Re-entering the workforce pflow3000: Ok...I've been unemployed since September 1, 2001. My left work early on the last day of August...and became a full-time parent while my X went to school. I actually retired so I could collect my retirement and support us while she went to school. She graduated and became a nurse.
When we split in January I began searching for jobs at a fever pace. Mostly for things I was confortable with. Unfortunately nothing ever came out of it. Finally I was offered a job as an area supervisor for a home health agency in the tri-state area. I would have actually been responsible for an area covering east New Mexico to west Oklahoma to mid-Texas. The problem was that the position payed only $7.15 per hour! There was NO way I was going to be able to afford a place of my own let alone find a place that would allow me to keep two kids for what my salary would have been. So I turned it down.
When school let out I moved back to my hometown...to an apartment behind my parents' house. First of all I can't believe I'm BACK where I was when I was a kid but at least it's rent free.
Still...I have put in applications like mad at EVERY place imaginable. The problem is that this town has a population of 22,000 people and is VERY small with very few businesses. I've put in apps in nearby cities hoping to commute for a while but I've had no takers.
In my interviews it usually comes down to "you know this position pays a lot less than you are used to" or "would you be happy with a job like this? It's not as advanced a position as..." or "I'm not sure you'd like it enough to stay long..." or something along those lines. I too have a college degree and have been a manager at a university.
Nothing has turned up so far.
But what I want now is to enter the social services field. I realize that the pay would be limited but the rewards would be much better for me in that I enjoy helping people. The problem is it is so hard to get into the door and even volunteer opportunities are rare around here.
I can't really move to a bigger city because that would mean I have to fight the X for custody right away and so far she has been kind enough to not fight me on that as I have the two youngest with me. (they are terrified that one day she will take them with her...and around here it is in the norm to give custody to the mother even more-so than it is in other parts of the country) I have moved an hour away as it is so it's just enough to be far enough from her that we aren't bothered as much but close enough that she can visit anytime if she really feels like it. (which isn't often but she does travel over 400 miles on occasion to see "friends" which tells me should could come if she really wanted to)
So my question I guess is this...anybody know how to get into the social services field? Any suggestions? There is a private college in this city but they offer nothing in the field and it's pretty small anyways.
??
Re: Re-entering the workforce sheydp: There are some online courses... The MSW program I am going to apply to does distance learning, unfortunately only to coordinate campuses... Check out the internet. Truth is, though, to get into a program that is right for you, you might need to relocate. If that isn't an option (yet) think about some of the social services fields that you may not like, but you can get jobs in now...
Surely you must have "group homes" of some kind in your town? They usually need people - particularly the night shift and the pay is usually a bit better... Sometimes these less popular jobs actually give you the right experience to get into school. The longer you have your kids full time, the better your chances of being able to relocate without a fight in court. Maybe that will mean school in the future?
No matter what you are able to do - Good Luck!!! Let us know how you make out, ok? (((((HUGS)))))
Shey
Re: Re-entering the workforce pflow3000: [quote author=sheyd link=topic=21036.msg196608#msg196608 date=1130641231">
The longer you have your kids full time, the better your chances of being able to relocate without a fight in court. Maybe that will mean school in the future?
Shey
[/quote">
Thanks a million Shey...
Believe me...that's EXACTLY what I'm hoping for...I've had the kids with me for about six months already and I've enrolled them in school, religous education, have bought them a dog they always wanted and spend just about every waking moment making their lives as perfect as I can...all with the goal in mind that I need to provide what's best for them. (also...this may be asking for trouble but I hope that their mother will play some part in their lives down the line...I'm not vindictive at all.)
It's funny you should mention online courses (never even thought of that) because I used to actually coordinate the distance program at the university I worked for so many years ago...duh (sometimes this divorce stuff makes me forget to put on my pants BEFORE my shoes!)
Re: Re-entering the workforce alonewith2: Try the hospitals, clinics, schools, churches, group homes, human services, or any place like that. Also, it is easier to move up in a company after working for a period of time at an entry-level position. Good luck!
