Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m interested in this part, please: “an industry I love, that values older workers. ”

What is this industry? Thank you

Hogwarts.

Congratulations OP! As someone planning to return to work after a lengthy career break, learning about your experiences gives me hope!

Anonymous wrote:OP, I’m interested in this part, please: “an industry I love, that values older workers. ”

What is this industry? Thank you

+1
Following!

OP, I’m interested in this part, please: “an industry I love, that values older workers. ”

What is this industry? Thank you

I also took about 20 years off and returned to work with ease. I volunteered a lot and kept my skills fresh during those years. I also kept in touch with people so when I returned, I had no problem finding a job.

This is amazing! Congrats!

Great news, OP! Thanks for sharing your story and encouraging others who need to hear it! Bravo!

Anonymous wrote:Oh hell no. I can’t wait to be done.

lol.. but you have a different situation than OP's. I, too, can't wait to be done. But I was not a sahp for 20 years like. I did sah for like 2 years. Even with that short time sah it was hard to go back.

Anonymous wrote:This is a great story. I think the takeaway is to have a foot in the door of something driven the whole time you are out of the workforce. I took several years of a non traditional path when DS was born, my resume was seamless - first year I was on extended mat leave (which doesn't show on your resume) then I took a very low key work from home job but negotiated a really good title. And finally I went back to work as an attorney but on a 70% PT basis. Always stayed aware of what I was doing and how it looked on a resume. Good for the OP.

Yeah I’d add that one should also stay really active (not just a member but active) in groups like professional associations.

This is a great story. I think the takeaway is to have a foot in the door of something driven the whole time you are out of the workforce. I took several years of a non traditional path when DS was born, my resume was seamless - first year I was on extended mat leave (which doesn't show on your resume) then I took a very low key work from home job but negotiated a really good title. And finally I went back to work as an attorney but on a 70% PT basis. Always stayed aware of what I was doing and how it looked on a resume. Good for the OP.

Oh hell no. I can’t wait to be done.

I did something similar. While SAH, I was involved in the PTA at my kids' grammar school. When the time was right to go back to paid employment, I found a full-time job in fundraising doing pretty much what I did as a volunteer at the grammar school.

Way to go!!

Congratulations! I didn't leave the workforce for long. I left for about a year each time. I continued to work part time while. I work in the industry that is always hiring and doesn't care about someone's age, but how fast one can move.
While I don't make as much as people in tech, I invested my part time money the last 16 years and don't have to work much. It's just good to get out, make some money, and not touch the investments.

I’ve decided at 60, I’d like to go back to work now that the kids are grown, remote ideal. I’ve had project management experience and have an MS in a tech field. For two decades, I’ve run a small sales business online to keep myself busy. Dove deep on a hobby during the pandemic, learning as much as I could. Started by doing a small tech job for a friend’s business, for little money, just to get a little something on my resume that’s current and for the current reference. I then pursued companies that had businesses surrounding my hobby. Was able to land a job in one of those companies, helping them with technical business development. Right now it’s on a contract-basis, but it pays well, is a resume builder, and will get me experience in an industry I love, that values older workers.

So for those SAH moms or dads out there, there ARE jobs if you are flexible and persistent. It really helped that I knew the industry in the company I was applying for - they were less concerned about my ‘stale’ resume because it’s rare to find someone with experience AND who knew the products they manufacture. It also helped that I had run the little online business, because to them, it showed I was interested in working.

Just wanted to put something encouraging out there.