Made a bad decision about going back to work and regretting it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not an impulsive person and usually I really think through things before committing to anything., Going back to work was one big impulsive mistake that I made. In my situation, I should have waited for kids to leave home and evaluated how my day to day life looked like,. Thankfully, this whole episode has made me realize that I am dispensable at work but indispensable at home. Gave notice but they want to retain me and have come back with many great options that are very attractive. I have decided to pass. Not working for money, so my own personal time right now is precious.

Some posters asked how to get into the game. You need to have the credentials in your own industry to get back to the working world but generally the following helped me (along with existing network of people who can give me jobs ).
1) Be up to speed on any tech and office skills you may need. Microsoft 356/office, Photoshop, Visio, Flow, Skype, and even the lowly snipping tool that has proved indispensable for me. https://products.office.com/en-us/products - check these out.
2) In your volunteer work, take on tasks that are hard and people shy away from - administrative, project management, marketing, website support, power point presentations and slides, organizing events for charity, social media presence, accounting and tax prep, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, creating training videos and documents, promotional materials etc.
3) Get comfortable with having a digital footprint but curate carefully, do not overshare - blog, fb, youtube, IG, Twitter, polling tools, Linkedin,
4) Use your smartphone features fully. There are some great apps that are available to simplify your life. .
5) Use online businesses for a variety of services
6) Write a daily status report and send to your boss. It does not matter if they ask for it or not. Have an open word document on your machine, and keep updating it throughout your day.

Good luck to people who are trying to get back into the workforce.

Thanks for the reality check. Looking at that list makes me realize that I have some catching up to do if I want to make myself current. Technology has changed so much since I last worked. It's a lot more user friendly now and quicker/easier to learn, IMO. I haven't been completely away from it but, honestly, I don't use it if I don't have to and I'm not big into social media nor am I all that interested in apps on my Smartphone.

I either need to get with the program or accept that I am destined to remain at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Former latch key kid and current longtime SAHM...

I think it's important for young women to know that they can support themselves and live independently. The best way to accomplish that is by doing it.

So, I would hope that my daughter would spend some years working, paying her own bills and being self sufficient BEFORE she got married and/or joined finances with her SO and certainly well before she had children.

+1,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Former latch key kid and current longtime SAHM...

I think it's important for young women to know that they can support themselves and live independently. The best way to accomplish that is by doing it.

So, I would hope that my daughter would spend some years working, paying her own bills and being self sufficient BEFORE she got married and/or joined finances with her SO and certainly well before she had children.

+ 1

I also think it is important to be financially secure at all times. Financial management is key. I do not care if your money came from earning, inheritance or lottery - as a woman, is it in your name, can you access it, an you invest and grow it. That is key.

Agree. I think this is an interesting lesson that if you get a good education, lay a foundation with a career, and take time out......you CAN go back again. But. But....you can't expect to find a flexible, satisfying, stimulating job. You go back to the grind. I sympathize with OP, but what did you expect after so many years out? You really do have to earn flex sometimes and job satisfaction. The further I go in my career, the more delegating I can do of the grunt work and the grind. And the more I work from home, and refuse to take jobs with a long commute. You can't really expect to come back into that.

I'm all for women staying home when it makes sense, and I'm all for women getting back in after years off. But there are some trade offs, just like there are for working moms.

DP. Sure, this is true - but I think the OP is well aware of the trade offs and wasn’t expecting otherwise. Her dilemma is whether those trade offs are worth it to her or not, a dilemma I myself am having as well. If you have the option of returning to work or not, after years of basically being your own boss, it’s often not worth giving up the freedom. I believe that’s what the OP is recognizing and wrestling with, as am I.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not an impulsive person and usually I really think through things before committing to anything., Going back to work was one big impulsive mistake that I made. In my situation, I should have waited for kids to leave home and evaluated how my day to day life looked like,. Thankfully, this whole episode has made me realize that I am dispensable at work but indispensable at home. Gave notice but they want to retain me and have come back with many great options that are very attractive. I have decided to pass. Not working for money, so my own personal time right now is precious.

Some posters asked how to get into the game. You need to have the credentials in your own industry to get back to the working world but generally the following helped me (along with existing network of people who can give me jobs ).
1) Be up to speed on any tech and office skills you may need. Microsoft 356/office, Photoshop, Visio, Flow, Skype, and even the lowly snipping tool that has proved indispensable for me. https://products.office.com/en-us/products - check these out.
2) In your volunteer work, take on tasks that are hard and people shy away from - administrative, project management, marketing, website support, power point presentations and slides, organizing events for charity, social media presence, accounting and tax prep, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, creating training videos and documents, promotional materials etc.
3) Get comfortable with having a digital footprint but curate carefully, do not overshare - blog, fb, youtube, IG, Twitter, polling tools, Linkedin,
4) Use your smartphone features fully. There are some great apps that are available to simplify your life. .
5) Use online businesses for a variety of services
6) Write a daily status report and send to your boss. It does not matter if they ask for it or not. Have an open word document on your machine, and keep updating it throughout your day.

Good luck to people who are trying to get back into the workforce.

I’m a little curious about what industry this job was in, b/c those skills would be had by just about any recent grad? How did you differentiate yourself?

Recent grads have experience with accounting and tax preparation, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, etc etc? Uh, no. Many of the things PP listed can only be learned on the job, often through years of experience - which she clearly has.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
I’m a little curious about what industry this job was in, b/c those skills would be had by just about any recent grad? How did you differentiate yourself?

You are looking at it all wrong. You are already different from any recent grad because you have more professional credentials/life experience etc.

All you need to add to that is be current with the skills that are common in the workplace and are also being used by recent grads. Remember that many people in their 40's, 50's and 60s are also in the workplace and they are running the show. These people have more in common with you then the recent grads, There exists a generational gap in the workplace too, and while these people are very experienced and great at their job, they only use the tech that they require and use at work, The way you dress, the way you talk, the way you problem solve - it will resonate with these people, not the recent grads.

Being current with these skills just allows you to hit the ground running. Being able to communicate well, have soft skills, follow through with things, be detail oriented and plan well - these are still skills that are not universal in the work place.

-op

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not an impulsive person and usually I really think through things before committing to anything., Going back to work was one big impulsive mistake that I made. In my situation, I should have waited for kids to leave home and evaluated how my day to day life looked like,. Thankfully, this whole episode has made me realize that I am dispensable at work but indispensable at home. Gave notice but they want to retain me and have come back with many great options that are very attractive. I have decided to pass. Not working for money, so my own personal time right now is precious.

Some posters asked how to get into the game. You need to have the credentials in your own industry to get back to the working world but generally the following helped me (along with existing network of people who can give me jobs ).
1) Be up to speed on any tech and office skills you may need. Microsoft 356/office, Photoshop, Visio, Flow, Skype, and even the lowly snipping tool that has proved indispensable for me. https://products.office.com/en-us/products - check these out.
2) In your volunteer work, take on tasks that are hard and people shy away from - administrative, project management, marketing, website support, power point presentations and slides, organizing events for charity, social media presence, accounting and tax prep, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, creating training videos and documents, promotional materials etc.
3) Get comfortable with having a digital footprint but curate carefully, do not overshare - blog, fb, youtube, IG, Twitter, polling tools, Linkedin,
4) Use your smartphone features fully. There are some great apps that are available to simplify your life. .
5) Use online businesses for a variety of services
6) Write a daily status report and send to your boss. It does not matter if they ask for it or not. Have an open word document on your machine, and keep updating it throughout your day.

Good luck to people who are trying to get back into the workforce.

I’m a little curious about what industry this job was in, b/c those skills would be had by just about any recent grad? How did you differentiate yourself?

Recent grads have experience with accounting and tax preparation, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, etc etc? Uh, no. Many of the things PP listed can only be learned on the job, often through years of experience - which she clearly has.

I'm gonna be slammed more for this but there is very little that you cannot learn now. The internet is a great resource. If you do not have the opportunity to learn some (not all) skills in a job because you are home, then do so at your volunteer/charity space. Everything I had needed to learn to succeed in the workplace - I learned in Kindergarten and PTA. I was also the Tiger mom, who has taught, coached and tutored my kids and neighborhood kids for free, on every darn subject from K-12 that you can think of. And I have taken a bazillion courses in the community college and aced it. Get out of your comfort zone in your volunteering and take on tasks that you have not done before because it is the best sandbox to play in. Plus, it is immensely satisfying because you can do it at your own terms and help others at the same time. All of this translates into skills that you can bring into the workplace.

If I ever had to run a business, I would look at SAHMs and Veterans as employees and make it super attractive for them in terms of remote working and flex time. and good remuneration/benefits. This is a gold mine of talent and they are also selling themselves short - just like I did. The reason I am leaving is not because I cannot hack it at the job. I am leaving because I do not want to make the time committment away from my family and my leisure hours + don't need the money. But, I now know that I can get a job and do well in a job - if I want.

- OP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not an impulsive person and usually I really think through things before committing to anything., Going back to work was one big impulsive mistake that I made. In my situation, I should have waited for kids to leave home and evaluated how my day to day life looked like,. Thankfully, this whole episode has made me realize that I am dispensable at work but indispensable at home. Gave notice but they want to retain me and have come back with many great options that are very attractive. I have decided to pass. Not working for money, so my own personal time right now is precious.

Some posters asked how to get into the game. You need to have the credentials in your own industry to get back to the working world but generally the following helped me (along with existing network of people who can give me jobs ).
1) Be up to speed on any tech and office skills you may need. Microsoft 356/office, Photoshop, Visio, Flow, Skype, and even the lowly snipping tool that has proved indispensable for me. https://products.office.com/en-us/products - check these out.
2) In your volunteer work, take on tasks that are hard and people shy away from - administrative, project management, marketing, website support, power point presentations and slides, organizing events for charity, social media presence, accounting and tax prep, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, creating training videos and documents, promotional materials etc.
3) Get comfortable with having a digital footprint but curate carefully, do not overshare - blog, fb, youtube, IG, Twitter, polling tools, Linkedin,
4) Use your smartphone features fully. There are some great apps that are available to simplify your life. .
5) Use online businesses for a variety of services
6) Write a daily status report and send to your boss. It does not matter if they ask for it or not. Have an open word document on your machine, and keep updating it throughout your day.

Good luck to people who are trying to get back into the workforce.

I’m a little curious about what industry this job was in, b/c those skills would be had by just about any recent grad? How did you differentiate yourself?

Recent grads have experience with accounting and tax preparation, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, etc etc? Uh, no. Many of the things PP listed can only be learned on the job, often through years of experience - which she clearly has.

Well my sisters grad friends all had to volunteer work to graduate, and that was part of it

Grant writing? Were you at a nonprofit OP?

[Anonymous]

It is amazing how many working people at high level jobs are not aware how to do relatively easy tasks that MS and HS students are able to do - Flow charts, slides, scanning receipts and documents, tagging posts, creating a simple approval process, collaborating on cloud, manipulating data on excel, creating reports, graphs, embedding and linking to text within documents, creating online polls etc. You have a HS kid...they are your best tech support. Swallow your pride and ask for their help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It is amazing how many working people at high level jobs are not aware how to do relatively easy tasks that MS and HS students are able to do - Flow charts, slides, scanning receipts and documents, tagging posts, creating a simple approval process, collaborating on cloud, manipulating data on excel, creating reports, graphs, embedding and linking to text within documents, creating online polls etc. You have a HS kid...they are your best tech support. Swallow your pride and ask for their help.

?? What are you talking about? I have never met anyone who can’t do that except like edge-of-retirement staff. Where do you were this is an issue?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not an impulsive person and usually I really think through things before committing to anything., Going back to work was one big impulsive mistake that I made. In my situation, I should have waited for kids to leave home and evaluated how my day to day life looked like,. Thankfully, this whole episode has made me realize that I am dispensable at work but indispensable at home. Gave notice but they want to retain me and have come back with many great options that are very attractive. I have decided to pass. Not working for money, so my own personal time right now is precious.

Some posters asked how to get into the game. You need to have the credentials in your own industry to get back to the working world but generally the following helped me (along with existing network of people who can give me jobs ).
1) Be up to speed on any tech and office skills you may need. Microsoft 356/office, Photoshop, Visio, Flow, Skype, and even the lowly snipping tool that has proved indispensable for me. https://products.office.com/en-us/products - check these out.
2) In your volunteer work, take on tasks that are hard and people shy away from - administrative, project management, marketing, website support, power point presentations and slides, organizing events for charity, social media presence, accounting and tax prep, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, creating training videos and documents, promotional materials etc.
3) Get comfortable with having a digital footprint but curate carefully, do not overshare - blog, fb, youtube, IG, Twitter, polling tools, Linkedin,
4) Use your smartphone features fully. There are some great apps that are available to simplify your life. .
5) Use online businesses for a variety of services
6) Write a daily status report and send to your boss. It does not matter if they ask for it or not. Have an open word document on your machine, and keep updating it throughout your day.

Good luck to people who are trying to get back into the workforce.

I’m a little curious about what industry this job was in, b/c those skills would be had by just about any recent grad? How did you differentiate yourself?

Recent grads have experience with accounting and tax preparation, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, etc etc? Uh, no. Many of the things PP listed can only be learned on the job, often through years of experience - which she clearly has.

I'm gonna be slammed more for this but there is very little that you cannot learn now. The internet is a great resource. If you do not have the opportunity to learn some (not all) skills in a job because you are home, then do so at your volunteer/charity space. Everything I had needed to learn to succeed in the workplace - I learned in Kindergarten and PTA. I was also the Tiger mom, who has taught, coached and tutored my kids and neighborhood kids for free, on every darn subject from K-12 that you can think of. And I have taken a bazillion courses in the community college and aced it. Get out of your comfort zone in your volunteering and take on tasks that you have not done before because it is the best sandbox to play in. Plus, it is immensely satisfying because you can do it at your own terms and help others at the same time. All of this translates into skills that you can bring into the workplace.

If I ever had to run a business, I would look at SAHMs and Veterans as employees and make it super attractive for them in terms of remote working and flex time. and good remuneration/benefits. This is a gold mine of talent and they are also selling themselves short - just like I did. The reason I am leaving is not because I cannot hack it at the job. I am leaving because I do not want to make the time committment away from my family and my leisure hours + don't need the money. But, I now know that I can get a job and do well in a job - if I want.

- OP

+100
Well said. I’ve often thought exactly this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not an impulsive person and usually I really think through things before committing to anything., Going back to work was one big impulsive mistake that I made. In my situation, I should have waited for kids to leave home and evaluated how my day to day life looked like,. Thankfully, this whole episode has made me realize that I am dispensable at work but indispensable at home. Gave notice but they want to retain me and have come back with many great options that are very attractive. I have decided to pass. Not working for money, so my own personal time right now is precious.

Some posters asked how to get into the game. You need to have the credentials in your own industry to get back to the working world but generally the following helped me (along with existing network of people who can give me jobs ).
1) Be up to speed on any tech and office skills you may need. Microsoft 356/office, Photoshop, Visio, Flow, Skype, and even the lowly snipping tool that has proved indispensable for me. https://products.office.com/en-us/products - check these out.
2) In your volunteer work, take on tasks that are hard and people shy away from - administrative, project management, marketing, website support, power point presentations and slides, organizing events for charity, social media presence, accounting and tax prep, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, creating training videos and documents, promotional materials etc.
3) Get comfortable with having a digital footprint but curate carefully, do not overshare - blog, fb, youtube, IG, Twitter, polling tools, Linkedin,
4) Use your smartphone features fully. There are some great apps that are available to simplify your life. .
5) Use online businesses for a variety of services
6) Write a daily status report and send to your boss. It does not matter if they ask for it or not. Have an open word document on your machine, and keep updating it throughout your day.

Good luck to people who are trying to get back into the workforce.

I’m a little curious about what industry this job was in, b/c those skills would be had by just about any recent grad? How did you differentiate yourself?

Recent grads have experience with accounting and tax preparation, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, etc etc? Uh, no. Many of the things PP listed can only be learned on the job, often through years of experience - which she clearly has.

I'm gonna be slammed more for this but there is very little that you cannot learn now. The internet is a great resource. If you do not have the opportunity to learn some (not all) skills in a job because you are home, then do so at your volunteer/charity space. Everything I had needed to learn to succeed in the workplace - I learned in Kindergarten and PTA. I was also the Tiger mom, who has taught, coached and tutored my kids and neighborhood kids for free, on every darn subject from K-12 that you can think of. And I have taken a bazillion courses in the community college and aced it. Get out of your comfort zone in your volunteering and take on tasks that you have not done before because it is the best sandbox to play in. Plus, it is immensely satisfying because you can do it at your own terms and help others at the same time. All of this translates into skills that you can bring into the workplace.

If I ever had to run a business, I would look at SAHMs and Veterans as employees and make it super attractive for them in terms of remote working and flex time. and good remuneration/benefits. This is a gold mine of talent and they are also selling themselves short - just like I did. The reason I am leaving is not because I cannot hack it at the job. I am leaving because I do not want to make the time committment away from my family and my leisure hours + don't need the money. But, I now know that I can get a job and do well in a job - if I want.

- OP

+100
Well said. I’ve often thought exactly this!

Odd, this board is flush with complaints about veterans preference.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not an impulsive person and usually I really think through things before committing to anything., Going back to work was one big impulsive mistake that I made. In my situation, I should have waited for kids to leave home and evaluated how my day to day life looked like,. Thankfully, this whole episode has made me realize that I am dispensable at work but indispensable at home. Gave notice but they want to retain me and have come back with many great options that are very attractive. I have decided to pass. Not working for money, so my own personal time right now is precious.

Some posters asked how to get into the game. You need to have the credentials in your own industry to get back to the working world but generally the following helped me (along with existing network of people who can give me jobs ).
1) Be up to speed on any tech and office skills you may need. Microsoft 356/office, Photoshop, Visio, Flow, Skype, and even the lowly snipping tool that has proved indispensable for me. https://products.office.com/en-us/products - check these out.
2) In your volunteer work, take on tasks that are hard and people shy away from - administrative, project management, marketing, website support, power point presentations and slides, organizing events for charity, social media presence, accounting and tax prep, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, creating training videos and documents, promotional materials etc.
3) Get comfortable with having a digital footprint but curate carefully, do not overshare - blog, fb, youtube, IG, Twitter, polling tools, Linkedin,
4) Use your smartphone features fully. There are some great apps that are available to simplify your life. .
5) Use online businesses for a variety of services
6) Write a daily status report and send to your boss. It does not matter if they ask for it or not. Have an open word document on your machine, and keep updating it throughout your day.

Good luck to people who are trying to get back into the workforce.

I’m a little curious about what industry this job was in, b/c those skills would be had by just about any recent grad? How did you differentiate yourself?

Recent grads have experience with accounting and tax preparation, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, etc etc? Uh, no. Many of the things PP listed can only be learned on the job, often through years of experience - which she clearly has.

I'm gonna be slammed more for this but there is very little that you cannot learn now. The internet is a great resource. If you do not have the opportunity to learn some (not all) skills in a job because you are home, then do so at your volunteer/charity space. Everything I had needed to learn to succeed in the workplace - I learned in Kindergarten and PTA. I was also the Tiger mom, who has taught, coached and tutored my kids and neighborhood kids for free, on every darn subject from K-12 that you can think of. And I have taken a bazillion courses in the community college and aced it. Get out of your comfort zone in your volunteering and take on tasks that you have not done before because it is the best sandbox to play in. Plus, it is immensely satisfying because you can do it at your own terms and help others at the same time. All of this translates into skills that you can bring into the workplace.

If I ever had to run a business, I would look at SAHMs and Veterans as employees and make it super attractive for them in terms of remote working and flex time. and good remuneration/benefits. This is a gold mine of talent and they are also selling themselves short - just like I did. The reason I am leaving is not because I cannot hack it at the job. I am leaving because I do not want to make the time committment away from my family and my leisure hours + don't need the money. But, I now know that I can get a job and do well in a job - if I want.

- OP

+100
Well said. I’ve often thought exactly this!

Odd, this board is flush with complaints about veterans preference.

+100

DCUM (and the DC area) is full of people who thrive on rules, laws, organization, and structure. However, there is a huge bias around here against veterans (they took our government jerbs!) and the police (low intelligence and racist!)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not an impulsive person and usually I really think through things before committing to anything., Going back to work was one big impulsive mistake that I made. In my situation, I should have waited for kids to leave home and evaluated how my day to day life looked like,. Thankfully, this whole episode has made me realize that I am dispensable at work but indispensable at home. Gave notice but they want to retain me and have come back with many great options that are very attractive. I have decided to pass. Not working for money, so my own personal time right now is precious.

Some posters asked how to get into the game. You need to have the credentials in your own industry to get back to the working world but generally the following helped me (along with existing network of people who can give me jobs ).
1) Be up to speed on any tech and office skills you may need. Microsoft 356/office, Photoshop, Visio, Flow, Skype, and even the lowly snipping tool that has proved indispensable for me. https://products.office.com/en-us/products - check these out.
2) In your volunteer work, take on tasks that are hard and people shy away from - administrative, project management, marketing, website support, power point presentations and slides, organizing events for charity, social media presence, accounting and tax prep, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, creating training videos and documents, promotional materials etc.
3) Get comfortable with having a digital footprint but curate carefully, do not overshare - blog, fb, youtube, IG, Twitter, polling tools, Linkedin,
4) Use your smartphone features fully. There are some great apps that are available to simplify your life. .
5) Use online businesses for a variety of services
6) Write a daily status report and send to your boss. It does not matter if they ask for it or not. Have an open word document on your machine, and keep updating it throughout your day.

Good luck to people who are trying to get back into the workforce.

I’m a little curious about what industry this job was in, b/c those skills would be had by just about any recent grad? How did you differentiate yourself?

Recent grads have experience with accounting and tax preparation, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, etc etc? Uh, no. Many of the things PP listed can only be learned on the job, often through years of experience - which she clearly has.

I'm gonna be slammed more for this but there is very little that you cannot learn now. The internet is a great resource. If you do not have the opportunity to learn some (not all) skills in a job because you are home, then do so at your volunteer/charity space. Everything I had needed to learn to succeed in the workplace - I learned in Kindergarten and PTA. I was also the Tiger mom, who has taught, coached and tutored my kids and neighborhood kids for free, on every darn subject from K-12 that you can think of. And I have taken a bazillion courses in the community college and aced it. Get out of your comfort zone in your volunteering and take on tasks that you have not done before because it is the best sandbox to play in. Plus, it is immensely satisfying because you can do it at your own terms and help others at the same time. All of this translates into skills that you can bring into the workplace.

If I ever had to run a business, I would look at SAHMs and Veterans as employees and make it super attractive for them in terms of remote working and flex time. and good remuneration/benefits. This is a gold mine of talent and they are also selling themselves short - just like I did. The reason I am leaving is not because I cannot hack it at the job. I am leaving because I do not want to make the time committment away from my family and my leisure hours + don't need the money. But, I now know that I can get a job and do well in a job - if I want.

- OP

+100
Well said. I’ve often thought exactly this!

Odd, this board is flush with complaints about veterans preference.

+100

DCUM (and the DC area) is full of people who thrive on rules, laws, organization, and structure. However, there is a huge bias around here against veterans (they took our government jerbs!) and the police (low intelligence and racist!)

Actually my point was most people don’t like to see folks promoted to positions b/c of unrelated characteristics for the job. You don’t just hire SAHM (which veers towards discrimination on familial status), and folks complain about veteran preference b/c under qualified personnel get the job and everyone else carries the weight.

And it’s unlikely someone who has been home 15 years is as skilled as some more recently trained or experienced.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not an impulsive person and usually I really think through things before committing to anything., Going back to work was one big impulsive mistake that I made. In my situation, I should have waited for kids to leave home and evaluated how my day to day life looked like,. Thankfully, this whole episode has made me realize that I am dispensable at work but indispensable at home. Gave notice but they want to retain me and have come back with many great options that are very attractive. I have decided to pass. Not working for money, so my own personal time right now is precious.

Some posters asked how to get into the game. You need to have the credentials in your own industry to get back to the working world but generally the following helped me (along with existing network of people who can give me jobs ).
1) Be up to speed on any tech and office skills you may need. Microsoft 356/office, Photoshop, Visio, Flow, Skype, and even the lowly snipping tool that has proved indispensable for me. https://products.office.com/en-us/products - check these out.
2) In your volunteer work, take on tasks that are hard and people shy away from - administrative, project management, marketing, website support, power point presentations and slides, organizing events for charity, social media presence, accounting and tax prep, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, creating training videos and documents, promotional materials etc.
3) Get comfortable with having a digital footprint but curate carefully, do not overshare - blog, fb, youtube, IG, Twitter, polling tools, Linkedin,
4) Use your smartphone features fully. There are some great apps that are available to simplify your life. .
5) Use online businesses for a variety of services
6) Write a daily status report and send to your boss. It does not matter if they ask for it or not. Have an open word document on your machine, and keep updating it throughout your day.

Good luck to people who are trying to get back into the workforce.

I’m a little curious about what industry this job was in, b/c those skills would be had by just about any recent grad? How did you differentiate yourself?

Recent grads have experience with accounting and tax preparation, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, etc etc? Uh, no. Many of the things PP listed can only be learned on the job, often through years of experience - which she clearly has.

I'm gonna be slammed more for this but there is very little that you cannot learn now. The internet is a great resource. If you do not have the opportunity to learn some (not all) skills in a job because you are home, then do so at your volunteer/charity space. Everything I had needed to learn to succeed in the workplace - I learned in Kindergarten and PTA. I was also the Tiger mom, who has taught, coached and tutored my kids and neighborhood kids for free, on every darn subject from K-12 that you can think of. And I have taken a bazillion courses in the community college and aced it. Get out of your comfort zone in your volunteering and take on tasks that you have not done before because it is the best sandbox to play in. Plus, it is immensely satisfying because you can do it at your own terms and help others at the same time. All of this translates into skills that you can bring into the workplace.

If I ever had to run a business, I would look at SAHMs and Veterans as employees and make it super attractive for them in terms of remote working and flex time. and good remuneration/benefits. This is a gold mine of talent and they are also selling themselves short - just like I did. The reason I am leaving is not because I cannot hack it at the job. I am leaving because I do not want to make the time committment away from my family and my leisure hours + don't need the money. But, I now know that I can get a job and do well in a job - if I want.

- OP

+100
Well said. I’ve often thought exactly this!

I have not. Every SAHM I know talks about wanting to return to work but never does anything about it. Always an excuse as to why they can’t return to work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here. I am not an impulsive person and usually I really think through things before committing to anything., Going back to work was one big impulsive mistake that I made. In my situation, I should have waited for kids to leave home and evaluated how my day to day life looked like,. Thankfully, this whole episode has made me realize that I am dispensable at work but indispensable at home. Gave notice but they want to retain me and have come back with many great options that are very attractive. I have decided to pass. Not working for money, so my own personal time right now is precious.

Some posters asked how to get into the game. You need to have the credentials in your own industry to get back to the working world but generally the following helped me (along with existing network of people who can give me jobs ).
1) Be up to speed on any tech and office skills you may need. Microsoft 356/office, Photoshop, Visio, Flow, Skype, and even the lowly snipping tool that has proved indispensable for me. https://products.office.com/en-us/products - check these out.
2) In your volunteer work, take on tasks that are hard and people shy away from - administrative, project management, marketing, website support, power point presentations and slides, organizing events for charity, social media presence, accounting and tax prep, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, creating training videos and documents, promotional materials etc.
3) Get comfortable with having a digital footprint but curate carefully, do not overshare - blog, fb, youtube, IG, Twitter, polling tools, Linkedin,
4) Use your smartphone features fully. There are some great apps that are available to simplify your life. .
5) Use online businesses for a variety of services
6) Write a daily status report and send to your boss. It does not matter if they ask for it or not. Have an open word document on your machine, and keep updating it throughout your day.

Good luck to people who are trying to get back into the workforce.

I’m a little curious about what industry this job was in, b/c those skills would be had by just about any recent grad? How did you differentiate yourself?

Recent grads have experience with accounting and tax preparation, soliciting corporate donations, proposal writing, applying for grants, etc etc? Uh, no. Many of the things PP listed can only be learned on the job, often through years of experience - which she clearly has.

I'm gonna be slammed more for this but there is very little that you cannot learn now. The internet is a great resource. If you do not have the opportunity to learn some (not all) skills in a job because you are home, then do so at your volunteer/charity space. Everything I had needed to learn to succeed in the workplace - I learned in Kindergarten and PTA. I was also the Tiger mom, who has taught, coached and tutored my kids and neighborhood kids for free, on every darn subject from K-12 that you can think of. And I have taken a bazillion courses in the community college and aced it. Get out of your comfort zone in your volunteering and take on tasks that you have not done before because it is the best sandbox to play in. Plus, it is immensely satisfying because you can do it at your own terms and help others at the same time. All of this translates into skills that you can bring into the workplace.

If I ever had to run a business, I would look at SAHMs and Veterans as employees and make it super attractive for them in terms of remote working and flex time. and good remuneration/benefits. This is a gold mine of talent and they are also selling themselves short - just like I did. The reason I am leaving is not because I cannot hack it at the job. I am leaving because I do not want to make the time committment away from my family and my leisure hours + don't need the money. But, I now know that I can get a job and do well in a job - if I want.

- OP

Well since you quit within a few weeks from the a good job, you can be sure your current employer will never hire a SAHM again.

Employers are not holding back part time jobs because they are mean, do you understand it’s because there are fixed overhead costs to every employee and they don’t really go down when the position is part-time, so you are far more expensive as a part-time employee. And trusting someone to not abuse flex or telework, you have to establish that relationship and build trust. You have no references for my recent employer, no history with the company, so they will just pay you and trust that you’re actually working at home.

You will be better suited by freelancing, why did you not go that route? Basically just say I will deliver product, and get paid for it.