Tips, Advice, Resources, for re-entering the workforce after several yrs. out?

[iamme]

I am just looking for PT work, but am feeling overwhelmed at what to even put on an application. (I am not using my education or training, btw.) I am simply looking for a low-key, easy on the brain job. Something that allows me to bring in a little cash, get out of the house, be around people and exercise my people skills.

Going against me is....

~The fact that I've been out of the workforce for over a decade.

~We have a horrible credit score due to yrs. of chronic illness and accompanying medical bills that have kept us in debt. I was told by someone IRL that employers see this as a huge negative-a sign of lack of responsibility.

~I'm an older momma and have never had to be computer savvy. I don't think I could even manage working at McDonalds. Lol!

~I have only regained my health over the last 9 mos. I still wake up everyday expecting the worse-but I am healthy.

~ I do have to travel 3 hrs.(each way) every 3-4 months for a minor surgical procedure which keeps me on the couch afterwards for about 4 days.

~We have zero family locally, no support at all. If my dc get sick, I am it.

Last summer I applied to Barnes & Noble and didn't get the job. That was the first time in my life(previously worked since I was 11, two jobs during both high school and college) that I wasn't hired after the first interview. That was when someone told me about how our credit score could have played a major role in that.

I was thinking about providing a cover letter to explain why I've been out of the workforce (not just to be a hsing,sahm-but also due to health) and why our credit score is so low, but could also see this working against me.

That's it for now. Any and all advice appreciated.

Thank you!

[sparklett]

Not a lot of advice for you right now, except about the credit score- don't mention it in a cover letter since MANY employers don't check credit. Instead, you can write a letter explaining your credit situation and send it to each of the three credit agencies with a request that they attach it to your credit report. Also, you usually have to sign something stating that you allow a potential employer to check your credit. When that happens, that's when you can produce a letter. Don't bring it up unless they start checking your credit.

[iamme]

Originally Posted by sparklett

Not a lot of advice for you right now, except about the credit score- don't mention it in a cover letter since MANY employers don't check credit. Instead, you can write a letter explaining your credit situation and send it to each of the three credit agencies with a request that they attach it to your credit report. Also, you usually have to sign something stating that you allow a potential employer to check your credit. When that happens, that's when you can produce a letter. Don't bring it up unless they start checking your credit.

Thanks! I'll do this.

[SheepNumber97245]

I'm in the same boat.

When you write your resume, list things other than jobs that you volunteered for or was a part of during the time you weren't working so that the gap doesn't look as large. Even if it's something stupid like doing a friend's make-up for pictures (just for example) Call it a photoshooot, and list it as volunteer make up artist.

[iamme]

Originally Posted by SheepNumber97245

I'm in the same boat.

When you write your resume, list things other than jobs that you volunteered for or was a part of during the time you weren't working so that the gap doesn't look as large. Even if it's something stupid like doing a friend's make-up for pictures (just for example) Call it a photoshooot, and list it as volunteer make up artist.

Yes. I am trying to do that. I wonder if hiring and firing doctors counts?

[AJHCFamily]

If you are not having luck finding a job, perhaps a volunteer position might help your resume and help you gain new skills to get your foot back in the door. It would meet all of your goals except for the cash and would likely be low stress and flexible. Or do you have a special skill where you could run a class (knitting, cooking, sewing, budgeting, foreign languages, etc)? Our town offers classes for adults in just about everything and the teachers only need to have a good plan for the course and be able to demonstrate their ability in order to teach it.

[SheepNumber97245]

Also, you could go to a temp agency. That will at least give you something to put on your resume.