Transitioning from being caretaker for parents back to career, any advice where to looK?
I was the one of four children that helped take care of parents as they got older, needed caretaker help, surgeries, got them into senior living care, fixed up older house, then sold it. Now after ten years ready to return to workforce. During those years, I added on to PMP, kept up to date, added 39 technical certifications, Six Sigma Black Belt, Six Sigma Green Belt, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt, Scrum Master showing steady progression in technical and professional certifications over those years as a paid care taker. Now trying to transition back to regular workforce, but everywhere I check, have to have recent work history in my field. I purposely took the most difficult classes along the way. Even with clearly listed resumes similar or identical to what I posted here, I get a couple calls a day, 5-10 emails with job leads. It takes me getting them to slowly glance down my resume to see I am not trying to hide anything. Then it turns to, I have to have recent experience in my field. Since I can't be the first one that has done this care taking job, then wanted to go back to work in what I have done for over 25 years, any advice on where to look for employment TX preferred in Austin, where I can find an employer that has any understanding of my situation. I have actually had a couple of interviews that I insisted they be back and forth and include potential future coworkers. These possible workers really knew almost nothing about the subject material I asked pretty much 101 level questions. Even turned down a couple of offers as I could see I would be doing the work of 2 or 3 people. When younger I found out the hard way with just taking a job, without asking questions. Only to find myself in charge of 300 servers, doing my normal work, and on call 24 hours a day. I like to find out the pains points of the hiring manager, interviewing is easy if given a chance. If I can help them, I will, but if it is clear I can't I won't try to fool them just to get a job. Any advice on how to not go for the posted jobs, as 80 percent of jobs are never posted?
The job offers you turned down, I think you could have used to your advantage because of your experience the company probably would be willing to negotiate your salary. You can also do contract work for companies.
Sometimes when you are coming back into the workforce, you have to start on the bottom of the totem pole again. Get that practical work experience employers want and then after 6 mos to a year start looking for work at a higher level of responsibility and pay. I hate to say it, but it is almost always easier to get a job when you already have a job. You may have to suck it up for a short period of time to get the work you want down the line.