Going through a divorce means making life-altering changes beyond that go beyond the end of your marriage. Let’s face it: divorce is tough. But the end of your marriage shouldn’t mean the end of your career.
Reentering the workforce and restarting your career can be tricky if you’ve been out of the job market for a while. With you having to deal with the upheaval that comes with divorce, it’s natural to feel a bit overwhelmed.
But here’s the thing – you can’t let your divorce define the rest of your life. We at Purposeful Wealth Advisors are firm believers in rebuilding your career post-divorce.
Here are the essential tips and guidelines to help you reenter the workforce with confidence.
- Reflect on Your Goals
Divorce allows you to wipe the slate clean and make a fresh start professionally. You could of course return to your pre-divorce career. But if that’s not an option, it’s time to broaden your horizons.
Take some time to reflect on your career goals and think of opportunities that better align with your interests, values, and lifestyle requirements. Don’t let your past jobs limit your thinking.
- Get Job Search Ready
Once you have an idea of what you want to do, it’s time to rebuild your resume. That means including and highlighting any relevant skills or experience you have, including your past volunteer activities. Also, make sure you create a compelling cover letter.
If it’s been a while since you’ve done this, taking a course that teaches you the best resume-building practices can prove useful. In addition, job sites such as LinkedIn or Indeed can be used to hunt for opportunities.
- Build Your Skill Set
Building your skill set is a good idea if you plan on pursuing a new career path post-divorce. There are thousands of online courses available these days that help you develop any skills you want. They also offer certification upon course completion, giving credibility to your skills and training.
Signing up for some of the courses that match your career requirements will be worthwhile when you’re trying to secure a new job after divorce.
- Make a Networking Plan
If you’ve been out of the workforce for a while, your professional network will likely go cold at this point. That means you need to put in the time and effort to rebuild it from scratch.
Make connections through job sites and start reaching out to your friends, family, and community groups. Never underestimate the power of personal connections for advice and leads on new jobs.
- Line Up Child Care
Without having had to juggle work and parenting demands for a while, make sure you’ve got a reliable childcare situation lined up before starting a new job, including backup plans. Having this solidly in place will allow you to be fully present and focused when you do land that great new job.
- Be Patient and Persistent
It may take some time to move on from divorce and get that first job but don’t get derailed. Update your resume, attend job fairs, and keep putting yourself out there persistently. Each step will return you to the professional world and set you up for long-term career growth.
Work with Us
Making the switch from being out of the workforce back to full-time employment is challenging. But with the right guidance from experts at Purposeful Wealth Advisors, you’ll overcome it without too much trouble.
Book a call with us and let’s get your life back on track!
Opinions expressed are those of the author and are not necessarily those of Raymond James. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.
