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Articles on Divorce: Financial

Re-Entering the Workforce
by Cathy Severson

Returning to work after an absence can be terrifying and overwhelming. Thoughts race through your mind undermining any good intentions. Do you have any marketable skills? How do you deal with the large gap on your resume? Do you have the right clothes to look professional, especially if you've put on a pound or two? Are you going to know how to talk like an intelligent human being? Are you going to be able to survive in a competitive world?

These fears are perfectly understandable. No matter how competent you felt at your last job, the world has changed and so are you. It's natural to have concerns about going back.

A key problem is knowing how to get started in the job search. Logical first steps appear to be filling out applications or creating your resume. How do you begin doing those things when they seem formidable? You don't start there. A number of things can be done before you ever think about filling out an application. Some suggestions mentioned might appear silly, but they will help you start to get into the right frame of mind and increase confidence.

Getting Started

Though a looming number of unknowns exist in your job search, a good place to start is with what you know. These questions will help you get started. Don't be concerned about what you don't know. Some of these questions are adapted from the "flower exercise" in What Color is Your Parachute, by Richard Bolles.

Geographically, where do you want to work? If you are staying local, take out a street map and draw a circle around the area you would like to work. One of the primary factors in determining your area is by defining your ideal commute. If you haven't commuted recently, you might not know how long it takes to get to work in the morning and back home in the afternoon. Experiment by traveling during rush hour.

What kind of working conditions would you like? Think about the environment you would like to work in and describe these physical characteristics. Do you want to work outdoors, indoors or both? What size of organization do you want to work in? What sort of supervision, dress code, atmosphere would you like to work? What distasteful working conditions do you want to avoid?

With what kinds of people do you want to work with and be surrounded by? Describe them in terms of skills they will be using, personality types or characteristics.

What purpose would you like the organization to have? Do you want it to help people, make a product, offer a service? Do you like a particular industry? What interests you? Make a list of all the subjects that interest you. Think about the different ways people can make a living in your area and then generate a list of 10 to 15 occupations you want explore.

What skills would you like to use? Think about your personality characteristics. What nice things do people say about you? What home activities have you excelled at, such as managing the family finances, decorating, organizing and planning activities, cooking, working at school, church or volunteering?

What special knowledge do you have? Consider things you're interested in and have learned about; hobbies, former jobs, at school and at home.

What are your transferable skills? Transferable skills are general skills used while working with people, things or ideas. They would include effective communication, working with numbers, helping people or being artistic. What are your special gifts and talents? It's often hard to appreciate the skills that come naturally to us. If you're stuck, ask family and friends what you do well.

What motivates you about working besides money? While we all want money, benefits, vacation and retirement, work also provides us with opportunities for relationships, creativity, and making a contribution. In order for a job to be satisfying, what does it need to provide? What do you need for a job to be exciting and something you look forward to going to everyday?

List accomplishments you've had in the past. Think about activities you were proud of, did well and enjoyed doing. Also, think about problems you've solved, or conditions you improved. There is an exhilarating feeling we have when we are totally engrossed in an activity, losing all sense of time and space. Athletes refer to this as being in a "zone". Recall when you were "in the zone" and describe what you were doing.

Hopefully you have successfully answered some of the questions above and started thinking about work in a different light. As you continue to explore yourself and your options, you will feel more confident and enthusiastic about returning to the workforce.

Moving Forward

The resources and suggestions below will help you to acquire more information about work and continue to increase your self-confidence about looking for a job. You probably won't have the time or the desire to do all of these things. Look over the list and pick one or two things that looks interesting.

Take a class to improve your skills. The days of completing your education as a young person are gone forever. Classes are available everywhere for adult learners. In addition to traditional colleges and universities, many community and private schools cater to adult learners. Some offer certificate programs and continuing education classes so you don't have to commit to a degree. Also, consider taking a class online or a tele-class. They're still new areas for education, but will become more and more popular. Classes can also improve your marketable skills. Computer classes are always plus. Additionally, think about classes in business writing, conflict resolution and assertiveness.

Many colleges have either re-entry or women's centers specifically designed for adults going back to school. They provide resources, career and financial information to help make this an easier transition.

Join a public speaking group. Most people are terrified about speaking in front of a group. Toastmaster's groups are in most communities. This might not be the first thing you would choose to do, but it will do wonders for increasing you self-confidence. Most groups are exceptionally supportive and allow you to set your own pace. Check your local newspapers for days and times of groups near you.

Volunteer at an organization that interest you. Select something that allows you to feel a sense of accomplishment and contribution. Volunteering also offers experience for your resume and will develop skills.

Get a makeover. Go to a local department store and ask for help with a professional look. During your next haircut, ask the stylist to update your look. If you can find a new look that helps you feel energized and enthusiastic, it's a small price to pay. Invest in a new professional outfit. It doesn't have to be either expensive or a suit, but it should present a professional image, enhance your figure and provide confidence.

Join a support group. Look for a transition, empowering or women's groups. It's critical for everyone, but especially women to find support when make life changes. If you can't find a support group you can join in person, more and more you can find support through the internet.

Visit you local EDD (unemployment) office. Many offices provide multiple services and offer classes, job listings, and counseling. You might find you qualify for training or other services you weren't aware of.

Books

Literally hundreds of job search books are on the market. Plan on taking an afternoon and visit you local library or bookstore and just browse through the many different books available. At least one or two titles will catch your eye. Listed below are some of the recognized leaders in the industry and a great place to start. The author's websites are also listed if known. What Color is Your Parachute?
By Richard N. Bolles.
The granddaddy of them all. Now in it's thirty-second year, it has been on the bestseller list every year of publication. Bolles offers exercises, how-to's and information on almost every topic connected to the job search. Specifically designed to help you identify transferable skills and access the hidden job market. www.jobhuntersbible.com

Wishcraft
By Barbara Sher
Barbara's written numerous books and I recommend them all! Wishcraft is a great place to start exploring interests and passions. She includes helpful activities and exercises in her books. Barbara's site offers tapes and chartrooms, which are also helpful. www.wishcraft.com

The Inventurers
By Richard Leider
Designed for anyone deciding what they truly want in life and career. Using a process called inventuring, the author will take you on an excursion into life and career renewal. Richard has additional books, primarily focused on finding your calling. www.inventuregroup.com Transitions: Making Sense of Life's Changes
By William Bridges
Meant for people going through career, divorce, relocation, retirement, bereavement, or any monumental personal change. www.wmbridges.com

Pathways to Career Success for Women
This resource details hundreds of organizations, colleges, foundations, and publications devoted to the advancement of women.

Resumes for Re-entry
By Edward Good
Helps re-entry women write outstanding resumes as well as conduct an effective job search.

Internet

Tens of thousands of internet sites are devoted to career and job search. While these sites can be great resources for finding information, they can also be a tremendous black hole of time and energy. Stay away from using the internet as a place to find job openings and place resumes. The best research indicates only about four percent of jobs are actually found by way of the internet. In addition to the sites mentioned above, I've included the sites I think are most helpful for conducting a job search and finding support for re-entering the workforce.

www.quintcareers.com
As a career professional, this is the best career/job search site I've seen. I recommend the career articles and career tutorials as a good place to start.

www.rileyguide.com
A directory of how to use the internet in a job search. This site, quintcareers.com and jobhuntersbible.com are the best starting places for using the internet as a resource in your career and job search.

www.teleclass.com
With a regular phone, you can dial up hundreds of classes, which are free or low cost. Usually lasting an hour, you join others on a conference call to discuss and learn about various subjects.

The following internet sites are designed specifically for women and all have information about careers and job search that may be helpful:

Returning to work after an absence of six months or sixteen years can feel daunting. It's not important which step you take, but that you start taking any step forward. Not knowing where or how to start can be paralyzing. Fear can take on a life of it's own. By starting with the activities mentioned here, you will slowly start feeling a sense of movement and motion that will gain momentum, as you grow more knowledgeable and confident.

Cathy Severson has a master's in career counseling and over fifteen years experience assisting adults determine and reach their career goals. She has counseled re-entry adults at Pierce College, facilitated a life skills workshop for the unemployed at Torrance One Stop, instructed job search techniques at Conejo Valley Adult Education and established a full service career center in Encino. She also has extensive experience working in the corporate world.

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