The perfect job. I know nothing can ever really be perfect, unless perhaps you’re some sort of freak or perhaps Miranda Kerr on a really good day, but you know what I mean. Finding that work and life balance. Being successful and happy. Enjoying the professional you, and the relaxed you. How many people honestly have a handle on that? Please tell me your secret!
A really good day, every day
In my thirty-something years, twenty of those being a part of the workforce (you do the math), I have had plenty of experience. I started out in hospitality while at school and went on to work almost ten years as an apprentice and a qualified hairdresser with two successful salons. I’ve spent over four years in Australian gourmet food and wine sales with an international company progressing to the roles of assistant and then store manager. I have worked in an assistant management role for a nationally recognized and successful apparel company and spent the last year revisiting my roots, working in a family owned hotel bistro. Some of these positions I have held simultaneously, I am not afraid of a little hard work. And yet, I feel lost.
I was made redundant while on maternity leave with Master E, just over two years ago, while working for Pacific Brands. Unexpected and slightly inconvenient, yes. I was offered a casual position if I wished to return, as they didn’t offer part-time positions anymore as part of the new company “structure” and I did not wish to go back in a full-time capacity. With unspecified hours on unspecified days it wasn’t really family friendly, so I felt I had little choice but to take the redundancy. When I decided to go back to work I needed something that would work in with having a family. I went to work in a hotel, some days and some nights. Why a hotel? Well my partner had worked there as security with his company so we knew the owner/manager and it seemed like a good fit. I loved the people I worked with, got on well with the owner/manager and really enjoyed the customer interaction. Turns out working split shifts which included nights was not totally compatible with being there for your young family. We had some logistics issues. Like who’s going to watch the baby while we’re both working after hours (thanks a million Mum and Dad!)? How was any kind of routine actually going to be implemented? Quick answer; it’s wasn’t. And then pregnancy number two was underway.
Truth be told, I miss my management position working with the gourmet food and wine. It was in a store at our Adelaide airport. I loved that store and had a real passion for the produce we promoted. I also had a great team of girls that worked their arses off! (I miss you girls!) If I could go back, be even a small part of that team I would. But past is past and I left for what I thought were greener pastures. We live and learn I guess.
So now I sit here, head in a spin, wondering exactly what I’m meant to be looking for to get back into the workforce. To which of my strengths do I promote and look to while searching for this possible future job position which will also work with my new-found status as mother of two? I have been looking on sites such as Seek and Career One for such an elusive position, but without much hope. Do you want to work full-time? We no longer take part-time positions, perhaps a casual position will suit you better? Are you available 5 out of 7 days without a set roster? Available to work weekends and nights?
No? Sorry. Next.
To say the prospect of finding a job that fits is overwhelming is an understatement.
I haven’t even mentioned childcare. You got kids? You want or need to head back to work? Better make sure that you’re earning enough to cover the costs and make it worth your while. The fact is, childcare is expensive. Don’t get me wrong, childcare workers are worth their weight in gold and don’t get paid close to what they’re worth. Young girls,women and men, some with families of their own, working long hours helping to shape our children into the smart well socialised little people they are. They do a great job, but that doesn’t take away from the actual price of the service for many families.
Do you enter an interview saying “yeah, I’m available” when in actual fact you know you’re going to have to beg and then hope your childcare center has a vacancy on any given day for the foreseeable future? And then change it week to week? I know my childcare center doesn’t work like that. My son has set days he goes to the center as it is all pre-booked and charged accordingly. Get a family member to look after them I hear you say. Wouldn’t that be lovely! Grandparents are still working well into their sixties and who’s to say they don’t want to take off around the country or even the world when they finally reach retirement age! Life isn’t that simple, it’s not 1980.
I guess this post is all about the fact that reentering the workforce isn’t so easy when you’ve had a family and that’s where I’m at. I’d love to hear from anyone with positive suggestions, experiences or the sort when it comes to having kids and reentering the workforce.
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