How To Get Back Into The Workforce After A Divorce in MD
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Life after Divorce: Getting Back into the Work Force

May 3, 2017 | Divorce Law

By: Amanda Vann, Esq.
301-563-6685
avann@a-f.net

Attorney-Amanda-Vann-ProfileMost families these days are two-income households, meaning both parents are working. However, there are instances when a married couple has made the decision that one parent will cease working and stay at home raising their children. Once this decision has been made, new roles have been formed with one parent working to raise the children and the other working to pay the bills. When divorcing, both parties will go through a transitional period. The stay-at-home spouse may once again have to become a member of the work force, but it can be a challenge to get back out there after years of staying at home. Below are some simple tips for getting back to work after a divorce.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Recreating your resume, learning new technologies, and spreading the word that you’re looking for a job can be hard, but don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are job coaches who can help build your resume and teach you how to network and search for jobs, and you can learn new skills by watching tutorials and training videos or taking a course at your local community college. Remember that the people you already know can be your best resources for helpful information regarding jobs that you can apply to and how to successfully market yourself based on current needs and trends. Don’t be afraid to ask a friend or family to take a look over your resume, run practice interview questions with you, or spread the word at their own offices that you’re looking for employment. I often recommend that clients apply for jobs even though they feel very under qualified and take every job interview they can get. Even if it is not a job that they will ultimately get an offer for, getting back into the interviewee seat and having practice and/or mock interviews will help you land the position you really want.

Spend the Time to Find a Job

Searching for a job is a job in and of itself. Sending out resumes and following up on the applications you have submitted takes a considerable amount of time, but you have to stay dedicated to it even when it seems that you may never get a call back. Set a personal goal to spend a specific amount of time every day looking for a job and stay the course. This routine will keep you on the ball, so that when new job listings go up you are there to see them and apply for them first. This practice of “being at work” all day and following a routine will also help you once you land a job, because the first few months back to work can often be mentally exhausting.  Make sure you keep track of the jobs you apply for (create an Excel spreadsheet) so you know when people get back to you and who you might want to follow up with. Also, if you’re really interested in a job, make sure you follow through after you apply. I always recommend going the traditional route and sending an actual handwritten thank you note to the interviewer thanking them for their time. It’s a small detail that can make a lasting impression.

Try New Things

Don’t be afraid to spend some time reconsidering what you want to do.  Your responsibility of driving the kids to all of their extracurricular activities and making sure they have breakfast, lunch, and dinner are going to change when you go back to work. There is nothing written anywhere that says the job field you worked in before is the job field you have to go back to.  Being a stay-at-home parent can teach you a lot about yourself and what you are capable of handling. It could also teach you what you will and won’t be interested in doing. If there’s something you are interested in, widen your search fields to see if there are job opportunities that include your areas of interest. Then, research what level of education or training you may need so that you can become a qualified candidate for that position.

Although re-entering the work force may not have been in your plans, change doesn’t always have to be scary and upsetting. Change can be good and as you start the next chapters of your life after divorce, finding a great job that helps you become more financially independent and secure should be a welcomed opportunity to set you in the right direction.

Contact the Divorce Lawyers at Andalman & Flynn in Maryland

We know that going through a divorce can be overwhelming, but every ending is a new beginning. If you need help with an aspect of the separation or divorce process, the divorce and family law attorneys at Andalman & Flynn are here to help. If you need assistance resolving your divorce in court or through alternative means of resolution, you can contact attorney Amanda Vann at 301-563-6685 or avann@a-f.net.

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