Former sahms - how long did it take you to get a job?

[Anonymous]

Thinking about taking 2-3 years off to stay at home. We can afford it, but not if I will take forever to find a new job!

Please share:
- how long you were out
- years in profession before you left
- how long it took you to find a job
- how new job compares to old one (eg salary, hours, prestige, career track ...)

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

2 years... trying to go back...havent been successful yet

[Anonymous]

9 months.

[Anonymous]

Sorry, PP here.

Out 5 years.
10 years in profession
9 months to find job.
Took a pay cut from old job, similar job/responsibilities. After two years, almost back up to old salary (I did a 6 month pay review and two raises).

I did/do IT work.

[Anonymous]

-Out 7 yrs but I did a ton of volunteer work that was directly applicable to my career (marketing)
-10yrs in profession
-3 months to find a part time job that turned into full time

[Anonymous]

4 years out.
8 years into career (above entry position)
Kept up with network the entire time
Job in 3 months
60k increase in pay (but that was just dumb timing and luck)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:4 years out.
8 years into career (above entry position)
Kept up with network the entire time
Job in 3 months
60k increase in pay (but that was just dumb timing and luck)

Lol.

[Anonymous]

16 years in profession...federal. Out three years. Spent one year looking, but not actively. Applied for federal position with agency who knew me. Yes, I had some connections, I guess. Took pay cut to start. Back where I was in two years at new job. I am grateful to have employment!

[Anonymous]

Been looking for 8 months with no luck yet.

[Anonymous]

Op here - thanks! Also useful would be year of re-entry and profession area.

[Anonymous]

Out 6 years after 10 years in profession. Searched 3 months. Back at much higher salary.

[Anonymous]

1 year.

[Anonymous]

1 year. 5 years in profession. Law.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thinking about taking 2-3 years off to stay at home. We can afford it, but not if I will take forever to find a new job!

Please share:
- how long you were out
- years in profession before you left
- how long it took you to find a job
- how new job compares to old one (eg salary, hours, prestige, career track ...)

Thanks!

I stayed home for four years. Worked part-time (20hrs) the third year. I had been 8 years in my field + MA before staying home. Took more than a year to find full-time employment. This was in 2009-2010, which was a terrible time to be job hunting. Was never able to get back into my same field and actually ended up making a career change. I like my new job and actually earn double what I earned previously but feel less passionate about my work. Also since I started over at age 37 I have found myself in the same position/level/status as people coming right out of school who don't have any previous work experience, which sometimes hurts my pride a bit. People in my position who are my age are senior or expert level, full performance, etc and I am not there yet since I haven't even been in my position 3 years. I also was told (and it has been true) that I won't get promoted as quickly as the younger ones because they promote more quickly at the lower grades and I came in at a higher grade due to work experience and advanced degree. I always advise people to think long and hard about their career before deciding to SAH. I am making lemonade but I never expected it to be this hard.

[Anonymous]

Out 6 years after 8 years in profession. Took about a month to find a job - went back at the same level I left at, but pay was higher then when I left.

Friend of mine took 13 years off and was hired in her first interview for a position equal to what she left! She was pretty surprised.