Reentering the Workforce After Your Gray Divorce

 Posted on May 10, 2023 in Divorce

Divorce can have a significant financial impact on both parties - especially if the spouses are over age 50. For some divorced individuals, spousal maintenance, Social Security retirement benefits, and retirement funds help relieve some of the financial burden created by divorce. However, retirement benefits are not available until the recipient reaches a certain age. Spousal maintenance is usually temporary and may not provide as much financial support as the individual requires.

Consequently, many older adults facing divorce decide that their best option is to find a job. For those who have been out of the workforce for years or decades, this is no simple matter.

In this blog, we discuss tips for reentering the workforce after a long absence due to spending time as a homemaker or parent.

Inventory Your Skillset

Do not make the mistake of undervaluing the skill it takes to run a household or raise children. Homemakers juggle multiple responsibilities at one time, including home maintenance and upkeep, planning and event coordination, budgeting and financial planning, childcare, and much more. Take some time to make a list of the duties you have performed during your absence from the workforce. Next, ask yourself, What am I good at? Do I thrive when caring for other people? Am I great at keeping finances organized and bills paid on time? Am I a creative “do-it-yourself” whiz?

Use Technology to Your Advantage

If you have been out of the workforce for some time, websites like LinkedIn and Indeed may be foreign to you. Now is the time to set up profiles on social networking sites and use technology to search for jobs. Many job boards have notifications that you can set up so that you will be alerted anytime a job that meets your criteria is posted. Make it a habit of checking for jobs often, responding to emails regularly, and communicating with others who may have job leads for you.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Many employers are less concerned with an individual's resume than they are with the applicant’s personality and work ethic. Take some time practicing your “elevator pitch.” This is a short introduction of yourself and an explanation of why you would make a great employee. Look up some of the most common interview questions employers ask and practice your answers with a trusted family member or friend.

Contact our DuPage County Divorce Lawyers for Legal Guidance

If you are over age 50 and facing an impending divorce, let our seasoned Wheaton divorce attorneys help you. Our skilled attorneys understand that adults over age 50 deal with a unique set of concerns during a divorce, and we are equipped to provide the personalized representation you need. Call 630-634-5050 for a free initial consultation.

Source:

https://www.cnbc.com/2022/07/10/what-older-workers-should-know-about-finding-jobs-with-top-employers.html