by Fran Canard
Imagine yourself with three pre-teen kids, no high school diploma, a homemaker who chose to share one paycheck so you could stay home with the kids. Now after 12 years as a homemaker, you suddenly have no means of support.
Maybe you were never very good in school and the thought of returning terrifies you, but who will hire you without at least a high school diploma or GED?
Or maybe you are the woman who suddenly finds herself with six children and a disabled husband. The Social Security application process takes a while, and even then, it won’t support the family.
Then again, perhaps you are more like that devoted wife and mother whose children are finally out of the home and you want to return to work….a paycheck might be a nice change. But, it has been 26 years since you were part of that professional world, and all those years ago, you were young and working to help get your husband through college. Sure, you’ve been working hard every day, but you are not quite sure how to include changing diapers, chauffeuring kids and all those volunteer activities for the PTA in an effective resume. Heck, you know you have skills, but it is so dang hard to figure out how to put them down on paper! Besides, you ask yourself, just what is it I would enjoy doing as much as I’ve enjoyed raising a family?
While each of these women has different reasons and motivations for returning to the workforce, many of their fears and challenges are the same.
The answer, many have found, is despite what may seem to be insurmountable odds, you can do it! Seek information and support. The Department of Workforce Services (DWS) is a good place to start. You may qualify for assistance through the Utah Displaced Homemaker program. Just go to our web site (jobs. utah.gov) and click on “Find an Employment Center” to find an office.
Our web site has links to numerous job/career web sites—click on “Find a Job.” Our site also has an abundance of career planning information. In addition, the web site utahcares.utah.gov can direct you to community services in your area.
Identify a goal that will match with timeframes, personality and needed income. Is the time involved in obtaining a four-year degree unmanageable? Use the career information on the DWS web site to find careers with shorter training time, but good wages.
On the careers.utah.gov web site, you can find out how to achieve your goal—the education you’ll need, how to pay for it, and where it is offered.
Shadow or at least talk to people in various occupations to find out what they like and don’t like—compare to what you know about yourself.
Use self-assessment tools (careers.utah.gov, click on “ Investigate Careers”) to learn more about what occupations might suit you.
Prepare for your work search. Finding a job is hard work and may be discouraging. Many women say finding a job after an extended absence from the workforce was worse than their divorce. However, you can achieve your goals, if you are properly prepared.
Prepare for the applications. Make sure you have all the information you need to fill out a standard job application—i ncluding references. Make use of all those skills developed as a homemaker. The book, If You’ve Raised Kids, You Can Manage Anything by Ann Crittendon, can help you clarify your skills.
Find out how to dress, what to say, how to interview. Figure out how to answer those tough questions. The library has a wide assortment of books to help advise you.
Go through interviews to practice. Interview on jobs you may not want, or may feel underqualified for to prepare for the ones you really do want. You’ll get better at the interview process and may get offered a job anyway!
Depending on your situation, don’t be afraid to turn down a job you really don’t want. You’ll be spending a lot of time at work. It should be an enjoyable experience.
Finally, take a proactive approach. After all, you’ve already had at least one or two successful careers, including homemaker. That may mean you have fewer than the predicted six-to-eight lifetime careers ahead of you, so you want to increase the likelihood of finding something you truly enjoy…and a knowledgeable approach is the best way to accomplish that goal. Otherwise you may find yourself, like many, ten years later in a job that picked you, instead of one you chose. And while that is not always a bad thing, if you are going to spend six to eight hours or more a day working for someone else, wouldn’t you rather be doing something you find enjoyable, meaningful and fulfilling?
You’ve been given a chance to re-invent yourself. Take advantage
of this forced opportunity to make a great career choice and find
additional fulfillment in life!
