Returning to work force - potential issues

SusanC10

Would appreciate honest answers here.

I have been a stay-at-home-Mum for the past 5 years. I was made redundant and at that time our youngest child was going through some medical issues and we decided it would be better for me to be at home.

So fast-forward 5 years - the kids are in school and the youngest's medical issues have stabilised and I would like to return to the workforce.

Qualifications - I have a Degree, Masters & Professional Qualification in my field. I have also done 3 Diplomas, 1 Certificate and 1 MOOC (also all relevant to my field) and 1 MOOC unrelated since being made redundant.

My husband commutes to Dublin for work and is gone early and home late. I would like to rule out Dublin as an option for me as we both feel that it would not work (for us as a family) for both of us to commute.

We have no family members living nearby to help with childcare.

Financially it will have to make sense for me to work so there will have to be something left over after childcare and travelling costs. Any salary would be taxed at the higher rate.

So I am wondering how significant the 5 year break would be to an employer and also my lack of flexibility with working hours ? Being honest the kids will always be my priority over work and taking my husband's job and location into account I will always be the first port of call.

Also could anyone highlight any other issues I should consider.

Thanks in advance for replies (I would rather not say what my field is at this point).

HelgaWard

Hi,
You probably need to consider the kids holidays from school, especially the summer holidays and how you would manage child care then.
Helen

Maybe not be so set about going back in to the same area plus you know best about how child friendly your profession is or is not, when you were working would you have considered it a child friendly profession, were/are there any option for a shorter working week flexibility about hours or was that a complete no go

tempnam

If you were to secure a job with a better salary than your husband, would it be an option for you to work and him to be the stay at home parent?

I'd gladly give up work and be the stay at home parent if we were in a position for my wife to support the whole family, and vice versa. Unfortunately we're a while off being in that situation!

Is working from home an option? - Sorry I don't know what industry you're in and what type of work you do - I know it's not an option for everyone.

What about part-time work?

SusanC10

mariaalice wrote: »

Maybe not be so set about going back in to the same area plus you know best about how child friendly your profession is or is not, when you were working would you have considered it a child friendly profession, were/are there any option for a shorter working week flexibility about hours or was that a complete no go

My profession in general is not very child-friendly particularly in Dublin. The hours in general would be office hours Mon-Fri 9am-5.30pm but invariably with an expectation to stay late. When my first child was born I was working in Dublin - my employer at the time agreed to a 3 day week but did not reduce my workload at all with the result that I was falling behind as I also did not have the flexibility to stay later anymore. He and I both realised that the working hours were not working out (I had been there 5 years before having a child) and I got another job in a provincial town nearer to home. I worked 3 days a week there too but took a significant pay cut from the Dublin salary but was compensated with extra annual leave which suited me at the time. That employer was excellent and very child-friendly and flexible. But the recession took it's toll and I was made redundant.

SusanC10

tempnam wrote: »

If you were to secure a job with a better salary than your husband, would it be an option for you to work and him to be the stay at home parent?

I'd gladly give up work and be the stay at home parent if we were in a position for my wife to support the whole family, and vice versa. Unfortunately we're a while off being in that situation!

Is working from home an option? - Sorry I don't know what industry you're in and what type of work you do - I know it's not an option for everyone.

What about part-time work?

It would be very unlikely that I would be paid better than my husband particularly as he was promoted in the past year. That being said if it was the case I know that he would be happy to be at home too. But it is very unlikely.

Working from home is not an option in my profession.

I did work part-time (3 days) in my last two jobs and that would be ideal for me.

Mrs OBumble

Use your local networks, and look for part-time (or perhaps short term) work in a location that suits you.

Jobs like you want will not be advertised. You need to sell yourself to a potential employer as a solution to a problem they are having. Maybe even consider job-sharing with someone else who would be happy to work full-time during the school holidays and part time during term time (eg a student).

With your qualifications and experience, you have the ability to be seriously useful to an employer who wants a less-than-full-time person who doesn't take much training or supervision.

SusanC10

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Use your local networks, and look for part-time (or perhaps short term) work in a location that suits you.

Jobs like you want will not be advertised. You need to sell yourself to a potential employer as a solution to a problem they are having. Maybe even consider job-sharing with someone else who would be happy to work full-time during the school holidays and part time during term time (eg a student).

With your qualifications and experience, you have the ability to be seriously useful to an employer who wants a less-than-full-time person who doesn't take much training or supervision.

This advice actually makes a lot of sense. Will get myself organised (CV etc) and put the word out there that I am looking for something.
Thanks Mrs OBumble

Panda_Turtle

It would be great if companies in general were more open to the idea of 3/4 day weeks etc to achieve a better work life balance. Might require more staff or a more productive working environment might do the trick.

Irish_Elect_Eng

You seem to be highly qualified.

Have you considered:

• Consulting in your are of expertise.
• Training others in your area of expertise.
• Setting up your own company.

I also recommend this book for anyone changing careers

SusanC10

Irish_Elect_Eng wrote: »

You seem to be highly qualified.

Have you considered:

• Consulting in your are of expertise.
• Training others in your area of expertise.
• Setting up your own company.

I also recommend this book for anyone changing careers

Both consulting and setting up on my own would involve considerable costs (Insurance and other professional costs) which make this not viable at the
moment.

Might have a look at that book. Thanks.

anvilfour

Mrs OBumble wrote: »

Use your local networks, and look for part-time (or perhaps short term) work in a location that suits you.

Jobs like you want will not be advertised. You need to sell yourself to a potential employer as a solution to a problem they are having. Maybe even consider job-sharing with someone else who would be happy to work full-time during the school holidays and part time during term time (eg a student).

With your qualifications and experience, you have the ability to be seriously useful to an employer who wants a less-than-full-time person who doesn't take much training or supervision.

Excellent advice Mrs O'Bumble.

The only thing I would add is that many companies may allow you to telecommute. Provided you have working computer and reasonably fast internet connection, you might find working from home frees up commute time that you can spend with the kids.

Websites like e-lance often offer admin/secretarial roles for people working from home. Some of the Tech Giants like Apple also recruit staff working from home.

GalwayGrrrrrl

Hi Susan, it sounds like you would be an asset to any company. Make sure you have set up a Linked In profile - it's a good way to check local vacancies. I've been offered great jobs from it (when I'm not even looking to move lol). Also, if there is a professional conference on in the near future make sure you go to it to get up to date and make some new contacts. Good luck.