Lately I’ve been thinking about finding a job.I haven’t worked in three years because I wanted to be home with my kids.Now that the youngest is going to be in school all day, I’d like to help my husband out a bit with the income.
I haven’t got a degree of any sort, though I’m no dolt.I don’t think I’ve got a heck of a lot of ‘marketable job skills’.I am smart, friendly, alert and I enjoy learning new things/skills.I work well with others.I catch on quickly and can take constructive(and not so constructive) criticism gracefully.
I like efficiency and try to streamline tasks in order to achieve it.I can work on my own, and I can meet goals easily.Shoot, I’m a mom, after all…
I could go out tomorrow and get a job at 7-11 or Wal-Mart, but I’d like to try at least for something a little better.Say an entry level clerical job.Even if it were just filing or putting data into a computer or filling out insurance forms in a doctor’s office.
I’d like to get your honest opinions on two questions:
1.Say I applied to your business and had no experience with it.If experience was not absolutely essential to me performing the job correctly, would you really hire me if I did well in an interview?Or would you simply take the other applicant with experience rather than bother training me?
2.When you look at my work history and see that I quit my last job(full two weeks notice) in order to be a stay-at-home mom, would that discourage you from hiring me?Would it be taken as a negative sign?And if so, what might I do to reassure a prospective employer?
I know you all are in quite a variety of jobs, but I would appreciate the advice from any of you with experience hiring new employees.Having not worked in a while, I’m pretty anxious about it.
And thank you in advance for any words of wisdom you may share.
While I can’t claim to be a big shot employer, I have had the displeasure of hiring in the past. I say “the displeasure” because that’s exactly what it is.
Can you even fathom not showing up for an interview without calling to cancel? I’ve had it happen many times. Workers with work ethic are scarcer than you might think.
I’m not sure about which job market you’re in, but I’m fairly certain you’re an intelligent, probably qualified person.
Intelligence and savy are far more important than experience. My mom has a hard time believing this and she is still working for peanuts. I’ve tried, but she just won’t listen.
Find a good company, be prepared to start at the bottom, and be prepared to move up.
Find a good company. A good company promotes from within.
It’s difficult to generalise obviously, but when I interview for positions with little experience required it comes down to the interview.
If you’re genuinelly enthusiastic and willing to learn and show it, then you’ll score more highly than an applicant with some experience. I should point out though that I’m in the communication field, but I know of many colleagues in other industries who also place heavy emphasis on your ability to conduct yourself well in the interview. As for me the interview is very important.
As for your past, it wouldn’t necessarily be a negative. But you would have to expect to field a question on the subject. Most potential employers would like some reassurance you’d be dedicated to the company. Few would expect you to put your family completely aside but you do need to get the point accross that you’d take the position seriously. Talk about how you have pride in a job well done. How you get wrapped up in your work. List perfectionism as a negative (spin doctoring works). Express your enthusiasm for working for the company. Smile a lot without quite jumping out of your skin.
In response to your first question, I’d have to honestly say that a candidate who is experienced in certain skills where experience isn’t necessary wouldn’t automatically get the nod over you for a clerical position. That is providing you are articulate, enthusiastic, somewhat skilled (typing (but not necessarily 700 wpm), some computer skills, etc.), and had a pleasant demeanor/sense of humor, and have a nice rack (just kidding, see what I mean about a sense of humor).
In a big organization like mine (10,000+ employees locally) your resume will be routed through Human Resources and the HR morons will automatically look for experience for the open positions (it isn’t really fair to call them “morons” since that would be an insult to morons everywhere). So, after weeks or months you still won’t hear from them.
Q2 - No problem. If asked why you quit the last job, tell them that you were staying home with the kids, now they’re in school now and you’re ready to work again. Don’t discuss that you need to leave for doctors appts., sick days, etc. Everyone has kids and everyone knows you need some time away, but if you discuss it then it could sound like a negative and that you won’t be committed to the job. If you want part-time then this shouldn’t be much of a problem. If it is full time then part of your benefits should be time off for anything (vacation/sick/personal) so you just need to clarify what the policy is when they offer you the job.
I’d advise you to look for a small to midsized company or office and apply IN PERSON, dress nicely and drop off a resume. In this job market, every employer needs additional help. If this company is near your home and the kid’s school then that will help you as well. Ask friends/family if they know of jobs in their companies, since then you have an contact and an automatic reference.
In addition to clerical work, if you have or can acquire any internet web skills (like editing web page content, creating new pages, web research) then you’d be in a better position to be hired. This doesn’t require a degree and you can go to seminars to get the basics.
3bm
I am not an employer, and I like you don’t have a degree of any sort. After retiring from the military, I interviewed for a job in which I have little to no experience in. I was hired and at a rate greater than minimum wage. I was hired becuase, I impressed the employer with a strong work ethic not that common in todays work place. Also I was told that the company liked people with little experince so they could be trained to their ways. You have no bad habits to break. I say go for it, you have nothing to lose.
Good luck to you.
3bunny mama - When I’ve had to hire staff I look for someone who is calm, forthright, and most importantly, well-spoken. It amazing how many people speak very poorly. Since I’m a credit manager, I try to impress on my people that every time they speak, they’re representing the company, and they need to be aware of the image they’re putting forth. Our entry level credit reps need moderate computer skills (which I’m sure you have) and be able to actually ask people for money. That’s harder than it sounds for some people. My company underpays all of us, but a credit rep would start off at $9.00/hr.
In interviews, explain that you felt it important to take time to be with your small children, but now you are ready and excited to work again. Don’t overjustify. You don’t want anyone who really pushes you on this fact as your boss anyway!
I echo whoever said “find a good company.”
I don’t know where you live, or what you want long-term, but maybe you could find a non-profit organization or a theater that would hire you to do clerical work, accounting, fundraising, and other tasks. You might meet really interesting people and feel really good about what you do.
It sounds like my reply is going to fall in line with the previous ones.
The emphasis on experience varies according to the position that needs to be filled. There are times when experience really does matter. However, it sounds like what you are looking for is something that can be easily learned on the job. The bottom line is that any of the assistants that I’ve hired in the past, I’ve chosen based on PERSONALITY and ATTITUDE. I don’t emphasize experience because I’d rather have the right chemistry in place in the office and train the RIGHT person, rather than hire experience with a bad attitude.
Come prepared to an interview (ie, know the company’s business), be bright, cheery and eager, and be SURE TO FOLLOW UP ( a nice note or email), and you’ll have a job in no time.
I have hired people for a variety of positions (warehouse workers, clerical staff, customer service) and I will tell you from experience that the way you present yorself in an interview means a lot more than your experience or lack thereof. The labor market is very tight these days (at least it is here in southern Wisconsin), so employers are struggling to find smart, reliable, hard-working people. I agree with what H8_2_W8 said about HR departments in big companies, though. They usually see a lot of resumes and screen out the ones that don’t list a lot of experience, so you would be better off looking at a smaller sized company.
I have interviewed people in your exact situation and my experience has been that stay-at-home moms who re-enter the workforce are often heads and shoulders above the average entry-level employee. They try hard, they are organized, and they don’t skip work because they were out partying the night before. I am making genralizations here, but the point is that your experience as a stay-at-home mom should never be looked at as a liability. Of course, I may be slightly biased because my wife is in the same position (she is at home with three bunnies of our own). But if and when she decides to re-enter the job market, any employer would be a fool not to hire her.
So don’t be anxious–play up your strenghts, stress that you are willing to learn anything, and knock 'em dead in an interview. Good luck!
I would hire you in a heartbeat. Like the others have said, for the type of position you are looking for attitude is more important than experience.
Have you considered temping? I have used temp agencies twice in my life and both times the company hired me on full time. Being a temp would give you the experience you are looking for. It would give you a chance to brush up your skills - while getting paid for it. It would give you a lot of flexibility - if you need a day or a week off for whatever reason, you can just take it. It gives you the opportunity to check out a company and see what it’s like, and it gives them the opportunity to see how hard a worker you really are. Sure, there are drawbacks to being a temp, no paid vacation, no paid sick days, no paid holidays, and no medical benefits. But, in the position you are in right now, this may not affect you in the least. I’m sure you have medical benefits through your hubby’s company and since you are doing this to help out as opposed to it being your sole source of income, maybe the no paid time off wouldn’t affect you, either. Anyway, it was just a thought.
Sorry I’m so late getting back to you all; I was away most of the day.
Thanks so much for all the great information and encouragement!
I had always heard the stories of people with no experience being hired because of a great interview,attitude,etc., but I had this niggling feeling that it might be just a popular myth.Thank you all for confirming that it actually can happen.
And thank you for putting a positive spin on my staying home.I hadn’t actually thought about it as a benefit in any way.Except to my kids, .
Minxmom, that’s a great idea!We have a Kelly Temps office down here, it never occured to me to try that out.
Thank you all so much for taking the time to answer my questions.I’ll let you know what transpires.
Think a little about what you’d like to do in 5 or ten years. That’ll help you narrow down an industry and companies to apply at.
When you go in to an interview, be prepared. Understand what the company does, and what they’ll be looking for you to do. Be prepared to talk in their terms.
You have good skills and you’re a good person. It’s important to convey this. Don’t walk in and be apologetic. Talk about your good qualities and accomplishments, including skills you’ve learned/improved as a Mom.
If you can, send your resume into somebody you already know at a company. It’s much easier to get in through a contact then through a cold resume.
Oh, you do have a resume, right? Polish that up.
One more thing: It’s just the nature of things that you may not be a good fit some places. Don’t get discouraged if several places say “no”. Just keep going and be positive each time. You’ll get there.
I work for a large credit reporting company. (Okay, I’ll cough it up: Experian Business Information Solutions.)
I like my job as a “Sr. Database Support Analyst” (actually, within the company structure I should be a “Research Analyst”, but the Consumer division gets the money and the titles). I have years of experience with mainframes, and have a good grasp of accounts receivable (hey, it’s why we’re in business!). The pay is good, I get along with everybody, I’m respected by management and my peers, and I get 3 weeks of vacation every year.
The only problem is that the company is about 1,200 miles south of where I want to live. Our new Vice President of Data Operations is from the “old school” and believes that everyone should all be in one place. Total bummer. I presented a detailed proposal to move my desk to the Seattle office about a year ago, and had faith that the company would see the wisdom of keeping a valuable asset like myself employed. No problem with keeping my job, but the new V.P. won’t let me relocate. I have to quit if I want to improve my quality-of-life and move north. Too bad, too; because we’re getting more data, there will be new products, a new operating system, and I think it will be an exciting time to be with the company. I hate to miss it.
In any case, I’ve been sending out résumés for a couple of weeks and chatting with contacts in Seattle. No bites from the résumés yet.
I’ve contacted some temp agencies, but I get the same answer: “We need to meet people in person before we can even offer an interview. We need people who live in the area so that they can go to work the next day. Give us a call when you move up.” I understand that they can’t make an assignment unless the applicant is local, but not even an interview? sigh I’m quite ready to fly up for an interview!
Should I just move up without a job waiting for me? (I have enough money in the bank to live for 6-10 months, but I’m sure there’s a helicopter with my name on it that I’d rather spend it on!) Should I keep working in So. Cal. until I get an offer, and then move up? Do the other companies (MicroSoft, Airborne Express, Boeing, et al) look for locals, just as the temp agencies do; and am I hurting my chances by staying down here?
I do apologize for the hijack, but the subject is on my mind at the moment…
I may not be the most typical of bosses, but here’s my 2cents for what they are worth.
My history:
I now run a fence/deck/renovations business. Small scale; only two employees.
As an editor, I had a say in which writers were put on regular submissions and which weren’t.
Previously I interviewed and trained direct-sales reps for an international food company.
Naturally, it depends on the job. If I were hiring someone to service my tools/equiptment, I’d want training and experience. But unless there are technical skills required for the job, experience-shmexperience.
In both my current line of work and previous, I’ve wanted to be the one to train my employees. I like things done my way; without question until a worker has proven his/her proficiency. Ideas for improvements on ‘my way’ are welcome, but only when ‘my way’ has been mastered. (Geez, I just re-read that and I sound like a complete git.)
Every hiring decision I’ve ever made has been based almost entirely on the interview. My impressions of the persons attitude and aptitude being the major factors. In the distant past I’ve even hired people I haven’t liked based on those impressions… and been proven to have chosen wisely more often than not. (Thank the Great Whatever that I don’t have to do that anymore)
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2.When you look at my work history and see that I quit my last job(full two weeks notice) in order to be a stay-at-home mom, would that discourage you from hiring me?Would it be taken as a negative sign?And if so, what might I do to reassure a prospective employer?
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Any employer that will hold that kind of thing against you is not the kind of boss you want to have. Period. What you want is a boss that has kids. Preferably about a year older than yours. Trust me on this one.
As an employer, I would have the utmost respect for what you have done. Most people without kids have no idea of the personal sacrifices parenthood entails. Knowing how unsettling the ‘return to work’ after maternal leave, I would be actually more inclined to give you a chance.
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I know you all are in quite a variety of jobs, but I would appreciate the advice from any of you with experience hiring new employees.Having not worked in a while, I’m pretty anxious about it.
And thank you in advance for any words of wisdom you may share.
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Can you get a letter of reference from your ex-employer? That carries a lot of weight.
Attitude is probably the most important, so I’ll stress it again. I’m not going to ever hire someone if I get the impression that they are going to depress the hell out of me day in and day out.
On the other hand, people who are interesting, confident, and competent within themselves will always come out on top.
Good for you on not going for the menial cr@p. Look at it this way- for most of the week, you are going to spend more than half of your waking hours going to, being at, or coming home from work. It has to bring you more than money, or it’s not worth it. To my knowledge, there is no pecuniary cap on this, but then again if someone offered me $5 million/year to work at McDonalds, I’d probably do it for a couple of years and retire quite happily.
If your husband already has a job, you may consider going into business for yourself. The benefits of this are to numerous to count. Especially now that you are a parent. We’re not rolling in money by any means, but both my SO and I are self-employed and we intertwine our schedules such that our child is never left without one parent there… parenting.
In anycase, good luck and above all else, be on time for any interviews.
3bm:
I am not an employer, but I am someone who changed carreer paths a few years ago. My resume was, shall we say, “eclectic”, and I had no job experience in the field I was trying to enter (computer programming/analysis). I did have a long out of date BS degree (no, not that one – well, that one too, but also one from a college).
In the 3 years since I made the switch I have interviewed with 8 companies and received 7 job offers. I view the interview as by far the most important factor in each of them (for some jobs, I knew some of my competition and they had far more impressive technical credentials/experience). Never underestimate the power of a personal impression. And never fail to prepare for an interview – anything you learn about the company and the specific position will help. Preparation allows you to focus your presentation, highlighting the areas where your personal strengths matchthe company’s needs.
Trust yourself. Do whatever it takes to get that face-to-face. Then knock 'em dead.
Don’t underestimate the value of your computer skills!
If you post here regular-like (and you seem to), you probably have a PC in your home. If you don’t already know the office applications that are likely on your PC - start learning them. You’d be amazed at the number of applicants who can barely type, let alone create a spreadsheet.
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