Howdy fellow IM's...I feel a bit stuck in my life at the moment...a bit of a rut I guess. I have been a full time mum to my beautiful children for ten years now, and because my youngest is 8, I have to study or find a job, and look, I am all for it..I am happy to go back to work but after such a considerable absence, I feel like I can't compete with those who are already looking for work with far more experience than myself. I am currently enrolled in a Cert 3 course online through TAFE and it's something I want to do but I feel that I should be earning a wage and study later maybe when my girls are older. I am on Newstart and fortunately for me, I get child support as well but I do want to work...I am not sure whether I should withdraw from my TAFE course and focus on shorter courses like computer courses, even though I am computer literate and I also volunteer in the library at my kids school, but I still can't get a job. I apply for and keep getting knocked back for jobs even as a replenishment team member at Woollies. I mean, stacking shelves and customer service isn't rocket science and I feel as a mum I probably have more product knowledge than some of the people who work there. How have fellow mums re entered the work force after long absences....please give this very imperfect mummy some much needed advice...anything would be much appreciated..thanks ladies.
How to return to the Workforce after a long absence?
How to return to the Workforce after a long absence?
Posted in:
Life Lessons, Health & Wellbeing, IM's In Business
5 Replies
Supermarket jobs actually can have a lot of competition for especially if you are looking for school hours. Most supermarkets will take the cheapest employees. Grown ups cost more.
You don't say what your Cert 3 would be in. But I would start it and keep looking for work. It's better to be studying and looking for jobs than applying for jobs and not getting anything.
Also look at doing work experience in fields you want to work in. So if you want to work in an office do work experience in an office.
It is a Cert 3 in Information and Cultural Services, which would give me qualifications in Customer Service, but I have experience in customer service anyway, as I worked as a Library Assistant before having children, but no one seems to care unless you have a qualification on paper. Experience on its own doesn't seem to matter.
Yes, that's why you need to keep studying. Also even if you don't have the paper yet, employers like to employ people who are studying.
I have no advice, but dreading the day this is me. I had my baby at 16, stay at home mum and have just had another baby. I've never been in the workforce, so completely dreading the day we need me to get a job, unfortunately is creeping closer then I'd like :(
I have no advice, but dreading the day this is me. I had my baby at 16, stay at home mum and have just had another baby. I've never been in the workforce, so completely dreading the day we need me to get a job, unfortunately is creeping closer then I'd like :(