5 Tips For Developing Your Career While Going Through A Divorce


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When reality hits you and you realize a divorce is actually going to occur between you and your spouse, you may feel as if your whole life has fallen apart. However, even if your personal life is in disarray at the moment, this does not mean your professional life cannot reach new and exciting heights. Whether you are currently working or are preparing to reenter the workforce after staying home for years, here are five ways you can develop your career while you navigate your divorce.

Evaluate Your Current Career Status

Oftentimes, when you are going through a divorce, you may feel inclined to focus more on your career to help keep yourself busy. If you’re wondering where to start, then consider evaluating your current situation. Here are a few questions to get you started:

  • Are you currently working full-time? 
  • How long have you been in your current position? 
  • Do you feel like you are pushing yourself and your limits while at work? 
  • Do you have the capacity to learn something new?

Once you evaluate your status, then you’ll be able to evaluate whether or not you actually have the emotional and mental capacity to build out and develop your career. If you feel like you’re at your capacity right now, then it may not be an ideal time for you to push yourself any harder. If you don’t have a clear understanding of your current status, consider reaching out to a therapist or psychologist who can help you learn for yourself where you are at.

Do Not Limit Yourself

While you may have experience in one type of job, don’t be afraid to try something new, even if it means taking some classes at a nearby college. This is especially true for those that haven’t been in the workforce for many years. For example, if you have experience in the accounting field, you may feel interested in becoming a teacher or a graphic designer, but consider it out of your capability because of your current experience. 

However, there have been multiple government programs that will help you retrain and get into different fields. This is especially impactful for those in a declining industry. With financial aid often readily available, you may be able to chase that dream career you’ve always had in the back of your mind. 

Depending on your situation, your divorce may actually be the opportunity to benefit from when it comes to retraining. For example, in some situations, your divorce can include financial support for training or career placement. Consider talking to your divorce lawyer to see if getting funds for retraining and employment placement services are possible in your divorce agreement. In addition, they may be able to share what some of their other clients have opted to do when re-entering the workforce.

Join Local Organizations and Groups

Many times, people can get the best jobs by knowing someone who works at a particular company that can put in a good word for them with their boss. Therefore, make networking a top priority by joining local organizations and groups, such as the local Rotary Club or Chamber of Commerce. Even if you don’t want to join professional groups and organizations, joining divorce groups or local activity groups can be a great start to meet new people. Even if the people you are working with may not be able to connect you with a new employer, they may be able to share with you their experience and how they were able to develop professionally while going through a divorce. To find these kinds of groups, consider searching on Facebook or MeetUp as these platforms are commonplace for groups to advertise about their group and share when and where they are meeting up.

Update Your Resume

If it has been a while since you last held a job, update your resume to make sure it is current and does not contain any errors. In most cases, your resume can be updated with the language and job description that better matches your desired job position. Once you have updated your resume, consider reaching out to family members or friends to look over your resume to make sure it looks and sounds professional. Though your family members and friends are a great start, it is even more ideal to reach out to a professional resume writer. They will be up to date with the current best practices and will be able to customize your resume for the positions you plan to apply for. This is even true when applying for a position within your current company.

Use Government Services

If you are in a position of essentially having to start your life over again following your divorce, take advantage of as many government services as possible that relate to helping you find a new career. By visiting your local employment office, you can find information about colleges and job training programs, learn of any financial assistance for which you may be qualified, and even discover options available for childcare assistance while you search for a job or attend classes.

Though it may feel as if you are climbing a steep mountain and taking one step forward and two steps back at times, you can emerge from your divorce in a much better position than anticipated regarding your career. By using these tips, you’ll soon be well on your way to a successful and fulfilling career post-divorce.