Great suggestions and an informative article.

definately get those skills up to par and even just refreshed. Cheers for this article

Staying positive is the most important tip you can give any-one!

These are fantastic tips. It can feel so disheartening trying to get back into it all

These are great tips. A few of my friends do direct sales and I see them doing things like these

good advice for those wanting to reenter the work force. But sometimes things are not that easy – e.g., networking, this doesn’t come easily to everyone.

ive been trying for 3 years to find work after my partner passed away, leaving me after being a stay at home mum most of my adult life(im 52 now) with little to no workplace experience, sadly there seem to be several things working against me, there is more help around to assist returning to the work force if you have a criminal record than if youve been a stay at home mum, there is also ‘youth rates’ to battle with as it seems most of the big companies taking on staff for their first job etc want them as cheap as possible so in giving kids their ‘foot in the door’ in the workplace theyre slamming that door in the face of older potential employees. also in my case, im a kiwi so i have very little help available to me here in australia, my fiance was australian, our daughter is australian but as im not i have to basically fight this battle alone. Personally i believe there should be a push for a limit on the number of ‘youth rate hours’ a company can pay per week, its great to help youngsters starting out but if we;re going to be expected to work until we’re 70 there needs to be tighter control. contracts are mostly casual now and it also seems that some companies take on under 18’s and give them many hours per week , as they get older they cut back on their hours and pass them on to the younger ones again. this isnt fair to older workers or the kids involved to be used this way. just my thoughts right now my biggest struggle is im raising 3 kids in australia with no other family here and on my own finding work, cant afford to stay and cant afford to leave , its a total nightmare

There are some great tips here. I think networking is particularly important and useful and it is amazing the types of people you already have in your personal networks that can extend to professional networks and help give you that initial kick start.

Oh my goodness! Its so, so, so hard to get back into the workforce after a long break from work.

Great advice here for parents looking to return to the work force. Very interesting reading, I’m super it will help a lot of people

great

Staying positive is always great advice!

I’m about to head back into the workforce after a year off and have decided that now is the perfect time for a completely new career. I am lucky enough that i will eb able to indulge my creative side.

good tips to follow,, i am one among those groups who are searching for,, will let you know once i get it.

I found it really tough at first getting back into the workforce after having a career break; of course there were the endless job applications with very few responses and interviews with feedback but no success, I was struggling emotionally and financially. Despite everything I remained positive then undertook part time study and tafe followed by work placement and on the job experience. I am now employed and happy as ever; my advice hold your head high, never give up and believe that you can achieve.

i didnt take a break from my career after having kids but theres some good tips there for people who do

There is many jobs in the town I live in and I have been out of the work force for 6 1/2 years. I can’t wait to work again to this time I am planning it right I want this to be the last job for me so I am doing a course to help.

I need to show my husband this.

Sorry Samuel, but for me, this misses the mark! After numerous attempts to re-enter the workforce over the last few years, I essentially just gave up last year. As a teen I was offered 2 positions before I even left school, but passed on both to pursue my studies. I then entered the full time workforce for 12 years-in property for a well respected charity, then working for senior execs in corporate organisations-only leaving because I was pregnant, though they were keen for me to return. I took a 13 month break after the birth of my first child & then took up a part time pos.for 2 years for a small sales & construction organisation-leaving because they wanted me to increase my hours, but because I had moved, this no longer suited me. So another job found me-fairly basic, but suited me at the time, doing casual data entry. All those years, I walked into or better in some cases, I was offered a position when I wasn’t even looking! That was my story-until I had my second child and took a real break! I had a number of reasons for this, but it’s turned out to be 12 years out of the workforce now (excepting a brief 12 month casual position). When I realised I wasn’t going to walk into a job I decided to do some TAFE courses, volunteer work & even took a job I hated because I figured I stood more chance of getting a good job if I already had a job….but no, nothing! I have managed only 2 interviews in 12 years (one for the crappy job I got) and another for a slightly better job, but with ridiculous expectations. After moving a number of times, networking got harder as my connections stayed put but I had not-but these are just some of the issues that face mums out there. These days it seems that if there is a good job going there are up to 300 other people that agree-how do you stand out from the other 299 on the list? I’ve tried many tactics-honesty being one of them-seems that’s not a winner either! One of my issues is that up until now I have absolutely needed to be around for my youngest child. Aside from some other issues, my husband works very long hours & in the early years travelled for work, it was important for her in particular that one of us was available after school hours. Part time work wasn’t for me just a nice have it was a must have….as it is for many return to work mums….but those jobs are in high demand. Next year I will have one daughter in year 12 and another in year 7….busy, stressful years….& a partner away from home too many hours every day already, if our family is to function then for me, part time work is still a must. Wish me luck for the job search in 2015!!

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  • • deangunna replied
    • 17 Dec 2014 , 11:54 pm

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  Times have changed and it isn’t always the best person for the job either. Honesty and experience doesn’t work like it used too. Goodluck and keep your head high.

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    • • bronwyn_taylor replied
      • 18 Dec 2014 , 1:48 pm

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    So true…that has been my observation. I’m not negative about the situation…. just honest about how it is from my perspective. Thanks 4 the well wishes.

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    • • mom110650 replied
      • 27 Apr 2015 , 9:08 pm

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    Well said. I’ve just had my first baby and wondering how to have relevant references for when I go back to work. I want a gap to look after my bub and have more kids but fear I will have the same experience that you have described… which seems a realistic fear

Lacking confidence on my return to away from home work I have enrolled in a course at Tafe to help boost my skills