Any tips for getting a job with little work history?

[Criskin]

I'm starting to get a little desperate! I've been job hunting for over a month with no luck. The problem is, although I have a B.A. in English, a nice resume and excellent personal references, I haven't worked in over 4 years. After I graduated college, my husband got an awesome paying job that required travel so we decided that I'd be a stay at home mom and our family would travel together. Before that, my only non-high school jobs were part time just for extra money (I was a desk clerk and worked at a beauty supply). Now it is coming back to haunt me. Despite an excellent resume, I can't even get hired for entry level positions or minimum wage type jobs because of my nonexistent job history. Does anyone have any ideas to get employers to overlook my lack of experience? I've tried just explaining the situation when potential employers remark upon it but so far I'm still jobless.

 

[HarlansHollowFarms]

Quote:
Don't give up, it is tough for everyone right now. I am unempolyed at the moment also, and have a great work history. Just keep trying, it will eventually pay off.

 

[agnes_day]

sometimes i will do part time work for the holidays or if we need a bit extra and i just explain that i am a housewife who only works occasionally.
just tell them that the past 4 years you have spent taking care of your family.

go to a temporary place..they always need people for something..it might not be the best job but sometimes it can lead you to a really good one.

 

[hikerchick]

With a BA you can always teach. Not all colleges require a Master's. You can teach at a business college, technical school, etc.

Good luck.

 

[English Chick]

Good luck job hunting....... have you mentioned on your resume that you have extensively travelled and listed the countries you have lived in...... have you also mentioned that you where a full time home-maker.......

 

[redhen]

Quote:
x2! What she said..they might look at it differently if you put it like that. Good luck!

 

[Criskin]

Thanks for the tips everyone! Hikerchick, I've never thought about teaching...I didn't know you could without a Master's. I'm going to have to check into that. I sent off a whole new bunch of resumes today highlighting my travel and homemaking experience. I wrote "Although my work experience is not strong, I assure you it is not a reflection upon my level of responsibility. I devoted my college years to study and after graduation I enjoyed the opportunity of being a stay at home mother and homemaker. I plan to take the time and energy I was able to devote to my studies and household management and channel both into a successful career." Hopefully something happens soon!

 

[CocoNUT]

OOOH....don't forget 'creative' wording. Use strong words suitable to the positions for which you're applying.
With reference to being a housewife/home maker....you could state your responsibilities such as: multi-tasking, managing schedules for children of multiple age groups, coordinating activities, educational guidance.....
For your traveling experience: exposure to various cultures and languages/dialects, effective communication skills, adventurous, etc.

Remember...the whole key is to SELL YOURSELF (no...NOT like 'that'!) You do NOT have to 'highlight' your being a stay at home mom as such. Use that as an opportunity to pick 'strong' words potential employers are looking for, multi-tasking, accounting, communication, language, scheduling, activities, organization, etc. (remember...home makers are worth MORE than most people like to think because of all the 'hats' they wear!) General resumes are a great opportunity for you to also list a set of skills (in lieu of a traditional work experience list). Can you work well independently? IN a group?

Also, take a copy of your resume AND a separate skills list with you to your interviews! Answer their questions BEFORE they ask by highlighting your STRENGTHS. Tell them what your STRENGTHS are....sell your STRENGTHS. IF asked about why are you NOW looking for a job? Respond (example) my children are now in school full time and I feel I can more fully devote my time to building a career etc etc. Convince them you are what/who they're looking for. If you make their job (of the interview) easier...they're more likely to hire you!

GOOD LUCK!!!

 

[wombat]

Have you done any volunteer / charity work?

If you've done things that requires skills/attendance, even if you were not paid, include it as "work history" but state that it was volunteer work.

 

[Rosalind]

It's probably going to take a lot longer than a month. Just saying, you should be prepared for that. Even in "hot" jobs, it always takes longer than a month to start a new career. There are a lot of BAs in liberal arts floating around, too, it's not like they're rare and hard to find. So it will take longer than someone in a more in-demand field. Plenty of folks have been out of work for years now, and those are people with experience with whom you are competing.

This is not going to make me popular, but there is a lot of discrimination against moms in the workplace. Employers immediately assume you will want to come in late after dropping Junior off at daycare, leave early for the school play, sort of thing. It's probably better if you can think of a different reason that does not give potential employers a reason to discriminate against you--legally, they are not allowed to ask such things, so why give them that information willingly? I would play up that your hubby's job required a lot of travel, so it wasn't practical for you to get a job what with moving around and all, but now things have settled down considerably and you would like to focus on developing your career. And, as a previous poster said, emphasize how much you learned in your travels and how you were exposed to different cultures, even if it was within the US.