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Re-Entering the job force after being a caregiver - I was laid off from my job in 2011 after taking a family leave when my mom had brain surgery several years ago.
Her recovery was slow and left her with multiple disabilities. The job market was awful at the time, so instead of going back to work I chose to stay home and help her as a caregiver since she desperately needed one.
Mom is now getting to the point she will need full-time care in under a year. As a way of preparing, I went back to school and will graduate this December with a degree Information Security/Risk Management. I know I am facing several hurdles - re-entering the workforce after an extended absence, changing careers (I held an office coordinator title when I was terminated) and ageism (over 50). I'm working to steps to setting myself up to be in the best position possible when it comes time to getting a job, but my resume' and LinkedIn account have me stumped. I have many transferable skills from past jobs but I'm not certain how to present them (and myself). I'm also not sure how to address the extended time off or the awkward way I was termed from my last job.
What are some ways I can show a potential employer I am up-to-date skill-wise and ready to work? I'm networking when I can, but need ways to get my foot in the door and get an interview, as well as suggestions on how to answer when the question of the work gap comes up. I worked IT in the mid-nineties, but ended up working office support with a lot of IT requirements (system admin on office help pay), and hate to end up in that type of position again!
Thank you for your help.
Brichters
I raised 4 sons alone. I have job
11
05/21/19 at 5:48PM UTC
After many failed attempts to get retail jobs, that I truly did not want but I am very motivated to work, I realize I was faced with ageism. I am 63, and I had my four sons later in life and left the workplace. I did not stay up with all of the new computer technology , and I never learned to type with any speed even though I owned my own insurance agency (very small). On the one hand, I can see how I could contribute to a company due to my various work experience and mainly due to my life experience. I have some graduate school work in different careers, but my interests would have taken many years to acheive and I can't afford that time.
I thank you for the advice of hiring a carreer coach because my confidence is at an all-time low. I thought that I would be attractive as an employee, but I raised my boys on very little moneyand I put all I had into it. Just as I was ready to start looking, my dear sister was diagnosed with cancer and I was her full-time caregiver for two years with three of my kids still in high school. When she passed I was in my 60's and I couldn't believe all that went with being an older person. I am very timid to even get an interview now because the second they see what I know some of them think; that I am too old and therefore weak in body and mind. Maybe the current generations will do what the generations before them have done in terms of race and sex discriminattion, and protecting their civil rights. May I ask what to look for in hiring a life coach? I wish I has gotten my master's in that field because I love to help people. Coulda, shouda, woulda. It is time to take action because I was so focused on raising my kids, and not taking into consideration how old I would be when they did not need me full-time anymore, I find myself in almost complete poverty. This website is truly a God send because I was depressed when I started the online job application process that I was crying. Now I know there are others who have similar ecperiences, and maybe we can help each other. Thanks to all of you who participate to help all women, not just young professionals. I offer my congratulations to all of you who contribute to this dicussion because you are making a difference. Does anyone have any advice for me? No offense to Walmart, but that is about the only place I could get a job with my current situation and for some reason it makes me feel sad. Thanks and blessings to all of you.
Anonymous
04/19/18 at 12:19AM UTC
You said a lot of things here and first I just want to say, good for you for trying to get back in the game despite all the challenges you perceive. Some thoughts of the top of my head: does your school (The one where you're getting the degree) have a career services dept? They may be able to help you with things like updating your resume, suggesting employer partners they work with often, and even some career centers offer things like resume review and LinkedIn tips / review. You can hire someone external like a career expert to help you but you probably will have to pay them for the coaching or advice. That said, it may be worth it if it helps you with your very specific situation and with personalized advice. I find that career coaches can also help you with improving your confidence and convincing yourself that your time off for caretaking isn't that big of a deal. It just feels like you are a little bit insecure about it which is why I think getting confident is important (b/c people can sense a lack of it a mile away).
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