I'm feeling so lost! My only child has just started school this year. I really want to get back into work (I worked in fast food as a teenager/young adult and then full time in office work up until I had my child at 25) I just lack confidence so badly and have no idea what I want to do for work. I want to be able to take my son to school in the mornings and then go to work after. Maybe even part time to start out with, or maybe full time will be better, I just dont know. I feel terribly guilty and depressed not working. I'm introverted and not really good with people. I have no idea where to start looking for work.. please help me with some suggestions..
4 Replies
Seek, JORA, local fb pages. Lucky for you it's a good time to get back in as there's a shortage of workers at the moment. A few years ago it would have been really hard for someone with a big gap on their resume to get back in there but now more employers will be willing to take you on.
I went back to work as a casual in retail. It took a year to be offered part time. In that time, I got valuable experience and learnt new skills in customer service both with customers and staff.
I hadn't worked for awhile, was a single mumma and had been studying. I work for one of the big supermarkets in Australia on the floor.
Now I feel like I can cross pollinate into other roles and departments. Just be open to different hours and experience. It might not be something you thought was your ideal choice or beneath you. However positive attitude and asking what needs to be done and how you can help is a great way to make a name in any business.
I set up my childcare because I know my hours may not work well for the business. Alot of the ideal hours are reserved for people who have worked hard to prove themselves. After a number of years and hard work, flexibility and accountability has been rewarded with better hours.
You might need to make some age appropriate sacrifices and that will happen throughout your working life.
Whether you're a nurse, a lollipop lady, PCA, lawyer, labourer or work in a supermarket. You might find that your child may need day care, a babysitter or after school care.
Goodluck, we all have to jump in deep water sooner or later and you know what? It's swallower than you think, it's only your mind and insecurities you need to conquer first that's the obstacle.
You got this.
I completely understand how you feel. This is me. Sometimes I really don't think people understand how hard it is to be an introvert or have anxiety or depression. It's so hard to get back into it. You know where to look and what to do, but you lack the confidence and all you're thinking about are the negitives and how do you work and still be there for your children. It's not that easy. I'm terrible with people and that really puts me off trying to get a job, most jobs say team player and bubbly personality. That is not me at all and I just can't fake stuff like that. So I understand where you're coming from. It's not as easy as some people make out it is and that because they don't understand. I don't know how to help because I'm in the same boat at the moment but wanted you to know you're not alone.
Disability support work might suit. You could start by doing the tafe course.