How do you get back into the field after you have raised your family?

I need some guidance here. What happens when life throws you a curve ball and you think you have a great job, great life. . . and wham! Horrible daycare forces you become a stay at home parent! I have loved being with my children but something has always been missing, and that is working in this exciting field! Any suggestions as to how I can go about and reenter this work force, now that the kids are grown and can fend for themselves? I know there must be tons of parents-Moms, Dads alike who want to work but do not know how to go about it with this ever changing field.

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Permalink Reply by CJ Walker on December 28, 2009 at 11:50am

Hi Gayle,
I have a particular soft spot for your question because I've been there myself. In 2001, I had a very handicapped child and had to stop working to take care of him. Then I had another child a year later. I thought that was the end of my career! But you know what? I'm happier and more fulfilled in my professional life now than I ever have been. It can happen.
First, I knew I had to work from home so I could actually work. I hooked up with a former employer who knew I was trustworthy and needed some resourcing done for his new business. It suited him because his overhead costs were next to nothing - just a long-distance phone bill and my time.
I was so enthusiastic to be back on the scene that I made a lot of connections and had a lot of success. One thing blossomed into another and soon I was growing his business at an appreciable rate. I was recruiting all over Europe from my living room! My kids were getting more independent too.
There came a point of departure with my ex-boss when he moved in a different direction. I was so used to working from home and having an active on-line social life that I couldn't imagine going into someone else's office and producing the same results. So, when we moved to yet another country, I set up my own company. I know there's a recession out there, but I haven't looked back since.
I really believe if you do good work, make good connections and have the right attitude (you clearly do), you can succeed from a home-based office. The trick is managing your family time, but that's another story. ;-)
I hope that helps a little. Free free to contact me if you want to discuss things further.

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Permalink Reply by Gayle Siegel on December 28, 2009 at 2:16pm

Thanks CJ:),
The difference is, you had to the contact to start to build from. I do not have those contacts anymore that I had a long time ago. So I guess my question is, how do you get your foot back in the door and start all over again ? I wish I could be as enterprising as you and start my own company? That would be the absolute best! I would love to hear more about how you went head and did that. As for the family time, that would not be a problem for me now that my children are older- sophomore and senior &high school & I have the best husband in the world!!!!! What are are you in now? I am in the Balto/DC area. I f I knew then what I know now, I would be set with the contacts, but isn't it always that way:)??
Looking forward to hearing back from you
Gayle
CJ Walker said:

Hi Gayle,
I have a particular soft spot for your question because I've been there myself. In 2001, I had a very handicapped child and had to stop working to take care of him. Then I had another child a year later. I thought that was the end of my career! But you know what? I'm happier and more fulfilled in my professional life now than I ever have been. It can happen.
First, I knew I had to work from home so I could actually work. I hooked up with a former employer who knew I was trustworthy and needed some resourcing done for his new business. It suited him because his overhead costs were next to nothing - just a long-distance phone bill and my time.
I was so enthusiastic to be back on the scene that I made a lot of connections and had a lot of success. One thing blossomed into another and soon I was growing his business at an appreciable rate. I was recruiting all over Europe from my living room! My kids were getting more independent too.
There came a point of departure with my ex-boss when he moved in a different direction. I was so used to working from home and having an active on-line social life that I couldn't imagine going into someone else's office and producing the same results. So, when we moved to yet another country, I set up my own company. I know there's a recession out there, but I haven't looked back since.
I really believe if you do good work, make good connections and have the right attitude (you clearly do), you can succeed from a home-based office. The trick is managing your family time, but that's another story. ;-)
I hope that helps a little. Free free to contact me if you want to discuss things further.

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Permalink Reply by Peter Ceccarelli on December 31, 2009 at 1:45pm

I'd suggest you start by knocking on the doors of the big staffing agencies that have locations all throughout the U.S. Robert Half International for instance is a great organization ( I use them for creative, general office, accounting, and some IT when I have temp needs). Their mulitiple divisions cover just about every discipline, they are well managed, provide excellent training and are always on the look-out for great recruiters and would most likely take a chance on someone re-entering the work force than other companies. I'm not an advertising vehicle for RHI, but I've used them for over a decade at multiple locations and their customer service and consistency is way beyond and far superior compared to all the other national firms in my opinion.

Good luck. The world always needs another great recruiter!