Getting My First Job at 36

[Jennasis]

Might it be possible for you to take some online classes and et an Associates in something? That would give you a much needed boost in the job hunt.

 

[PA Princess]

I would recommend a temp agency. I worked summers through these types of places in college.

Couple advantages being that they find the positions, so takes some pressure off of you.

Plus, while the jobs I encountered were usually full time, it still gives you a try out option to see if full time work is a good fit for where you are right now...no real commitment with these jobs.

I also am returning to the work force after being home for 14 years (rearing children). I have secured a part time teaching position for the fall, so I am fortunate. What helped open doors for me was the plethora of volunteer work I have done over the years. So if a job does not materialize, I would encourage you to seek some volunteer positions to get you out there developing skills and contacts with people.

 

[allison443]

In order to clarify, (because it seems that it will help in receiving advice.) I have spent the last decade or so focusing on getting my life/mind under control. I was diagnosed with Bi-polar and borderline personality on top of issues raised by an unfortunate childhood... so no I haven't been raising kids, and I haven't been taking care of anyone but me, I have been working on self healing.

You see the two jobs I mentioned trying led to nervous breakdowns, so although I tried I couldn't maintain work... though I was very popular and a high performer in both jobs until it was time to leave...

This is not exactly something I can tell an employer (heck I'm scared to tell the dis.)

I am stronger then I have ever been, and I am determined to step out into the "real" world and make my own way as an adult - something I have never felt before...

I'm more then willing to take entry level jobs... I will do anything, so long as I can work Mon - Fri starting as early as needed but only until 5:30 or so. Only because my wife and I very much believe in holding our family values to be more important then money. (And this is about money, we have no need for more at this point we are living a very comfortable life at this point ((comfortable for us)), but I want more and the easiest way to attain that seems to be for me to get work.) Anyway the hours are a matter of our primary value being spending as much time together as possible - all the money in the world doesn't mean anything if we are not able to spend it together.

Anyway there you go that's all of it - the good, the bad and the humiliating.

Would you be willing to volunteer in the office of a non-profit or charitable organization for a little while? It would help you brush up skills, get you a recent reference, etc.
I only suggest this because you seem to be doing okay financially so you could do this with an eye towards getting a paying job in the future.

Best of luck to you!

 

[erincon23]

Good for you in trying to get out and re-try something that's been difficult! A job isn't just about money, it's about the confidence that it can bring if you find something you can handle. Are you working with a counselor to help you figure out what would be the least stressful for your condition? I agree with a PP that volunteer work can often lead to a job -- if you can handle the volunteer position, you'd probably be able to handle the job. Is there anything you can think of that you can do at home? I've always found retail and working in a school to be very stressful (I'm a substitute teacher, and I can't think of any job in a school that wouldn't be stressful, especially if you don't have kids of your own to "inoculate" you against the stress they bring) -- the least-stress job that I could think of for me would be a clerk at a library.

Good luck finding and handling something! I applaud you!

Erin

 

[Colleen27]

Like others said, if you were home raising kids or such, be sure to list that along with anything you did volunteer wise. That will explain any large gaps in your resume and hopefully get you a call in.

I've seen several people say this, but I'm not sure it is good advice. A fair share of the people I know who make hiring decisions view children as a reason an employee is likely to be unreliable, unavailable for overtime and/or prone to need too much time off. It is one thing if you can say you were home raising kids but now they're grown, but quite another if you're trying to get a job because your youngest started kindergarten.