S/O HR people, I need help too!

[Anonymous]

I've been a SAHM for over a decade. I have not really stayed up to date in my field, which is Environmental Management. My computer skills aren't great.

I would like to slowly start making my way back into the environmental field. I figured one of the first things I needed to do was get some sort of current employment. Not only do I have this huge gap, but none of myformer employers can vouch for me! One is dead, one is sort of crazy, and the other one left the field and I can't track him down. I applied for several part time jobs in retail, etc. Finally got a job that is just one day a week. The pay is total crap, but I figure it's worth it if it helps me get a better job someday. But now I'm finding out that it might not work out that way. Since the job is so crappy, with crappy pay, and crappy management, the turnover is very high. Therefore, management is very resentful toward everyone who leaves. I don't think she'd give me a good referral because she would be pissed at me for leaving. So am I wasting my time?

fortunately, my field has a lot of volunteer opportunities. Just not so many in my particular city. I'm not in DC area yet - we've been trying to move there for a couple of years now. Would I be better off ditching this job and spending that time volunteering? I have done some work with a local organization, but I'm wondering if I should find an organization that i can volunteer with now and also when we move.

I'm in no hurry to get back into full time work. For now, I would be happy to find a good volunteer gig, and hopefully that would lead to part time environmental work. I really just want to start getting involved again.

Here's a few of resume questions:

how far back should my work history go? I had 2 jobs over the 3 years I was in the work force after college and before baby. Before that, I worked in a restaurant for 6 years. that was my longest employment, but it was almost 20 years ago! should i include it?

can somebody point me toward a good resume/cover letter template? I know that the format has changed, and I have no idea what it should look like now.

I also have a little creative business that I do from home. More of a hobby really, but I do make a little money. my business doesn't even really have a name. i just make stuff and sell it at a few consignment shops. How would I include that in my resume?

[Anonymous]

I think that maybe you should not do the traditional timeline resume where you put your dates of employment on the left and then the company, job title and job description on the right. Instead you should do the skills-based resume (google what they look like). This will eliminate the need to worry about how far back your history goes.

Definitely get some volunteer stuff going in your field and go to some classes to get your computer skills updated. Do you have a Y or JCC? Many of them have computer classes.

Keep the retail job for the little bit of money it brings in. Consider your Etsy thing a hobby if it has nothing to do with the job you want to get.

[Anonymous]

Don't know about your other Qs, but if the pay is that crappy, job is crappy and you plan on moving, I would quit and volunteer full time. I'm in the environmental mgmt field, had two volunteers working for me for about 6 months (no $ in the budget to hire), both part time, they both were able to move on to greener pastures afterward, based on the experience and my references.