ive been out of work for several months because of my need to stay home with my 3 and now 1 yr old. i just stopped breastfeeding so i feel like i have a new lease on life. ive put in a few apps but noone seems to be interested because ive been out of work so long. any tips on maybe explaining my situation to employers better?
I think the job market is so tough right now, that it would be hard to find a job, even if you had been working. While you were off work, did you do any type of volunteering, church activities, hobbies, etc? If so, you could mention that on your resume and if you have a contact person you worked with, ask if they could be a reference. A company is not allowed to ask if you are married, have children, things like that, however if you know that the company is family friendly, you might honestly explain that you took time off to care for your children. If you get a sympathetic ear, it could make all the difference. Do some research on the company ahead of time and talk with some current employees and you should be able to get a good feel for the business. You can also use that information to see why you would be a good fit for the job and the company and explain that to the interviewer. Arm yourself with as much information about the job going into the interview. If they see that you are dedicated and want to work, sometimes the time off work doesn't matter that much. Good luck with your job search!
Try working from home! I have, for nearly 4 years now, and I have totally love it! I was able to quit my parttime job to stay home with my four kiddos and I'm Sooooo Thankful!
it may be more the economy, lots of people are having trouble finding jobs with all the layoffs.
I've been having a hard time trying to find a job too. Even with my college degree, all I could find was cleaning houses with the Maids company. It's even harder when you have kids because you generally can't work nights & weekends. Just keep looking & keep trying! I still look every day online at the newspaper & Craigslist.
Good luck!
thanks everyone. all of your advice was helpful. makes me feel as though im not so useless-other than to my family! 