Realwomen.co.nz

Well ladies - my youngest child starts school at the end of the year so it is time for me to get a career up and running. I have been a stay at home mother for 9 years - so I am well overdue to get back into the workplace saddle. I have also been undertaking Extramural study through Massey Uni doing BBS papers.

My work experience/career has been in the Finance industry in the world of banking and credit control. A friend of mine recently approached me to see if I would be interested in joining the BNZ as her second in charge (she is a branch Manager). I was very keen at considering the role which she offered me. The realisation dawned on me that I would be forever juggling school holidays and after school care. As the banking industry within small rural branches is always predominantly women - the chances of me vying for prime school holidays - would be slim.

My husband's associate approached him to see if I would consider joining the Real Estate industry to train as a Salesperson and to take over from her when she leaves in about 6 months time. The beauty of this job would be that the hours I could work would be extremely flexible and I would be guaranteed school holidays and after school hours to look after my children. The position would be commission based and my salary would be dictated by how hard I worked. There are 3 Salespeople in this office - 2 Rural and one Urban. The job that I have been offered is for the Urban.

I am in two minds about this opportunity. It would be an extremely ideal job for me and the children in the sense that the holidays would be mine and I could also work in with my husband. The down side is that I have never had much experience in the sales industry. My biggest worry is how the Real Estate industry is perceived, plus, agents are crawling all over each other in order to get the listings. I live in a town of about 5,000 people and there are about 6 real estate companies in our town with around 5 - 6 consultants each!

I am an achiever and have reached great heights in my past career. I am also a hard worker and I can see that the commission which I have the potential to make will be a direct reflection of my integrity, honesty and dedication to the job. Also, I am born and bred in this town so there is not many people that I dont know. It also helps that hubby and I are very social creatures!

Some advice would be greatly appreciated!

Hi PP it is quite a tough call to advise someone whom I have not met, but this is the way I am seeing it from where I sit.
You have two options. One inside the square and the other outside of it.
One raises problems re childminding, but it is the one which will give you a set and regular income, so you will perhaps be able to budget for some paid child care service, at those times when you will need them if there are no other family members to help. Even if there is, it is nice to be able to offer them something and knowing that you will be paid each week in this particular job, will make that possible. Obviously your boss who has offered you the job of second in charge, placed enough value on your services that you may even be able to bagain a wee bit re the hours you do work ?? Finishing at 3 pm perhaps?
The Real Estate one is attractive because of the flexibility of the hours. It is hard work and not everyone is suited to it. I know a young woman who gave up a great well paid job, because of the flexibility and her children. She was keen as mustard, and motivated and enthusiastic, and I thought she would really do well. She says herself that she thought she was going to make a fortune, the market seemed to be booming, but she has found that it is really , really hard to get started. It took 3 months before she made her first sale, and she had to share the commission with another person, who had done the actual listing. People tend to list with those whose faces they have seen in the adverts for a long time... the known ones, whom they think have the experience to clinch a quick sale for them. I think it depends on how important it is for you to have the regular income or will you be able to ride out the lean weeks when they may be none? It is a hard one this... only you can possibly know the answer. Deep down though, you must have a feeling of what your really want to to do. Following your own heart of hearts is always a good place to start I always reckon. I'd head up a sheet of paper and list all the pro's and cons of each situation. Sometimes writing it all down helps to see things clearer in your mind.
Oooh .. It is exciting though isn't it.. the prospect of getting back into the work force again. I remember well the day my youngest started school, and I had been lucky enough to have been offered a job by someone I had previously worked for, and the hours were to suit the school hours. I couldn't get there u quick enough, and it was nothing to do with the money either... just out with adult company, self esteem, all of that. Good luck!

Katy has summarised this so well for you PP. Follow your heart to some extent. There are definitely pros and cons for both jobs.

If you like the idea of selling then you may be very successful at real estate. But the industry does seem to have a very high turnover of staff. My sister is very friendly and awfully hardworking and determined. But she gave up after ten months of real estate. She found it meant long hours on the phone at night and feeling concerned about whether people could afford certain houses and so on. The bank job may be more flexible than you think but it may also require some selling. A lot of bank jobs do.

Perhaps investigate each job more - even to the point of "interviewing" the people who want to hire you? Then see how you feel.

By the way, what were you planning on doing? You have been studying so you may have had a plan in mind. Are you putting your longterm goal aside now? I am just wondering if either of these two jobs are really want you want or will be happy in. Or are you thinking about them just because you have been offered them? Maybe there is a third job out there that you might prefer even more?

Hi PP, both Katy and Lee Donna has summed up well, however, for what it's worth I think Lee Donna has a good point and that is to investigate other options. See what else is out there, and also if there is a possibility you might be able to work from home. Ask yourself what is it you really would like to do? What really drives you? Is there something you have a passion for and can that be turned into your own business. Getting back into the workforce after time out is always a bit daunting, that said however, you seem as if you're on top of that and with your study for BBS, this can open a whole world of possibilities. Go with your heart and instinct and if it feels right then it usually is. Do what feels right for you and let it be something you'll enjoy. Good luck

I'd be looking at other options too, Powderpuff - it doesn't seem to me that you're passionate about either of the jobs you've been offered - if there's no necessity to grab the first well-paying job that comes your way,then why not take a good look around, maybe even do some voluntary work - CAB are always on the lookout for people with sound financial skills to assist their clients' money management. If selling real estate appeals, to succeed, you'll need to be comfortable with the prospect of viewing each social gathering as a networking opportunity -thats' something I couldn't (or maybe that's wouldn't) do. Whatever job you go into, I suggest you ask your employer for a 3 months trial period, during which both parties can decide whether they're right for each other.

Powderpuff, aren't these women wonderful. Where else could you go for such sage free advice? Aren't you lucky having two options on the plate before you've even started looking for work? My advice, to add to the mix, is not to rush into anything and to not work full-time unless you need to. Children are too precious to farm out unless it is necessary and there will be loads of times in the holidays when you will want to do things with them and for them and in term time you will miss out on the school sports, the spelling competitions, the parent helping sessions and all those wonderful things us Mums who have forgone material possessions in lieu of quality time with our kids. There will be lots of times when they are sick and you need to be off for them too. My husband and I take turns at taking time off though and I have always been firm with him about contributing around the house too. I am not having a dig at anyone who works full time as it is a choice, or perhaps not always a choice, but we personally have always chosen to live a simpler lifestyle to enjoy our daughter. She won't want us forever and then I will look for full time work and be rich!

Thank you thank you thank you to all of you that have taken the time to reply to my thread.

As some of you have observed, I dont seem particularly passionate about either of these two options of employment. What dictates to me is what will be the best option for my children. As you are all well aware, we make choices which best suit our children, often at the temporary expense of our ambition. In this instance, a job which will allow me to work hours of 9am to 3pm, with school holidays off, is the best option for my family. After all, how many of us can say that every job which we have ever had completely fulfills us? Dont we work to enable and empower us financially? I guess that the reason why I am so hesitant about the Real Estate job is probably because of the way in which the industry has been portrayed over recent times and the fact that Salespeople are a dime a dozen. As hubby has pointed out - the successful ones are the stayers - the competent and professional ones who can ride out the lean times.

Anyway - I have taken the plunge and applied to complete the RE Saleperson's Course through the Open Polytech. Worse case scenario - I can help out hubby and his colleague by doing the contract and paperwork side of the business.

Thank you all so much for your input - you are the best free counsellors and career advisors a woman can have!

Hope it goes well for you, Powderpuff, and you are not stuck there if it doesn't work out. Let us know how you get on.