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

[Anonymous]

I just read the other thread on a SAHM returning to the work force after a few years out.

I'm in a similar position, except I've been out of the work force for 20 years and my kids are in high school/college.

I have two master's degrees from highly regarded schools and an Ivy undergrad degree, all in the humanities. I have writing/editing skills, but that's it.

I'm not sure how to begin. I have not had a full time job in 20 years. The world has changed entirely.

Can anyone suggest a place to start? How do I find a coach? (I wouldn't know how to post a profile on LinkedIn, for example.)

A few years back, someone posted a link to a group that helps SAHMs re-enter the workforce, but I can't find it.

Thanks for any suggestions.

[Anonymous]

You're not ready to job-search yet. The first step is to figure out what direction you want to go in. The second step is to brush up on your skills. Go take a Word class, an Excel class and a Powerpoint class. If there's an internet class, take that too.

LinkedIn is pretty easy. If you can set up a Facebook page, you can navigate your way through a Linked In page too.

Meantime, start looking for volunteer opportunities that have something to do with the career you want to go into.

THEN you'll be ready to look for a job. You should be able to bang out all the classes over the summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're not ready to job-search yet. The first step is to figure out what direction you want to go in. The second step is to brush up on your skills. Go take a Word class, an Excel class and a Powerpoint class. If there's an internet class, take that too.

LinkedIn is pretty easy. If you can set up a Facebook page, you can navigate your way through a Linked In page too.

Meantime, start looking for volunteer opportunities that have something to do with the career you want to go into.

THEN you'll be ready to look for a job. You should be able to bang out all the classes over the summer.

I agree with all of this, particularly the volunteer part. You need someway to get your foot in the door. Multiple degrees from Ivys isn't going to do you much good if they're 20+ years old.

[Anonymous]

Do you have any idea what kind of work you would like to do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You're not ready to job-search yet. The first step is to figure out what direction you want to go in. The second step is to brush up on your skills. Go take a Word class, an Excel class and a Powerpoint class. If there's an internet class, take that too.

LinkedIn is pretty easy. If you can set up a Facebook page, you can navigate your way through a Linked In page too.

Meantime, start looking for volunteer opportunities that have something to do with the career you want to go into.

THEN you'll be ready to look for a job. You should be able to bang out all the classes over the summer.

NP here (another longtime SAHM). This is really good advice. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

Although I only stayed home for 5 years, this is what I did:

1- Went back to school to get a certificate in an area that I wanted to get a job.

2- Through the university I was studying the certificate, I was able to volunteer working in that area.

3- From that experience, I was able to get a job at a non-profit. The pay was very low was at least I had a job.

5- While working for the non-profit, I applied to a bunch of jobs and finally got a better paying job at a very good organization.

[Anonymous]

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!

[Anonymous]

20 years ago!

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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!

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

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

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").

[Anonymous]

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?