What Jobs Are There For Parents Returning To Work?

Every so often, news of rising interest rates, inflation and fuel and grocery prices sparks a mini-panic in the household and anxious scanning of MyCareer and job websites.

Is it time for me to go back to work?

If so, what sort of work should I look for? Or rather, what sort of work am I qualified to do after 3 years away from the workforce?

If I go back to work, should I work part-time or full-time?

If J goes to childcare, will she fall ill often and will I miss out on witnessing her developmental milestones?

If Beth goes to after-school care, will I be able to keep up with what goes on at school?

What about my duties as a volunteer reader with her class?

What about my duties as playgroup assistant on Mondays?

And on and on.

Re employability, it is a known fact that skilled migrants face certain barriers in getting employed in Australia.

Some of it has to do with lack of familiarity with the local work culture. There's also the language barrier for those from non-English speaking backgrounds.

Employers tend to prefer hiring those who have local work experience. A chicken-and-egg problem, obviously.

Fortunately, there are places to go for help.

One suggestion that comes up often is to do volunteer work to gain local experience.

I remember reading the story of Rosalind, a Malaysian with a PhD who kept getting bounced back at job interviews. The fact that she was highly qualified was no guarantee of her getting a job, much less one commensurate with her qualifications and experience. She was advised to do volunteer work with a non-profit organization that helps migrants settle into life in Australia. She did that. Eventually, she was offered a paid position.

Another strategy is simply to revise your expectations and start over at an entry-level position.

This might be a bit hard to swallow if you're a graduate from the world-class Little Red Dot. But if you see it as a temporary hiccup and a way to get your foot in the door, it might just be a bit more bearable.

We know of graduates from the Philippines who work at fast food restaurants and factories for an hourly wage. (The average hourly wage in the retail sector is $20.) One friend, who used to work in banking back home, is now taking a course in IT to retrain for a new career. At entry level, of course.

There's the Singaporean IT Project Manager who migrated here without a job, and spent the first 5 months of his new life stacking shelves and delivering the local paper in all kinds of weather, while waiting to hear from prospective employers.

Another Singaporean we know took 2 years to find a permanent job.

Definitely humbling, stressful...and character-building.

A career development practitioner that acknowledges this issue faced by migrants is Associated Career Management Australia. Their website has a category titled "Migrants".

"Often important cultural differences are missed by migrants which can mean ongoing barriers to finding that vital career position. Your counsellor will coach you to understand and avoid these negative and potentially career threatening issues.

We provide intensive support at all levels to ensure that migrants’ employment applications conform to Australian standards, and that their applications are directed to employers, agencies and/or organisations that will treat applications from people from non-english speaking backgrounds simply on merit only."

Definitely something to consider if you are planning to migrate to Australia without a job offer.

Not sure if you should migrate? Too many factors to consider?

Use this decision making software to help you prioritize what's most important.

You'll see and decide with greater clarity.

Internet Connections

Once in a while, I get a comment on my blog(s).

When it's from someone I know, it tells me that someone is actually taking the trouble to keep up with what's going on in our lives.

Considering how hectic everyone's life is, that's really nice.

But sometimes, the comments come from complete strangers, who just happen to be surfing the Net, come across my blog, and decide to leave a comment.

Recently, I received an email from a lady back home, someone I don't know. She was surfing for information on delivering a baby at the Werribee Mercy Hospital (where I had Jordanne), and found my blog.

Amazing, when you consider there are at least 165 million sites out there, according to Netcraft's April 2008 survey.

The Internet certainly has a way of bringing down barriers and bringing people closer. The world feels somehow smaller and friendlier when two strangers find they have something in common and take steps to become acquainted.

That's cool as, in Aussie-speak.

Gift Idea for Mothers' Day

Here's a great gift idea for the special woman in your life. She might be your mum/mum-in-law, grandma, daughter, sister, sis-in-law, friend.

Worth More Than Rubies is written by Kathie M. Thomas, author of the Proverbs 31 Woman blog.

While raising 5 daughters, Kathie started a work-from-home business using her office admin skills and the Internet to be a Virtual Assistant.

She is credited with starting the Virtual Assistant industry in Australia.

Watch this YouTube video of Kathie's interview with HBB TV.

Guaranteed to inspire.

SIDENOTE:
So who is the Proverbs 31 woman?

Proverbs 31:10-31 says:

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character
10 [c] A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19 In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Project Completed

Now I can say I've taught piano and I know what it's like.

I've discovered that it takes an enormous amount of mental concentration, physical energy and emotional effort to focus on one person for 45 minutes.

Hats off to all teachers and tutors everywhere! Teaching is definitely not for everyone.

At my last lesson with Gwen, we went through all the pieces we've learnt during our 10 sessions together.

I was so proud and amazed and glad at the progress she's made. I mean, we're talking about someone who's never had formal training and just wants to learn piano so she can play her favourite pieces for her own enjoyment and to entertain her family.

I thought it would be nice for Gwen to have something to remember her huge personal achievement by, so I gave her this.



But Gwen surprised me. She had something for me too!




Thanks Gwen! :-)

Giving and receiving...two sides of the same coin. The cycle's complete. What a beautiful way to mark my first experience as a music teacher.

Try Something New Today

I have been reading Dr Wayne Dyer's book, The Power of Intention.

I am still digesting his teaching, but as part of my personal quest to challenge myself and to break through old boundaries, I decided to do something different while out shopping.

At the fish shop, I recalled a recent conversation with my Filipino friend Raquel. She was sharing about how she buys whole fish and gets the fishmonger to clean and cut them up for her, and how she uses the head and bones to make soup. She tells me it's cheaper buying the whole fish than buying it already cut. I'm taking her word for it, because I really wouldn't know better. I'm domestically lazy, you see. If you present me with fish fillet already skinned and boned vs whole fish with gaping eyes and mouth, I'll go for the fillet every time.

Today, I decided to try it Raquel's way. I told the Vietnamese lady at the counter that I wanted a fish that was good for steaming and suitable for kids. I said I wanted the fish filleted, and that I planned to take the head and bones as well. She pointed out a particular fish ("This one very good, a lot of meat") and sent it to the back room to have her colleague clean and cut it up.

While we waited, I struck up a conversation with the lady. I asked her why it was that Australian salmon (a whole one) goes at $4.95/kg while Atlantic salmon is nearly $30/kg?

Simple, she replied. Atlantic salmon can be eaten raw and used as sushi. It's also got a nicer flavour. Aussie salmon is more meaty and the flavour's not as nice. It's more suited to being grilled in the oven.

There. All that information, and I didn't have to pay a cent to learn something new.

Well, I did part with $16, which is more than I usually pay for fish at a go, but I'm hopeful I'll get at least 2 dinners out of it.

Back home, I transferred the fillets (nice big ones) into a Tupperware container, put the pot on to boil and tossed in the fish head and bones, along with some garlic, an onion and the white part of a handful of spring onions. Nice.

Pity about the ginger though. Must remind CA to get some when he's next in Footscray. It's hideously expensive at Safeway.

Can't wait for dinnertime.

At the supermarket checkout, I noticed a few people queuing at a sign I had never seen before: "Self-Service Checkout".

Hmm. Should I bother and risk looking like a fool? Maybe I should just go to the usual cashier?

I decided I would try something new.

I brought my bags to an available counter and started studying the instructions on the screen. Once I'd calmed down enough to read them properly, they were fairly intuitive.

Press Start.
Scan each item.
Put item in the bagging area.
Swipe Eftpos card.
Key in PIN.

There you go. All done.

That's two new things learnt today.

Thank you Lord, for stretching me mentally.

Why Not Be Great?

What did you do in the noughties?

How will you answer this question fifteen years from now?

Will you be like the many who answer: "I spent my time waiting, whining, worrying and wishing"?

Or will you seize the opportunity to do something remarkable?

Seth Godin says that in hindsight, the 1990s were the good old days. Yet so many people missed out.

Why?

"Because it's always possible to find a reason to stay put, to skip an opportunity, or to decline an offer. And yet, in retrospect, it's hard to remember why we said no and easy to wish that we had said yes."

I am reminded of all the courses and training I've yet to do because I kept putting them off for one reason or another.

There was always a reason not to.
Not enough money.
No time.
Too hard.
Too much trouble.
What if I don't like it and end up wasting my time/money?

"The thing is, we still live in a world that's filled with opportunity. In fact, we have more than an opportunity - we have an obligation. An obligation to spend our time doing great things. To find ideas that matter and to share them. To push ourselves and the people around us to demonstrate gratitude, insight, and inspiration. To take risks and to make the world better by being amazing."

I can truthfully say that in the past 3 years, I've gradually but surely changed my mindset from "can't do/won't consider" to "why not?"

I have found ideas that matter - and I am passionate about sharing them, because I believe that shared great ideas can change lives and change the world.

I have found my own small way to encourage the people around me to live with greater awareness, gratitude and inspiration.

I have taken - and continue to take - personal risks (intellectual, financial, emotional) because I believe they will help me be better, stronger and wiser, and a more credible helper to those who have not yet found the courage to follow their dreams.

"You get to make a choice. You can remake that choice everyday...It's never too late to choose optimism, to choose action, to choose excellence. It only takes a moment - just one second - to decide.

Before you finish this paragraph, you have the power to change everything that's to come. And you can do that by asking yourself (and your colleagues) the one question every organization and every individual needs to ask today: Why not be great?"

I am reminded of what Stephen Covey says about how his life completely changed when he realized that there is a gap between a stimulus and a response.
Between the moment something happens to you (stimulus), and the moment you react to it (response), there is a gap.
In that gap lies a choice.
A choice about how you want to respond to what has just happened. Your response is not a given.
You don't have to react with fear, or anger, or negativity.
You don't have to follow the script passed on by your parents, peers or teachers, or walk in the path of past destructive habits.

To those of you who struggle with unfulfilled dreams and suppressed desires for greatness and achievement, who feel trapped by fear of risk and fear of the unknown:

You have a choice.
You can remake your life this very moment.
You can choose to be great.
Why not be great?

How Not To Sweat The Small Stuff

In her latest Inner Life column in Good Weekend, Stephanie Dowrick shares about the time she sent out an email and forgot to blind copy the addressees. She said what made her most uncomfortable was the possibility of other people being irritated or thinking her an email idiot. Even though she recognized hers was a trivial mistake, she still went through those awful "if only" moments.

"What other people will think of us is often right at the heart of the problem. We don't only want to do things right, we want to be seen to do them right."

How true.

How many decisions and choices have I made because of what someone thought, or might think, or what I thought they would think, which, when you stop to think about it, is hardly the basis of good decision making.

And then, how many times have I afterwards given myself a hard time for making a poor decision or poor choice, when I could have shrugged it off as stuff that happens, and moved on?

So, how does one avoid sweating the small stuff?

Stephanie suggests asking yourself these questions:

1. Will this matter a day or week from now?
2. Is this hurting someone, or just my pride?

"Being seen to do something less than perfectly may be humbling but it is hardly ever fatal. Buying the wrong kind of orange juice, arriving minutes late, not anticipating every need of your partner or boss: these are inconveniences, nothing more.

The mistakes that do matter are those that hurt other people...Saying something cruel or threatening, overlooking someone's feelings even when you "didn't mean to", trivialising and undermining, being dishonest: that's stuff that warrants a good deal of sweating.

It is...as tempting for some people to sweat too little as it is for others to sweat too much - and generally that is far more harmful."

Think about that the next time you are called on to make a decision.

PS. Want an objective, emotionally detached way to make decisions?

Consider Choose It.

This software uses math to remove the hard work and distracting emotions out of decision making.

It's really easy to use. You go through a simple five-step process.

1. Key in your question (e.g. What career should I take up?).
2. List the possible answers.
3. List the factors that will help you decide (e.g. career satisfaction, career path, flexible enough to enable you to fulfil your family commitments).
4. Using a score of 1 to 100, score each possible answer on how well it meets the requirments of each of the factors.
5. Voila! The best possible answer is presented to you in table form, with a score and bar chart.

What I like about it is that as long as you have considered all possible factors and answered truthfully, you can't make a mistake.

How powerful is that?

Think of one problem or decision you've been losing sleep over, and see for yourself how simple it can be to make a sound decision.

PPS. I used Choose It and confirmed what I'd known intuitively - I'm in the right career for me right now. ;-)

Finding Contentment in Delayed Gratification

I am learning that delayed gratification and incremental improvement are both sides of the same coin.

And that both are good.

In my dictionary, DG/II is a $20 doormat that lends a cheery and welcoming aspect to the entrance of our home.

There's a wonderful synchronicity to everyday things if you will look at them.

The image of the bench on the mat is just like the one in our backyard.

And the plants on either side suggest a retreat, a tropical paradise.

So what if the reality doesn't quite match the suggestion?

At least it's something to work towards.

I imagine my guests walking up to my front door, pausing to wipe their shoes off on the mat, and smiling at what they see.

Instead of dwelling on the leaf vacuum blower, the storage solutions and the fitness machine that don't fit in this month's budget, I choose to delight in the magical transformation effected by a $20 household item.

What Is The Ruling Force Of Your Life?

The devotional for 2 Timothy in my Couples' Devotional Bible starts with this statement:

"God's truth - not our emotions - should be the ruling force in our lives."

What rules our lives?
What makes our unmakes our mood for the day?
Do we live our lives determined to get our way, happy only if things fall in place exactly as we intended?

Or do we leave room for God to move, to surprise us, to change us?

I am reminded of an analogy a friend shared many years ago.

She said that when we clench our fists tightly because we want to hold on to what we have, we are really preventing Him from pouring more wonderful gifts and treasures into our hands.

There just isn't enough room.

"Happiness... is usually rooted in circumstances that bring positive feelings. However, rejoicing is in the Lord, the One who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow...

Negative feelings will not be absent from our lives, but in spite of them, Christ will become the integrating force, enabling us to walk among negative feelings in a way that honors him."

May we be models of a deeper, stronger and higher truth even when life is against us.