How can I prepare to go back to work after 5 years of not working?

Our stories are very similar. I was on SSDI for about 8 or 9 years. I went back to work last year. I also am in recovery from bipolar disorder.

Your desire to return to work is an excellent indicator that you have come a long way. Congratulations! You have healed a great deal. Celebrate that!

Since you have an associates degree in office technology, you might want to approach some temp services in your area. Most temp agencies can be found in the phone book under employment agencies or temp agencies. The idea of doing temporary office work is also good for starting out part-time with lower stress. As you’re aware, stress can lead to episodes of relapse in the illness.

If you decide to give this a try, you have the choice of how much of your story you want to reveal. I’m in a unique situation. I work in the mental health recovery field, so I can be extremely forthcoming about my illness. It’s not as easy for others. Stigma is very real. Mental illness is greatly misunderstood even here on enlightened Fluther. The temp agencies are going to want to know what you’ve been doing for 5 years. If you think you can be open, tell them the truth in simple terms: “I was disabled with a mental illness, and I am now recovered and returning to work.” If you think you need to be more circumspect, try: “I was disabled for 5 years, and I am now recovered and returning to work.” In the second case, do not answer if they ask the nature of the disability. They cannot ask you that by law.

Again, congratulations!

Send me a PM, if you want more private dialogue, or just carry on here in this thread.

I wouldn’t get into the mental illness. I would be vague – “I was being a stay at home mom. Now my kids are a little older and I’m ready to return to work.”

@dubsrayboo Since you haven’t been a stay-at-home mom, I caution strongly against saying this. Lies always come back to bite the liar.

You can be vague and truthful. You could say, “I was sick for a long time, but I’ve recovered, and I’m returning to work.”

Whether you reveal your mental illness or not really depends on you and the people you work with. You have to judge the situation.

I’m sorry if I was mistaken about you being a stay at home mom, @dubsrayboo. I read that you wrote “support my family financially” so I took that to mean stay at home mom. Maybe you were a stay at home mom. Maybe not. If not, then don’t tell them you were. I didn’t mean you should lie.

You might try volunteering some community service, just to get your feet wet and get into a semi-routine.
Low stress and raise your self esteem by helping others less fortunate.

@ibstubro‘s suggestion is a really good one. Volunteering won’t only give you a chance to put your toe back in the water, it will connect you with people who might give you a paying job. If the organisations you volunteer for don’t have any paid jobs, they may know people who do. It will also provide you with referees who can talk about your work ethic and how reliable you are.

Yes, I volunteered at the literacy center in my library and got some excellent professional references.

I would not take on a service who’s business it is to constantly send you into new situations.
At least not yet. You volunteered and did swimmingly. Good for you!
Perhaps your part time idea to begin is a wise choice. Choose something you would like to try out. Degree or not, whatever grabs your attention.
If you don’t care for it, move on. The realms of part time work is fluid. It’s not 40 hours. Employers don’t expect as much as full time positions might require. That’s why it is fun to sample.
In teaching this job search and skills area, here is what I researched about disclosure of information. It is no one’s business. Example: if someone has, say, a heart condition (random pick) and they were to disclose this information initially in the interview, the person hiring doesn’t hear what you are saying. Even if the doctor cleared this individual for any kind of work, the thing that the manager hears is- How does this effect MY business? Then thoughts of heart-related problems, that in the manager’s mind means illness, tardiness, and a possible claim that the job caused the problem! No manager wants to open up a Workman’s Comp. case against them. End of interview.
Your achievements in your life belong to you. You do not have to disclose any medical information, unless it directly influences assigned job duties. ( i.e.- occasional driving for materials, someone with an illness that is contingent upon a doctor’s ok to be driving, that directly effects a given job task. They can ask questions in such situations.)
For a position that you wish to interview for, there would have to be a hellava lot for them to legally asking you about it. Also, the hiring person may, out of ignorance of your life experiences, equate that with negative job performance concerns.
When hiring for part time positions, it would stun you with some who apply and what they expect of the employment on their own terms.
When you are hired, your past is just that. The past. Have a thought about telling coworkers about your experiences and wins. Gossip is Everywhere , and he who knows the most…gossips. Then, any which way you fullfill your tasks, they will always blame anything they perceive as a sign or disposition of your achievements becomes blamed upon that , instead of being new and learning, or your car battery died, you will be in a little late.
There are so many other things to talk about in life, on breaks, in an interview.
You ‘took some time off for yourself’. Stop. Don’t feel the need to fill dead air pauses. It is a smart tactic in interviewing. Nerves or oversharing people feel the need to fill those points of time.
Just stop.
End of answer and inquiry. It is something that is highlighted for those looking for any job, for any position.
Play up your initiative in volunteering, tasks and skills, working with people, planning and carrying out – implimenting decisions and work situations. You Enjoyed the Challenges- And the Successful Outcomes With your students/ clients.
Please do not ever say that you are a ‘people-person’. Take that sentence Out of your language skills. It is a strike, not a boon to your interview.
How wonderful and exciting for you! Congratulations- you’ve earned it, plus. What a strong person you are. Many are not. I feel excited at all the different opportunities ahead for you. Part Time work doesn’t have to be a drudge. Aside from your degree, what else would be interesting? If it strikes you while out someplace, ask if they are hiring, or might you fill out an application for ‘when they might be doing so’ (give it to manager only, ask when you might come back and when might they be there? If no management is available.)
Tricks towards finding what you want to do.
Questions on this aspect of the search, just contact, PM if you wish.
Congrats on the achievements, good luck on the next phase, and a big hug for luck. ;)