[Mummy2907]

[I originally posted this in the 'older mums' forum, but it's not getting much traffic there!]

For various reasons, DH and I didn't have our first child until I was 38, the second one at 40. Until then I had a highly paid job (probably overpaid for what I was actually doing) and DH worked fulltime. Our youngest now still has 3 years before starting school and I am considering being a SAHM with both of them until then (they both currently attend childcare full time but I recently finished work as i was on a fixed term contract). I am really having trouble finding another job and we can't afford to keep sending them to childcarecare on the chance I will find work soon. So I'm thinking of taking them out of care and staying home with them. But that means I will be 45 by the time I'd be re-entering the workforce. I know 'younger women' have this sort of gap in their careers all the time, but I'm worried about how much harder it will be then compared to now to find work again. My work is in a fairly niche area so jobs are hard to come by as it is.

So...what do you think? At what age did you (will you) be returning to work, if at all?

[Chchgirl]

I had my first daughter at 30 and second at 33..I stayed home and started re-training at 37 and re-entered the workforce at 38 while training for a couple of years, then changed careers again.

I had no issues as I was retraining and age was no barrier in that case.

[Beancat]

This is a good topic OP. I have not quite got to your situation but have been wondering about re-employment.
I had DS when i was 34 (I went back to work bw babies when DS was 9mo) and DD when 37 in jan this year. I am now pregnant with No 3 and have decided there is no point going back to work for 4 months, so will be out of the workforce for two years.

I have however retrained as a secondary teacher over the last couple of years, but will be 39 when I re-enter the workforce either in my old area or teaching.

I think I will go ok when I re-enter as I can demonstrate I was at least studying while on mat leave this year, so have kept my mind/skills active.

Could you maybe do some professional development in your area OP while being a SAHM? Another option to keep your skills up, is there any type of volunteer work that fits your skills, ie i know a few accountants who volunteer as the kinder treasurer while SAHMs. I think if you can demonstrate you have been active in your profession, albeit not necessarily paid, while you are a SAHM this will help you re-enter the workforce.

[amabanana]

I think I will go ok when I re-enter as I can demonstrate I was at least studying while on mat leave this year, so have kept my mind/skills active.

I agree with keeping skills up to date but I think it's sad that there is an idea that being a SAHM means your mind isn't active. Off topic but I find that insulting. Just because I'm not in paid employment doesn't mean I spend my time staring at the walls/TV with my mind turning to mush. Not sure what other Mums do but I certainly don't sit around doing nothing with my brain (unless you count wasting time on EB. )

This post has been edited by amabanana: 28/11/2012, 12:06 PM

[bubblegummum]

I went back at about 33yo. So my gap was when I was younger. Now in my 40s I constantly hear that it gets harder to change jobs, find jobs & get promotions from your mid 40s. I hadn't really thought that ageism would kick in that early (I know it will depend on skills, demand etc).

I've always thought that the assumption is that after a break of several years your skills and knowledge may not be up to date rather than your brain has turned to mush.

[Ally'smum]

I would pull them out of childcare and stay home, but keep your eye on job ads, if something comes up that looks really good, apply and see how you go.

A lot can change in 3 years and you can change your mind about what you are doing at anytime. If you need to go back then be open minded about what you can do, once you are employed it is much easier to move around.

As well, look after yourself, you can go back to work as a 'young' 45 rather than an 'old' 45.

The most I am having as a break is two years, I need to work to pay the mortgage and despite having worked for 18 years, I still don't have a 'career' as such, hope to have one before I retire...

[Sunnycat]

I had my first at 30 and have gone back 2 days. I am pregnant again and will be going back on maternity leave next year, so will be returning part time mid 2014. I'm hoping for one more child after this one but will not go back full time while they are little. I don't particularly want to go back at all but need to keep a foot in the door.

I don't anticipate retuning to full time work until I'm pushing 40.

I think if you can study something in the meantime if you are able to is a good idea, but like pp its very insulting that if you're not studying or working you are assumed to have no brain.

[Wahwah]

This issue plays on my mind often. That if I decide to go back into full time work I'll be in my mid 40s. And that maybe some young whipper snapper in HR might think I'm out of touch.

I had my first at 35, went back to work for a year when bub was 12 months and then stopped work again at 37 when number two came along.

I want to keep my options open, while having no interest in full time work at the moment. So I've been able to keep my hand in by doing freelance work for the past few years and that way I can at least show that I've maintained some connection to the workforce. If I wasn't doing this I think I'd pick up a course or a couple of subjects here and there to show I'm still engaged with my industry.

I think I should be ok to get a job in the future so long as I maintain my contacts. Plus I work in a female dominated area.

OP could you do any consulting or freelance in the future given you are in a niche area? Even just a little occasional project might be good.

[lizzzard]

What kind of industry are you in OP? I think different industries are more/less forgiving of a career gap. For example, IT strikes me as one of the tougher ones given the pace of development /change in that field.

[JRA]

I had DS when I was 37, nearly 38, I went back "casual" in IT when he was 3, I was 41 and a bit. I have been working "casual" or "part time" ever since.

I work in IT in value add role, consulting, sometimes training, I mainly contract to the software vendor who I previously worked for.

The only reason I don't work FT is because I don't want to. they are harassing me continually to go back to FT