how to get a paying job while still serving as an unpaid, live-in caretaker for a family member?

March 4, 2008 5:04 PM

What can I do to find a job when I've been out of the traditional workforce for several years? Of course, there's more to it than that.

The situation: I am currently my grandmother's live-in caretaker--I went straight from grad school to this. She needs someone to be with her almost all the time. She's reasonably healthy physically (for 86), so she doesn't need much help with things like bathing or eating, but she does need a lot of company and help remembering things, especially in the evenings. Moving out is not an option--I want her to be able to live in her house for as long as possible, and there are some other family members who do not feel the same way. (That could be a whole other question someday.)

When I first moved in, I had some money I'd inherited from my great-grandmother (other side of the family). But now that's all gone, and I need to find work. Problem is, I've been out of the workforce for five years and haven't got any current references that aren't relatives. I've completely lost touch with all of my friends and former co-workers.

I've recently started volunteering at a few places that are related to my graduate degree (MLIS), which will hopefully be useful later on. But right now, I am having a very hard time finding even a temporary or part-time thing. I'd just like to be able to contribute to the household funds and still be able to be with my grandmother in the evenings, at least.

I'm finding this job hunt to be very disheartening, especially since I never had much trouble finding jobs before. Coupled with the stress of caregiving, I'm really starting to feel depressed. I need some good, solid advice on what I can do to improve my chances for getting a (daytime, part-time to maybe full-time) job.

So, any advice from people who have re-entered the job force after a few years 'off' would be great. Also, any ideas on how to explain the work 'gap' on my resume would be good.

posted by lovecrafty to work & money (8 comments total)

As to the gap: the truth. Caretaking is work

From my own experience, temp places work best when called every two days. If the pay isn't great, it's still a good "in" with the temporary agency. You can also get good at the tests the temp places use, which for me have been near-identical.
posted by waraw at 5:17 PM on March 4

Seconding temping. If you are reliable, friendly and of average intelligence it can be pretty constant work, with the awesome perk of being able to say, "sorry, but I won't be available next week." The pay is not usually awesome though, and no benefits.

and, yes, caretaking is certainly work.
posted by mkim at 5:43 PM on March 4

Could you call home health or home care agencies? If you got hired by a home care agency you could get paid for taking care of your grandmother, just as if they were paying a stranger to be her caretaker. Your grandma's Medicaid/Medicare might cover it (I can never remember which covers it) so it wouldn't be any cost to her either. It wouldn't use your MLIS, but it would fill in a gap in your employment history and maybe result in a reference for future use.

I worked for a home care agency during college and again this summer when I was off of work (I work for a school). Feel free to send me a message if you have any questions.
posted by christinetheslp at 6:08 PM on March 4

Do you live anywhere near your alma mater? If so, go to their career center and get their help. They can provide you with job leads, retool your resume, and provide coaching.

Nthing temp work. Sometimes what you have to do (especially in a down economy) is to sign up with several agencies at once and call them a few times a week. Finding temp work isn't the easy-peasy thing it once was but it's still a viable option.

Finally, look on Craigslist for postings - sometimes a company will advertise a temp or part-time job through Craigslist rather than go through an agency. You might be able to find a job using your MLIS on Craigslist, as well.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 6:16 PM on March 4

I was in almost this exact situation--living with and helping to care for my grandmother and looking for some kind of work--a few years ago, and so while I'm not sure I can answer your question, I can certainly offer my sympathy and support (not as useful as cash, I know!).

I applied for pretty much every job I could find, and, as I was a person with a lot of education and not much work experience, not many people wanted to hire me. I eventually got what was actually a great job walking dogs and a part-time library job (although I only got that after I started work on my MLIS). I also had one tutoring gig that paid quite well and was told I could have gotten a lot more by talking to the local high schools.

Volunteering will I'm sure be useful. Otherwise, hang in there--and good for you for being such a great granddaugther. It stinks that the world doesn't always see caretaking as an important job. Best wishes--and feel free to drop me a line if you want some moral support.
posted by newrambler at 6:22 PM on March 4

Hey lovecrafty, have you checked out the ALA's guide to employment in the LIS field?

There's a whole section on temp and part time jobs. I know that there are various temp agencies set up for those with MLIS degrees (and from your profile, you're in a major metropolitan area, so you'd think there'd be some sort of connection there).

And, of course, make sure you join your grad school's alumni network (I know ours has a wonderful listserv which details jobs all around the country).

I nth the advice about just saying the truth ("I was caregiving for my grandmother") about the gap in your resume. Heck, put it *in* your resume, since it was (is) a full-time job!

Good luck with the search (and remember, as I was just reminded when I went to a recent panel about first-jobs and new MLIS employees, that it can take a while to *get* that first job in the field: some people were talking about four and six months and how they started panicking. So don't get discouraged too much!)
posted by librarylis at 6:32 PM on March 4

Be sure to put "caretaker" on your resume, even if you dread ever doing that job again. I honor your commitment, but it's work nonetheless that you should come up with an annual compensation amount. What is your time worth, hypothetically, for what you worked? I would guess that full-time care is probably worth, at the very least, around $18 an hour, though your time is probably worth more.

If you've gone to graduate school and have research and analytical experience, that combined with your work as a caretaker puts you in a good position to find a job in advocacy or non-profit work. These jobs are out there. You're in Seattle, so:

Emergency Housing Program Specialist

Katherine’s House Case Manager

YWCA Family Advocate

Part-time:

Western WA Youth Coordinator

Good luck!
posted by parmanparman at 7:18 PM on March 4

You might want to be able to address any concerns an employer might have that, since you're still doing the full-time caretaking job that's been your employment, you might not have much time or energy for "job" working... they may wonder and just not ask, because it could sound insensitive.
posted by amtho at 7:40 PM on March 4