AA grounded Flight Attendant needs advice

[grounded]

I'm brand new to this site. I'm hoping for some brainstorming. I was a flight attendant with American Airlines. Like many others, I was laid off after 9/11. My husband and I used the layoff to start our family. We now have an 8-week old son named Jack and are struggling from paycheck to paycheck. I would like to help my husband and I'll need to find work that will pay more than daycare costs. I have extensive customer service experience as well as office administration and computers. I have been looking at restaurant asst. mgmt., sales at retail outlets, and office work. Though I could probably find an executive position, I would prefer something lighthearted, casual and positive over structured, rigid and impersonal. Money is important but not dominant. Enjoying going to work takes precedence, as well as flexibility. Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe I am looking in the wrong areas or missing some vital ones. I would love to stay home with my son if I could. I also would like to continue eating and have our family thrive instead of struggle. At this point, I'm very open to ideas. Anyone have some?

[TankgirlyC]

Did you know that the average 2 income family spends one ENTIRE income on day care??

You save so much more by staying home until a child is able to attend school. YOu dont need work clothes, or work lunches, and can get by on much less.....dont have transportation costs etc.

As for job hunting....if you still want to do it---call a temp agency...and a head hunting agency. These are usually free, set up all the interviews and usually land you something good.

Keep up the hard work...congrats on your child!

[pisces2473]

Just a question...not trying to criticize you or anything. Why did you choose to start your family when you were laid off and already down one income?

Tank is right--it IS cheaper for one parent to stay home (unless you can get a family member/friend to watch the baby for free). Maybe you could get a part time job and work when your husband is home? That way, you'd be making extra money and not spending anything on child care. It can be a pain to work opposite your spouse (from what I've heard) because you don't see them, but if you need the money that badly it's worth the sacrifice.

What about some kind of home sales--Longaberger baskets, Pampered Chef kitchen stuff, Princess House crystal?? Most demonstrations are done at night (great if your husband works days) and it seems flexible (time-wise). It would get you out of the house, around people, and it can be casual. I know several moms who do this kind of work so they can be with their families.

Good luck! :)

[pisces2473]

One other question...what did you do after you got laid off but before you had your son? Could you go back to doing that?

[grounded]

Jen,

Thanks for the suggestions. In response to your question: We didn't exactly "decide" to start our family then. My doctor told me my chances of having children were slim. In his previous marriage, they struggled to have children. The doctor told him that was due to him. So, we left it in God's hands, thinking it wouldn't happen. As far as timing, it surprised us, but we consider it a blessing, not an inconvenience. I just would like to be able to help my husband. I'm used to making a nice income. Right now, we're surviving on less than a thousand a month. Anyway, TMI, but I wanted to respond. You're right, the timing isn't great, but I wouldn't send Jack back. He's wonderful.

To respond to your second question: I did volunteer work, because I didn't want to leave a job if I got called back.

[pisces2473]

You're welcome! I'm so glad you were able to have your baby and I'm sorry if my first question came off as strange. His name is Jack--so cute! It's my dad's and brother's name so I have a small bias :D

I'm not a parent, so I'm not an expert at trying to balance career and child...but my aunt isn't that much older than me and she has three little ones and her and her husband work full time. I've seen what it's like--they pay an extraordinary amount of money for this woman to come in and watch the kids and that's all she does. No cleaning, no laundry, not even doing the kids' lunch dishes! And two of them are now in school all day, so she's only watching the youngest one! It's crazy...

Good luck to all three of you and welcome to QLC too! :)

[Benwa]

Congrats on getting laid off. It's a positive thing generally which forces you to change your life. Try not to get too down about it. I've been laid off a few times and look forward to the next time. Plus American Airlines looks like its circling the drain, so maybe it is for the best. Also congrats on the baby.

I see you live in St. Loius. Check out the professional sport teams. You don't have to be the peanut person. But they have alot of admin and customer service jobs. I work for a Pro team in the luxury suites and make decent money considering how much work I do. Also you have time off during away games. You may take to a job like that more than I do, if you like customer service. My main goal is to not get hassled either by customers or supervisors. So I do enough to keep people quiet. But if you like that sort of thing then its a good place for you to look. Those places take alot of admin and customer service to run. Maybe you could swing working for the Cards in one season and the Rams in the other. The Cards are building a new stadium too I think (2005 season I believe). Strike while the iron is hot sister. this is a prime time to get a job there. Customer service is the newest idea in new ballparks. Fans get their butts kissed now, not like it used to be. I would call them and keep an eye out in the paper for job fairs.

I guess thats all I have for you. Good luck to you and family.

[dakotagopher]

I have a suggestion for you that you may not have heard of or thought of, but based on personal experience i know there is a ton of opportunity in, especially for young females.

Attempt to get a job working for a retail commercial insurance agency/broker. Try to find one with fewer than 50 employees; you'll be given real responsibility faster there than with a large firm. Clearly articulate your desire to be in customer service with a focus on handling commercial clients, NOT personal clients. Takes a few years to learn the ropes but there is a tremendous upside, the pay scale is excellent (even for customer service gals), and the biggest advantage, in my opinion: YOU NEVER HAVE TO DEAL WITH STUPID OR APATHETIC PEOPLE! The customer service you'll be doing will be in relation to business owners, CFOs, VPs, etc. These are typically pretty bright people. Again, be sure you seek to enter the commercial end of the business, NOT the personal end.

Much of the talent in the industry is older (55+) and will be retiring over next decace, creating lots of opportunity for a real career with high earning potential (my assitants earn over $75k each), not just a job where you punch the clock. Just an idea in a field that young people tend to overlook or shy away from.

Do a google search for "commercial insurance broker St. Louis" and you should see a list of a couple dozen agencies/brokers that will be looking for talent even in the current economy.

[grounded]

Benwa and Dakotagopher,

Thanks for two great leads. I'll look into the sports teams. I already did a search on commercial insurance broker st. louis. Didn't have much luck yet. I will wiggle the search words a bit and see what I can find. The one company that kept coming up has an employment page but requires several years experience. Dakota, I'd be interested if you could email me and tell me more about your company and others like it. Also, is this a meet and greet type of position in the field, or an office position, or a little of both? I'm definitely interested in something that deals with intelligent people and has good earning potential. As far as my personality, I'd say I'm extremely even and calm, very persuasive. I'd compare my style to Counselor Deanna Troy of Star Trek (for lack of a better example -- off the top of my head.) Will this personality style work with this type of career, in your opinion??? Thanks in advance.

Annie