If you're a non-working trailing spouse...

[origami]

Are you doing anything while you're abroad that you think will help your career if/when you move later? Are you concerned about not working where you are?

I worked for about 10 years before we had kids and I quit to SAH. My plan was to quit work until they went to school, but we moved the year they started school. I don't have a work visa and I'm unlikely to get one. So I'm concerned I'm going to have to start over on a career when we move back, after being out of the full-time workforce for 6-8 years. Bc of that fear I'm volunteer-working for my local international women's group. It's a lot of work - practically a FT (unpaid) job, some weeks. I can't decide if it's crazy to "work" this much, esp if the jobs are not directly related to my previous career, or if it's a good idea because it's something I can put on my resume and I didn't really want to go back to my old career anyway. Do you think volunteer-jobs are useful or have any other thoughts on the "jobless expat who wants a future career" issue?

ETA: I'm lucky in that my local women's group offers volunteer jobs that are exactly in my old career field. But I'm being asked to do different roles that are more responsibility/leadership so in some ways better for me, but also not because it has nothing to do with my work record. I can't decide what to do, hence my post. Maybe some of you have thought this through more than I have.

[origami]

Mar 4, 2015 14:25:32 GMT -5 neeps said:

Mar 4, 2015 9:21:53 GMT -5 origami said:

Do you think volunteer-jobs are useful or have any other thoughts on the "jobless expat who wants a future career" issue?

I would not do anything solely for this reason. If you enjoy it then keep doing it, otherwise ditch it.

If you don't really enjoy it, could you use all that time to do online classes, get certified in whatever field you eventually want to be in?

there is no certification for my field. I'd get an MBA but I'm hoping to get a decent job without all that expense.

[potatopie]

I just turned in my resignation since we're relocating come June. I don't plan on looking for work, since it's a temporary move and childcare logistics wouldn't be worth it. I anticipate this will be the start of SAH until kid(s) are school-age and we're a bit more settled.

That being said, I've been considering some WFH careers. But one possibility would require some training on my part. I could do an online course slowly, but I haven't decided if it's a good idea to invest time and money in something I don't know if I can commit to at this point.

I am going to also try and keep my certification up-to-date if I can, but you say there's nothing like that in your field. Any chance of some online courses that don't cost too much? Perhaps attending workshops or seminars that are open to the public (not sure if that exists)?

Personally, I wouldn't commit so much of my time to a volunteer organization. But I'm very protective of my time and I would feel like I could still put it on my resume without committing everything.