I haven't worked in over 7 years, how do I re-enter the job market?

Question

I have three kids I need to support, I have decided it's time to get off of welfare and get back to work. (before you start ragging on me about welfare, all three of my kids were born premature and had special needs until about 2 years of age, my youngest will be 3 in Feb.) I don't have my GED because I never had time to go to the mandatory GED classes here, but I really would rather not flip burgers. What would be a good entry level position somewhere? I also have terrible credit, and a conviction for passing bad checks four years ago. How limited are my job prospects because of these things? Would a factory somewhere hire me? I live in NW Ohio, there are a lot of factories here. Any advice is appreciated.

Answer 1

Wow, you lived off of welfare, never bothered to finish highschool, and wrote bad checks.... but you have internet access. Internet is a luxury. I'm glad my taxes went to support you and your children while you lived off welfare.

Seriously you need a GED. You have very limited choices. You will have to work for than 40 hours a week to support them. You will never make more than minimum wage.

I feel sorry for your kids. they don't deserve to live like that.

A temp agency might be able to help you, they help find jobs for people like you all the time.

I'm sorry about your kids though. I hope they are all ok now. Besides the fact they have a really irresponsible mother.

You are setting a bad example for them.

I'll adopt them from you if you want to get rid of them.

Answer 2

Your first priority is to be sure you have good childcare provided for your children; some community colleges offer this, as well as ALL the help you need to get going in the right direction and GED classes, or they'll tell you where to go. Then , career and personality testing to help you choose the right path of courses toward a degree, and finally financial aid is available. Here's the way I see it though, I don't know how you can spend 30 to 40 hours a week on school and then work with 3 children to raise. You didn't say if your married, your age, or if you have family to help. Education will basically speaking blot out your bad record, because good will always overcome bad! So focus on that and forget about the bad stuff. Though I will say, without the education society will always hang the bad over your head I think. Get enrolled now for the spring semester starting in Jan. doing the financial aid paperwork and you'll be set with a good plan, and you'll have something to go to prospective employers with now, and they won't care much about the past, just have some proof your starting in school and get a professional resume done- the Texas employment Commission will help with this. Just remember there are no quick fixes or short cuts, and it will always takes twice as long every time you have to double back!

Answer 3

Start at the beginning. You might have to work the counter at a burger joint. These job can give you more flexible hours than a factory.

Take what you get, don't accept it forever, you have to keep moving ahead.

If you have a friendly personality and a beautiful face then you can work in various retail jobs, earning commission, so don't knock a job at Burger King.

Try department stores and supermarkets. Just go the personnel office and ask for an application form. You have nothing to lose and they will provide more career opportunities than factory work.

But some more advice. When you apply for a job, you need to explain your present situation in a way that sounds good.

For example, you say. Unfortunately 2 of my 3 children had health problems, and I had to stay at home and look at them. Now they are much better and I don't need to provide them with care. I really want to work and so provide a better future for my children.

Some managers, when hearing the right explanation will hire you on the spot.

Answer 4

Your best bet would be to get to work immediately and work towards finding a better job (and finishing your education) as time goes on. Unfortunately it does sound like you have some hurdles in front of you before you will find a halfway decent job. My suggestion is that you go to a temp agency and make yourself availible for work every day.

Temp work is ussually really crappy, but it will show prospective employers that you are serious about wanting to work after all this time; plus it will be easier to start making money NOW while reintroducing yourself into the daily work routine and learning to balance your life with your work while working temp jobs.

Once you are working for the temp agency, then you can start looking for a permanent job, if they can't place you in any long term positions, the flexibility of choosing when and when not to be on call during this process is invaluable for the job seeker who wants to make a little money and experience while they work.

Answer 5

I doubt you will have much sucess in a factory because of your conviction...in fact I believe you are going to be rather limited because of that and your lack of a diploma. I suggest you go to the welfare office and ask them to reccomend classes and jobs for you. You should also check to see if you can get free or subsidized daycare until you can get on your feet.
I admire the fact that you are wanting to work and put your past behind you, it's going to take work, but with persistence you can do it. Once you get your hs degree I suggest looking into local colleges that specialize in adult education and try to at least get your Associates degree, you can do that while working.
Good Luck

Answer 6

whats up jeff, ok pay attention, each and all the sentiments which you're having approximately returning to the artwork tension is customary. each physique has the comparable emotions as you no be counted what you think of. in case you could bypass to the save and purchase some sT johns wort supplementations and take 800mg an afternoon, And worse case state of affairs bypass on your medical expert and get some xanax or valium or in case you dont opt to bypass that course, bypass the the drugstore and %. up a container of drowsy benadryl and take 0.5 a pill it is going to loosen up you yet no longer make u drowsy. Youll get decrease back into the swing of issues contained in the 1st week, Dont problem i've got been given a lot of religion in you =)

Answer 7

Factories should hire you. You seem pretty smart so consider going back to school to learn a trade or career job. Nursing is very popular and they shouldn't care as much about your criminal background as much as accounting or banking would.
Try to get child support you will need it to help pay daycare and support the kids. Welfare might help you get the money you are owed.

Answer 8

To be honest, I would think even the worst jobs would even require a GED to even get in the door. You can try to go for a factory job but who is to say it would even pay better then flip burgers, I do think you are a bit screwed until you get your GED.

Answer 9

Good luck...
Here are some educational and information resources. I am trying to help someone in a similar situation but that is local to me, you are a bit too far....Pick up the pennysaver and thrifty nickel ad papers, they have on line and distance high schools that you could finish in 3 weeks to get a diploma.

http://adulted.about.com/cs/ohiocoursesands/index.htm
http://adulted.about.com/cs/workplaceliteracy/a/welfare_work.htm

Just consider yourself lucky that your kids still don't have special needs....

Answer 10

easyest way is tell the truth,you've been caretaker of 3 kidsand now it time to move on.youmight get ck.for the conviction,try to tell them it was just a mistake.and if they can see to give you a shot,they can watch all they want to see theres noneing wrong,,be nice at all times,cause they will try to make you mad and blow it<>IS<>