<p>It’s time for me to move on.
I did not has any working experience here in US, stay home mom for 20 years.
Now, I have to work.<br>
What I can do? What I like?
20 years I worked at a import/export company in Asia. I really enjoy it but with 20 years blank, I was so afraid to get into that field.
My friend told me to take custom broker exam and work for the government. I will study for the exam in Oct. But, before I get the job ( assume I pass the exam and luck to find a space in govern,net), I need job and a place to live.</p>
<p>I was thinking about housekeeper (live in). Is it possible? Work as a housekeeper, live with that family (I just need a room)? Where I can find this job? Where I can get some training for it?</p>
<p>OP, just to clear up a point so you don’t waste any time or money on a broker course – if you take the customs broker exam, you would then work in the private sector as a customs broker. Alternatively, if you want to work in the government for Customs, you would not take the customs brokers exam. Customs brokers don’t work for the government.</p>
<p>What are your circumstances?
Are you single? Are you a US citizen?
You mentioned that you worked 20 yrs import and 20 yrs “stay at home”, so what is your age? Knowing these things will help.</p>
<p>“I was thinking about housekeeper (live in). Is it possible? Work as a housekeeper, live with that family (I just need a room)? Where I can find this job? Where I can get some training for it?”</p>
<p>If you live near a large city, there should be ads from potential employers looking for live-in help in the classified section of the newspapers. Often they are at the very end of the employment section.</p>
<p>Look in the phone book, BigBearMom. You want to find a nanny agency, someone the parents pay to find them a qualified person. Don’t just answer ads in the paper at this stage. You want someone to stand behind you. It’s protection for both you and the parents. They will probably want you to take some kind of course – first aid, CPR, all that. The Red Cross offers those kinds of courses for free or a slight charge. </p>
<p>Excellent idea! You might have unique kitchen skills that you could use in a Chinese restaurant. Get experience on the job, and then work your way up! :)</p>
<p>I’m now 50. 10 years trading company experience in Asia and here 18 years stay-at-home mom, no working experience in US.</p>
<p>I need to have a job begin at end of August, and I need a place to live too, that’s why I’m thinking about live-in housekeeper. But I will study for custom broker and hope to get the license and find a work next year. </p>
<p>Thank you all for the helpful info. Now I knew I can take CPR, first aid lesson at Red Cross. Find an agency is a good idea, like you said, protect both. I’m not that good at cooking, even Chinese food, although my D enjoy it, but compare with my friends, I’m not that good but ok to handling everyday dinner. I guess I’m qualify for housekeeper or nannynjob, so I will focus on it.</p>
<p>As for custom broker job, that’s the job similar to what I did long time ago. But, i felt the fear inside of me, maybe I’m too old now (reading glass…), computer skill maybe out of date, not react as fast as younger people… I don,t know, but I must try.</p>
<p>Hope I can get the alimony I asked for, life will be easier for me, at least I can afford the rent. I told my D, no matter what, you need to keep a job even you have your own family. You can’t live on your husband’s salary, women must be independ, no matter financial or personality. That’s the lesson I learned. Real lesson.</p>
<p>Bigbearmom, our local community college offers returning mature individuals, and also has a women’s center, the skills to return to work. You are never too old to learn some new tricks and skills. Look into your local community college and see what they have to offer. You are teaching your daughter a valuable lesson. Best wishes.</p>
<p>As near as I can tell, you need a place to stay soon. So, you need to focus on your resume very well and add your stay at home mother experience into it. You could type out a resume here without any of your personal information on it and we could all help you. </p>
<p>For live in housekeeper work, just look at that as a temporary job, but do not tell your future boss that at all. You might need to get licensed and bonded for that and so please check up on the rules for that. There are also companies like “Merry Maids” who hire non live in housekeepers. </p>
<p>You hang in there. Keep everyone posted, I guess :)</p>
Very good lesson. I always tell my female friends and family members to always find a source of income independent of their husbands and they should always try to keep about 10% of their salary just for themselves. We hope to be with our spouses till death do us part, but it sometimes does not happen that way. It is always better to protect yourself.</p>
<p>Good luck in finding something that works for you.</p>
<p>Ssimyapram - a resume ? My dear, I never thought about that part, and this will be a difficult part for me. A resume? Thank you so much for remind me. Now, I really have to think about what to write. Seems there is a big blank in my life…</p>