I have been a stay at home mum since my eldest was born in 2003, and my youngest is 8 years old. I have customer service experience from before I had my children but only a little volunteer work, cleaning and a Cert 3 in medical admin since then. I feel like I have so much to offer but I'm struggling to find work. I'm either not qualified enough, don't have the required experience or don't even hear back for interviews from supermarket jobs. My resume and cover letter are both quite good. I'm located on the northside of Brisbane, have my own transport and I don't have anything that would prevent me from taking any shifts, barring illness etc. Any advice on getting back into the workforce is much appreciated.
19 Replies
The longer you are out of the workforce, the less likely they are to even look further at your resume. I was unemployed for 8 months and even that was considered too long. Employers get inundated with resumes so they push aside the time wasters, unfortunately they think that long term unemployed are only applying to keep Centrelink happy and don't want to actually commit to a job. That's why the longer you're out the harder it is to get back in. You're better off finding independent small businesses, walking in there with your resume and telling them you are really keen for any work at all and when you're available, if anything comes up you would love to be given the opportunity to work for them.
I am in recruitment and don't mention anything about being a SAHM/carer and what duties you did. That is my biggest tip because I sift through hundreds of resumes a day with listed experience like vacuuming, cooking, driving etc. as skills and that is compeltely irrelevant to the position you are applying for. Try and tailor all experience to the job you are applying to.
The most successful employees I have had have turned up, handed the resume in in person and offered to do a free trial on the spot. ALL of those people have turned out amazing workers and show dedication.
Would depend on where you work, most businesses don't want to know walk ins any more, they just tell you to apply online.
So true.
Most of the bigger companies will turn you away in person, however smaller admin and manufacturing places would be willing to give you a go :)
I've tried handing resumes in person even to small companies and they won't even take them and tell me to apply online.
There are now twice as many people looking for work than there was before the pandemic started. It has just become a lot harder for the long term unemployed to get a job, if not impossible.
I've tried to hand in resumes in person and I've actually been laughed at for it by staff.
Same here. Most businesses have told me to lodge my CV via their website and when something becomes available I will be contacted. I have never heard from any of them. Sadly if you spend years out of the workforce no one seems interested in employing you regardless of what you have to offer.
I've not had any luck handing out resumes in person either.
Most of the time they won't even accept the resume and I'm just told to apply online, the very few who did take my resume I could tell they were just humoring me to spare my feelings.
One time I actually saw the manager toss my resume in the bin as I was leaving. That hurt.
My employment consultant makes me do the whole cold canvassing thing every couple of months, i hate it.
Not because I don't want desperately want a job, it just feels like a massive waste of time and it chips away at your confidence when you're constantly rejected after putting yourself out there.
Not sure where you live but where I live people definitely wouldn't get a job this way lol
I’m in Melbourne, at our growth meeting yesterday 10 companies are all desperate for workers and can’t find anyone (us included).
We get 2-300 applications online and most are just a photocopy of a receipt or silly things they do to get jobseeker payments.
There’s maybe 3 or 4 worth looking at but we did have two people come down in person who we’ve given a go.
It seems like no people want to work right now. And then the few that do want to have no experience relevant to the position but most workplaces are overloaded with orders so cannot take the time to train people up. It’s a bit of a grid lock currently.
No, the problem is that businesses what to employ people with experience because they are too lazy to train people or are only interested in training juniors because they cost less. Hospitality is having a hell of a time finding staff especially here on the Sunshine Coast, because a lot of hospitality workers found jobs in other industries during the lockdown. I have no hospitality experience but am a quick learner, personable and love a busy and challenging role but not one business I have been into is interested in giving me a go. Why??? Because I have no hospitality experience and am over 50, yet my niece left school at the end of last year (year 11) and walked straight into a hospitality job. Go figure!! People DO want to work its just a lot of business owners are lazy and want fully trained staff who will work for next to nothing.
Yep^^
My mum had to hire some staff recently (housekeeping roles so not like one needs any specific qualifications just a bit of training). She was given the directive from her boss to only consider people with prior experience in that role because, and I quote, "training staff is a hassle".
She ended up having to pass up on a few really enthusiastic candidates who were willing to start immediately and able to work any shifts for people with experience who have turned out to be nothing short of picky and unreliable.
I have applied for heaps of cleaning jobs but as soon as I tell them I have no experience they brush me off.
Sadly since the introduction of paid leave it is nearly impossible for those of us who were out of the workforce long before that to get back in. I have also been out of the workforce since the early 2000’s and have been looking for work (any work) for 5 years without success. After speaking to a career counsellor in late 2019 she advised me to network with family and friends to find a job because without current experience I have next to no hope of getting a job by applying online. She recommended looking into doing an aged care course or creating my own job. Neither are appealing. I am also in my 50’s which isn’t appealing to employers apparently. I wish you all the best.
Factory work sometimes doesn't need experience, you've just got to be in good nick for manual labour.
No doubt you've heard the old saying, "it's easier to get a job when you have a job".
Last line, not helpful. 🙄
Why's that?
Normally my first reaction is to explain and I had it all written out.
But, different tactic...
Interested to know why you don't think it's helpful.