Re-establishing Yourself After a Divorce: Getting a Job
So you’ve just been handed your divorce decree, and you’re once again on your own. Your spouse has been the breadwinner for the past several years, and your work experience pre-marriage was decent, but no longer immediately relevant. How do you get a job when your experience is too old to count?
This is the dilemma that faces thousands of Americans every week as they realize their spousal support will only last for so long. It puts an absolute timer on their job search, and it makes every passing day important. So don’t waste them!
Start By Freelancing
Freelancing isn’t a great long-term job option, but it can be an excellent platform for proving that you still have value to the current market. As a bonus, you’ll make some money and get used to the work-life balance cycle again as you build your skills. Almost any skill you can execute consistently can be done freelance, from writing to voice acting to moderating an online forum to cat catching to waiting in line.
As you do your freelance work, keep a careful journal of the jobs you do, when, how much you make, and (here’s the important part): get a written review from every client. When you revamp your resume (which you should do every other week or so), include your most recent experience, along with some of the most glowing quotes from your reviews.
Target a Job
After you get a grip on your freelancing routine, start searching for jobs in the same field. Shoot out a resume and a CV to a few dozen jobs, not expecting a reply (but if you get one, take it seriously!) When you find a job that seems truly ideal — it’s in the right place, pays the right amount, etc. — it’s time to get to work.
Start by looking up the company, and searching for any potential connection you have with someone at the company. (Depending on your vocation, LinkedIn can be huge or completely useless here.) If you can’t find one to turn into an introduction, fall back on the standby: pore over the job opening’s text, and rewrite your CV and resume so that it word for word fits the job description (as far as the truth will allow, naturally.) You’ll still probably have to do this several dozen times before you get a bite, but the freelance income and experience you’re building will make that a much easier process.
Just don’t wait until your spousal support is running low before you get started — because freelance income isn’t a dependable job, you don’t have to report to the court that you have a change in income status. Your spousal support will keep coming, your resume will keep growing, and if you consistently do solid work, even if you don’t get hired, you’ll at least be able to bump your freelance prices up a bit to buy yourself a little extra time to land the job.
Too much information?
We focus exclusively on family law matters so we are always available to answer your questions and help.
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