If you want to return to work, the first step is of course to go to the UWV. You can ask them to guide you during your re-entry. Is society waiting for returners? What can you expect and encounter when you apply for a job? What options are there to do something other than returning to your former profession? You have taken care of the children full-time at home and then the youngest goes back to school. Sitting at home without children around you quickly becomes annoying, so you start looking around for a new challenge. You want to get back to work. What are the possibilities?
Apply
If you have stayed at home for more than three years and start applying for jobs again, you will soon discover that your diplomas and work experience are taken less seriously. Oh yes, they want to hire you, but at a lower position or for less salary. They no longer see you as a full-fledged employee, because you are not aware of the latest developments. They may also ask you to take a refresher course.
Think carefully in advance to what extent you want to go along with this. Also agree carefully on how you will arrange things. If you decide to work for a lower wage, agree on a term immediately. After nine months of work you will probably be fully trained again and you will be aware of all new developments, so your salary will also have to be adjusted to a normal level. When you go back to work, you will also be faced with all kinds of costs. Childcare, transportation to work, possibly a second car. In any case, your salary will have to cover the extra costs and preferably provide a little more. If you have to work for nothing, there is a chance that after a few months you will wonder why you are doing all this and it will become difficult to keep going.
Start for yourself
Another option is to start your own business as a self-employed person. You see self-employed people appearing in more and more professional sectors, such as in nursing and in administrative positions. It is an uncertain existence and you have to find work yourself. There are various websites on which companies can offer work to self-employed people and on which they can register. In addition to working and looking for work, you also have to keep your own financial administration. If this appeals to you , perhaps being a self-employed person is something for you.
Turn your hobby into your profession
More and more websites like to cater to people who want to earn some extra money.
- If you like to cook for large groups and would like to sell a meal every now and then, offer it on a website such as Thuisafhaal.nl.
- If you like photography, read more here: How do you start as a photographer?
- If you like to write informative stories, you can register with InfoNu.
- If you like being with people and you enjoy selling things, sign up with Tupperware, Body Look, 4Muppets, Color & Health and related companies that specialize in sales parties.
Homework
Another option is working from home. You can then work at times that suit you and you do not need childcare.
- If you want to work from home, you can, for example, do administrative work as a self-employed person.
- You can pack or sort at home, but you must have space to store everything.
- Other options are listed above, turn your hobby into your profession.
Retraining
It is of course also possible that during the time you cared for the children, you engaged in many other activities and developed yourself as a result. You then have the feeling that you have outgrown your old work area a bit. Perhaps it would be a better idea to retrain. Discuss the options for this with the UWV.