for it to be authentic and based on actual relationships. I've never had a lead pan out from networking event, conference, random semi-cold call, etc. But I've had leads turn into jobs when based on relationships with former colleagues and friends, people who know your skills and interests and can vouch for you personally. And I gladly do the same for former colleagues and for friends.

Contact your old network. Don't worry that many are in DC. They may know of jobs in your area, or of telework opportunities.

When you were looking, did you specify that you wanted to WAH?

I was keeping an open mind about FT, PT, work at home vs. office. But I told the friends and colleagues I was closest to and could trust that I preferred PT WAH. It was one of those contacts who knew of a company looking for someone with my skills and experience. The entire company teleworked and about 1/3 were part time.

[Anonymous]

Since you don’t need the money, I would see if you can find a volunteer position that interests you. That will get you the hours you want, and the rewarding part.

[Anonymous]

Entitled much?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Entitled much?

Who?