20
I’ve been a stay at home mom for 15 years.
I was a teacher before I had kids, but I need to get back to work (life changes at home); no one wants to hire teachers that have been out of the classroom and I don’t know what else I can do to earn a living. Any suggestions would be great. I’m a little desperate!
Hello Deanna,
One thing I was once told about stay at home moms, is to consider how much of a manager you are. I actually listed that on my resume. You have to budget, plan meals, etc. Some may think that sounds silly, but you know , "Mom" is a very real job.
Did you do any volunteer work, that counts. You could still do volunteer work, or seek out some type of job to get your skills up to date, and there are now online courses that will do this, some are free, or very little cost.
Perhaps you have programs in your area for such situations. You could find that out by contacting your local unemployment office. Remember they are paid with your tax dollars, so take advantage of their help.
You're looking in the wrong area. So many school districts are desperate for teachers, even those who have to retrain. Widen your search, reach out to other teachers you know. Offer online tutoring services, or substitute teaching to start.
Look at all the districts and figure out which one you want to be in. With the teacher shortage right now, you should be able to get a position. Make sure there are no spelling errors on your application. Once you turn one in, call back to get an interview, usually within 24-48 hours of turning in the application. I also suggest that you sub in the district at a school you want to work with. When they get to know you, that makes it easier to get into that school. Good luck.
Oh, also look for the disrict's job fair. They usually have them in the spring semester.
No one likes feeling desperate and forced into a role they do not want. You posted two months ago and hopefully you have found a work situation that is viable for you. But, if not, here is my two cents worth.
I agree with the prior comments suggesting you might transition your skills into a more business oriented training/development role. You could also consider office manager positions. But the information you have on your profile makes me think you are most interested in child education.
You do not indicate if you have maintained your teaching certificate/credentials. If you have, the time out of the classroom may not disqualify you from opportunities due to the teacher shortage across this country. Also, while maybe not ideal, have you thought about reentering the classroom as a substitute teacher? Or working as a tutor? I am not overly familiar with home school programs but is there a potential for you to connect into that environment? You may want to consider pre-school or daycare businesses, too.
Hi Deana,
Your first step will be to examine your thought, "no one wants to hire teachers that have been out of the classroom". You state this as a fact, but it just isn't true! Being a teacher requires tremendous skills and I'm sure you have done a lot during your career break that would be valuable to a future employer. Don't discount the work you did, just because you didn't receive a paycheck.
I help moms bridge their career gaps to find flexible, meaningful work they love. You can check out my website https://www.CareerSequel.com and download my free guide, "4 Simple Steps You Can Take TODAY to Re-Enter the Workplace" to kickstart your process and answer more Qs. Feel free to reach out to me any time!
I am in the exact same position. I even went back to get my architectural degree but now I just have more student loans and no cashflow!
Another option is see is: check with head hunters.. they get paid by the school if they place you. Pivot Solutions is one such company, so that there is no cost to you. Some colleges might have CEUs at no to minimal costs as well, if you haven't kept up.
Corporate training, learning and development, and other "teacher" type roles are relatively easy transitions for teachers. You may find your skills can also translate other places. There is a resource called O*Net which may help you (https://www.onetonline.org/) and the associated My Next move (https://www.mynextmove.org/). Has a lot of information to map skills to careers and provide the pre-requisite knowledge needed. Good luck!
This is a fabulous idea - also what about teaching in higher education - training the trainer....
There are many websites and organizations that support women in your situation. You may also want to sign up on FIVR as a freelancer.
VIP Kid
https://www.vipkid.com/teach
Teach English online
Back to School Women Scholarships
http://www.scholarshipsandgrants.us/scholarships-for-women/scholarships-for-women-returning-to-school.html
"After being away from school for a few years, it can seem daunting to return to this environment. When you add the cost of higher education, some women wonder how they can make it happen. Scholarships for women returning to school are an excellent way to get back on track. Women might leave school for a career, marriage or to raise children. They still have certain goals in mind and want to pursue them. There are special scholarships to encourage these women to get back to school and make their dreams come true."
Oof... this is why I'm telling my friend who recently decided to become a stay at home mom, that it is a mistake beacuse it becomes that much more difficult to get jobs once her kids grow up. I was advising her to stay part-time while her kids are little. Part-time is better than no job experience. It might be you need to start with part-time, build experience again, and then go for full-time