Help!! Post Reply

[greybird]

OK. I have been thinking for a while that I would like to get a job, but I don't know where to start. I have been out of the job market for 17 years (full-time mum/housewife during) but I did not give up a specific career as such. However, I couldn't necessarily return to the same type of jobs that I had previously as I have been out of them too long.........

Whilst I realise that my 'current position' has taught me valuable skills, I have no idea what I want, or indeed what I'm capable of!

So, my question is, bar just walking into a recruitment agency, is there such a thing as somewhere/someone who will, for want of a better description, 'analyse/profile' me?? Or, if I have to ask this question in the first place, am I truly unemployable?!

I can't be the only one in this boat.........................

[silviahm]

Hi Greybird

Two things, firstly find Tooting ladies who Latte on Facebook and post your question there. I met some lovely ladies last week amongst them one who specialises in mums who want to work. Also there are recruitment consultants, CV people - everything you need.

Secondly, and having been in a similar position, I can't recommend my own job highly enough: no cv, no interview, £110 to get started, all the training you need for free on the job. Sounds too good to be true but it isn't. I'm a Pampered Chef consultant and before you say, I couldn't do that, come and see me do my thing on Wednesday 5th at 10am. You will be pleasantly surprised, I promise! (Open to all, this is a cancer research fundraiser at 37 Upper Tooting Park, children welcome - please do come along.)

Good luck
Sx

[Toots-1]

Hi Greybird,

(Thanks to Silvia for mentioning Tooting Ladies Who Latte; I run the group http://thesimplewebcompany.com/lwl/ if you want any info, or would like to come along to a meeting. )


Ladies Who Latte is a country-wide networking group, with many meetings in south London, where business women (or wannabe business women) meet. We have a London Region Facebook group which you can ask to join : https://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=gr ... 9452735279 - the ladies on there are very helpful!

I can't recall off the top of my head who was the person in my group helping mums back to work (sorry!) but asking this question in the FB group may elicit a response... good luck!

Kind regards,
Tracey

[yorkshirepudding]

Hi,

I'm a freelance Careers Consultant (and local mum - hence being on this site) - I do a lot of work with people like you who have been out of the working world for a while and need a little help to get back some confidence and to make important first steps in finding a new role.

I would be only too pleased to help you identify your values/motivators and think about your next move. I also provide CV reviews - and can advise and show you some templates if you haven't got a CV yet! My background is over 15 years working in recruitment (in-house, not at an agency) and at Universities (i work for one part-time at the moment) as a Careers Consultant.

Do let me know if you'd like to talk. My email address is j.m.miller@talktalk.net

J.

[fundraiser]

Hi there

I would recommend Women Like Us www.womenlikeus.org.uk - I have both looked for work and recruited through them. They are, I think, a social enterprise, and when I went to them they offered free back to work courses. I think they may charge for them now if your income is above a certain level. They also act as a recruitment agency specialising in helping women back to work after they've had a family.

The only problem I find with them is that the salaries they offer on their jobs board are pitifully low! But they are certainly useful for career advice.

Hope that helps.

[greybird]

Thank-you all. I am feeling a little less lost now!

I suppose like most of us, I'm a totally at ease and confident at what I do currently (household management!!!!) but the thought of something new is so scary and completely out of my comfort zone!

GBx

[philippa]

I can recommend a career coach in Wimbledon who does a lot of work with women returners, both individual coaching & workshops.

She’s called Julianne Miles & runs a company called Career Psychologists www.careerpsychologists.co.uk