Calling all SAHMs who have gone back to work without having any hard skills....what did you do?

[Anonymous]

I work for a non-profit (children's health related) and we have hired past volunteers - try getting involved with an organizing commitee for an event for example. One of my co workers got in my doing that, after staying home for a few years. Paying isn't the best, but it's rewarding and fulfilling.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You were given the chance to go to the world’s top schools and you stayed home for 15 years?

NP here with degrees from 2 top schools. To each their own. Also stayed home (or very part-time) for 15 years -- zero regrets. Everything I studied has been relevant to raising my own children & making a difference through volunteer and non-profit work. Our household earning/saving goals continue to be met without my income, and we have avoided having strangers in our home constantly, especially to raise our children. Tbh, in seeing what is happening with kids' mental health & school behavior, I think every family welcoming a child into the world needs to consider the needs of the child first. Having a parent fully available to a young child is a gift. My degrees are still on the wall to fall back on if needed; I only get one chance with my kids. (Granted I was blessed not to need loans for my education. And those who paid my tuition bills support my SAHM decision).

OP, your time is valuable & you may not need benefits, so look for positions that best mesh with your family needs and maximize hourly rate over all the other perks. Perhaps a temp agency? That way both sides can decide if it is a "fit" and maybe you can make connections for when other positions open. There are plenty of jobs that don't require hard skills, and your education proves you are a quick learner. Good luck!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Been a SAHM for over 15 years. Despite going to HYP and getting a grad degree from HYP eons ago I don't have any hard skills that would be enticing enough for any employer to hire me. The IVY part is irrelevant I KNOW and I suppose I am humble bragging. Just implying that I might have some brain cells left to learn on the job.

I don't need the money. But it would be nice to earn something just for my self-esteem. I also don't mind volunteering.

My current abilities are sadly limited to the mommying skills. NO OTHER SKILLS to offer. Wondering what others in my situation have done. Got certifications? Went back to school? Volunteered first? Where? Success stories and ideas appreciated.

You have IVY degrees but cannot translate your “Mommying” skills to the business environment? It’s not difficult to do - I know people with state school degrees who did it.

[Anonymous]

Tutoring English at Tutoring companies like C2 and transition into College admission consulting.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Who attends3 ivy leagues and why?

Surely there can’t be two separate adult people in the same thread who don’t know what HYP indicates?

You obviously don’t know what it means. The pp never asked what it means. They said ivy leagues. They obviously know what it means. They asked who would attend all 3? Idiot.

This is so unintentionally hilarious

No one goes to Harvard, Yale, and Princeton? Do you know anyone who has attended all? No, you don’t.

OP was clearly saying she went to *one* of them, without wanting to specify which one. My god.

Np. Clearly? That wasn’t not clear at all. My god. She said hyp. That is not one.

OP’s meaning was completely obvious to anyone who has spent two minutes on the college forum. You’re getting worked up about nothing.

Not the person you are commenting to but I disagree. It was not obvious and no one would list a trio of colleges implying that they attended.

I take it you’ve never heard someone say they worked at a FANG company?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn’t return to work if I were you. Since you don’t need the money. Instead spend the energy finding new hobbies and enjoying your life.

This.

I was a SAHM and I went back to work because we DID need the money. It sucks. There’s nothing great about dealing with yelling bosses, stressful deadlines, and irrational workloads. Life is short so enjoy your life and don’t subject yourself to working if you don’t have to.

Depends on the job. I love my career (in-house counsel at a Fortune 100 company). Not everyone hates their job.

For OP, I might suggest sales or real estate agent. (You can definitely re-enter the workforce, especially having two Ivy-league degrees. You just are not the typical applicant and so need to be a bit creative. I would work your network heavily, as that is always the best way to find a job at any stage of life. Also, maybe you could be an entrepreneur.

[Anonymous]

I work now but my work is pointless . I volunteer with a cat rescue and that is fulfilling to me and requires no skills.

[Anonymous]

I would really think about what you want most out of going back to work. Is it a feeling of greater purpose? Wanting time with adults? Using your brain a different way?

Many of those can be achieved through volunteering, especially getting very involved with one or two organizations and learning how to really make a difference. I work even though I don’t “need to” and my big drivers are wanting to challenge myself and being motivated by the impact of the work I do. A lot of jobs would not be worth it to me.

I also am trying to volunteer more as my kids get older. There are women in my neighborhood who work closely with programs that assist in settling refugees and providing extra help to foster children and abused children.

If you really want to earn money I agree you would either need to start extremely small or use your network. Or re-train for something like nursing or teaching very in demand. But it sounds like that would be hard with your background.