A Mom, A Wife, 52 and don't know what to do? (job, income)

[bibit612]

So many good ideas on this thread Puffle. I can't help but rep everyone! Best to you!

[Redrover]

I don't have any really practical job advice to give you but let me address the computer skills issue for a moment. When I first went back to work once my daughter was in school all day, I worked at retail jobs and then went to work for a school district as a classroom aide in special ed classes. (Mind you, I have a college degree.) First let me say that I am quite a bit older than you (62) and did not grow up with computers like so many in the work force today. Then one day, eight years later, I decided I wanted more money and a full hour for lunch so I went to work for a CPA firm as a proofreader (hated that!). As a matter of fact when I first began to "compute" the systems were still DOS based, not Windows. However, once I realized that I needed the skills if I was ever to get a better paying job, I went to the adult education campus (a local high school) bookstore and bought the course texts for all of the MS Office softwares. I took them home and sat at my computer and taught myself by working through the student workbooks that came with the "floppies." And I practiced the exercises endlessly until I felt comfortable that I knew what I was doing. Then I went to a temp agency and tested on the softwares and registered to be placed in a new job. So now, here we are a million years later and I am finally making a pretty decent salary ($49,000/yr) with prospects for even more. But none of my current situation would have been possible had I not learned those early computing skills so if you are truly committed to finding fulfilling work, you will probably have to learn your way around a computer. (Some years back I had a short-term job with a mortgage company and part of my job was producing some weekly reports in Excel. I had no experience with that software, I hadn't taught myself that course yet, and I had to ask someone in the office how I even "turned it on.") Good luck and hope you find what you are looking for.

[puffle]

Thanks Redrover. I have in front of me Office 2003 simplified, Absolute Beginner's Word 2003 and Creating Spreadsheets and Charts in Excel that I picked up from the library. I have also been trying out the tutorials for Excel.

[puffle]

Interviewed yesterday and was offered the job today. Thanks for all the input everyone...for now I'm good.

[PG77]

Originally Posted by puffle

Interviewed yesterday and was offered the job today. Thanks for all the input everyone...for now I'm good.

Congratulations!

[pushkinswife]

Originally Posted by puffle

Interviewed yesterday and was offered the job today. Thanks for all the input everyone...for now I'm good.

Absolutely wonderful puffle. Congrats!!! I hope this job is a keeper
Push

[puffle]

Thanks Push...I need to be the keeper. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

[crazyworld]

Good for you.....I knew you could do it.

[pushkinswife]

Originally Posted by puffle

Thanks Push...I need to be the keeper. Keep your fingers crossed for me.

*fingers crossed*

you can do it!!!!!

[mkfarnam]

We knew you could do it Puffle!

Just keep your head up and your skirt down