Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 09:36     Subject: Nobody Wants to Hire Me
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:I have a PhD in the social sciences and have been a SAHM for the past 10 years. I want to work part time and have applied for over 25 jobs (in my field, not in my field, including entry-level jobs). I have even left my graduate degree off of my resume in hopes I am not immediately seen as overqualified. I mist work remote and have applied only for those jobs.

I have gotten exactly zero interest. Zero.

I’m a woman in my 40s with seemingly zero opportunity to on-ramp.

I’m starting to get really depressed.


Sorry - that is a tough spot. I have to say, if I saw someone with a 10 year gap, there is no chance I'd proceed- you fear it may be like trying to teach your grandma to use the internet- business technology changes. Plus you clearly didnt need to work (since you didnt for all those years) and may quit if you dont like it, leaving me back to square 1. Plus most working mothers would like to find part time work remote and its almost impossible to find a company interested in doing that unless they know you and see it as the lesser of evils of losing you. This is not to bum you out but just to give it to you straight from the other side of the desk. FWIW, I'm a mother in your age bracket myself but I always worked (and I did score one of those reduced schedules for many years) so I get your plight - it's why I never stopped working to be honest, I saw it was near impossible to re-onboard at anywhere near the level you left. That said, you spent your time on something infinitely more meaningful so you can cheer yourself up with the fact that you were there for your kids

In terms of work, you need to project scarcity (ie- you are wanted/employed) and competence. You need to get some recent work on your resume. Start a LLC and do some pro bono work if you have to. Just figure out some way to start getting some real work bullet points on your resume in the last year.

Second, 90% of the time, people get jobs due to word of mouth. Tell all your friends to pass the word, go to industry group events.

If you think you can submit your resume for remote part time work and that something nice will email you back, it will never happen. I am sorry but the screening AI will immediately discard your resume for the gap alone. You may have to agree to return full time if you really want a job.

I do wish you the best of luck. It's an ego-breaking spot you are in but it's really not you, its just the circumstances, and possibly your slightly unrealistic expectations that you can find part time meaningful decently paid work at home after being out of the workforce for 10 years.



^Teach your grandma how to use the computer? OP is 40 not 80. STFU

OP, it's a numbers game--you have to keep applying and be strategic in the roles you pursue. Do some research and see where your skills could be transferrable.


+1 totally illegal assumption by the way. As if grandmothers don't use technology every day as it is. It's the old "she's only ever use a typewriter at our office, and we're getting computers now, so let throw a retirement party for her and train a young college grad to do her job. Meanwhile, she's been using a computer at home for years wondering when the company would emerge from the dark ages."
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 09:34     Subject: Nobody Wants to Hire Me
I can hear how discouraged you are OP. The recruiting world has seriously changed in the last 10 years. Have you watched webinars about how recruiters are looking for candidates using ATS? Followed guides on optimizing your LinkedIn profile and networking to get referrals?

Unfortunately yes, a 10 year period out of the workforce and wanting part time remote work are all going to be super difficult.

However - I also think you need to calibrate your expectations. 25 applications with no responses is simply normal if you don't have any connections. For comparison, I have a STELLAR work history, I'm 10 years younger than you, no gaps, very in-demand analytical/business skills, and I'm currently employed with a great, easily transferable title.

I've applied to about 20 jobs in the last 3 weeks, and have only gotten 2 requests for initial recruiter screening. And those both happened late this past week, from the earliest applications I did in October. Recruiting also goes like molasses, even though studies show it hurts their chances of getting a great candidate on board. I've gotten 3 rejections.

Do not take it personally. EVERYTHING with job hunting- it is not personal.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 09:27     Subject: Nobody Wants to Hire Me
Anonymous wrote:Business technology has not changed in 10 years.



OMG - if the business technology you're using hasn't significantly changed in the last 10 years... I hate to break the news, you are seriously outdated.

I see it with my mid-40s/early 50s coworkers. Unwilling to start using collaborative features of Microsoft Office, never heard of something like Chili Piper/Calendly/Bookings, can't adjust to communication norms over Slack or Teams, run super disengaging virtual meetings, can't comprehend how to build team culture remotely, struggle to understand short communication forms like Twitter or short-form video, don't understand how to use data analytics and dashboards available to them in their existing tools. Massive under-utilization of technology. And they think they are with it because they know how to make something a PDF and didn't forget to attach it to the email.

If you're still using technology largely the same way you were 10 years ago, and if you still run most of your communication through email - you are equivalent of the people in the late 90s/early 2000s who refused to give up fax or asked their assistant to print out emails for them.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 09:01     Subject: Nobody Wants to Hire Me
Business technology has not changed in 10 years.

You can use a site like FlexJobs for a fee and search remote and part-time.

You can search on other job sites for remote and part time.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 08:50     Subject: Nobody Wants to Hire Me
I’m currently hiring for someone with experience. I sometimes hire entry level for my field. I’ve had a few part-timers over the years and the experience has led me to strongly prefer to hire full-timers. That said, we’re letting a valued team member move to part-time soon.

I have no problem hiring someone full time for our entry level positions, so I would move past you quickly for those positions. But, this experienced position is harder to fill. If your pre-SAHM experience EXACTLY matched what we’re looking for, I would call you, but grudgingly, because I really want someone full-time who will come into the office 1-2 days a week.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 08:41     Subject: Re:Nobody Wants to Hire Me
OP there’s a website called Catch A Fire where you can volunteer to do research/writing type tasks. I agree with everyone else that just responding to job postings isn’t going to work. Volunteer to dust off your skills and start deliberately networking.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 08:39     Subject: Nobody Wants to Hire Me
Anonymous wrote:I have a PhD in the social sciences and had a small work gap when I told people I was working on my dissertation. I only was able to get a job at a place I had previously worked but even back in the job market, when looking for a job it took me a solid year of searching to find another job. The PhD market even in industry is tight and competitive. I would tell you to take some stats classes and apply for data science jobs. Or look at non profit administration as people have said. I also agree with volunteering.


It’s even tighter here bc op wants part time remote. I hired someone for a part time, contract, remote social science research job at 50-60 dollars an hour. Because academia pays low but has flexibility I had my pick of young academics who wanted this as a moonlighting gig.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 08:36     Subject: Nobody Wants to Hire Me
I have a PhD in the social sciences and had a small work gap when I told people I was working on my dissertation. I only was able to get a job at a place I had previously worked but even back in the job market, when looking for a job it took me a solid year of searching to find another job. The PhD market even in industry is tight and competitive. I would tell you to take some stats classes and apply for data science jobs. Or look at non profit administration as people have said. I also agree with volunteering.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 08:25     Subject: Nobody Wants to Hire Me
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:What type of role are you seeking?


Paid like a professional with a graduate degree, totally flexible, part time, 100 percent remote, lol

But what do you want to do? These jobs are hard to find, but depending on your interest and past experience there may be options. Very tiny non-profit administration comes to mind. I have a friend (MS, not PhD) who got hired I to such a role. I know I'll be posting one soon.

Pay for such roles is decent, but expectations are very high. A PhD can be an indicator that you are thorough, self-starting, and understand professional etiquette.

Don’t very tiny nonprofits usually have limited budgets and need people with a very broad skill set as well?

Yes. Completion of a PhD and some work experience might be an indicator of that. Along with an ability to learn about a diverse set of new things quickly.

Not every PhD can do this, but a disproportionate number can.


Nonprofits I have worked with have hired SAHMs with a long gap but only women who were already well known by staff or board members. Start volunteering.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 08:13     Subject: Re:Nobody Wants to Hire Me
OP, lots of good suggestions here. Keep applying but also do something to build your resume. Volunteer. Network aggressively and ask people to pass the word. Look at training or certifications in latest technologies.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 08:07     Subject: Nobody Wants to Hire Me
What did you do before you were a sahm?
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 04:03     Subject: Re:Nobody Wants to Hire Me
Definitely leverage your networks - professional, alum, heck even neighborhood! Given your resume gap and specific wants, it’s more likely you’ll find someone willing to take a chance on you if they have some existing connection or affinity with you (even if they don’t know you exactly).
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 02:28     Subject: Nobody Wants to Hire Me
Anonymous wrote:I have a PhD in the social sciences and have been a SAHM for the past 10 years. I want to work part time and have applied for over 25 jobs (in my field, not in my field, including entry-level jobs). I have even left my graduate degree off of my resume in hopes I am not immediately seen as overqualified. I mist work remote and have applied only for those jobs.

I have gotten exactly zero interest. Zero.

I’m a woman in my 40s with seemingly zero opportunity to on-ramp.

I’m starting to get really depressed.


Everyone else wants remote jobs too and they have recent experience.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 02:18     Subject: Re:Nobody Wants to Hire Me

This might be a useful resource.


https://www.flexprofessionalsllc.com/
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2021 01:53     Subject: Nobody Wants to Hire Me
Anonymous wrote:Part time really requires a better network IMO. Those jobs are scarce especially part time fully remote jobs for social science professionals. They tend to be even more word of mouth jobs so get out and build your network, op. Reach out to grad school and college classmates, join an association or society, go to alumni events etc,.


+1. I got a job earlier this year similar to what you're seeking (part time remote with flexible hours) with a 5 year resume gap but the vacancy was posted on a group message board I happened to be in by an internal hire. I'm not sure if they ever post vacancies to main job sites. I was apparently the only one who applied and they took me without even an interview. It's all about who you know.