Losing your spouse is a difficult thing. Whether your spouse died after a long illness or death came unexpectedly, facing life without your companion can be a difficult adjustment. This adjustment can be even harder if you now need to start looking for a job. Whether you’ve been a stay-at-home mom for years, you’ve only been out of the workforce for a short time as you cared for your dying spouse, or you fall into another category, finding a job while dealing with the pain of losing your spouse can be challenging. There are several things, though, that you can and should do to find a job now that your spouse has passed on.
Take Some Time to Mourn
People mourn in different ways. For some people, the best way for them to face their grief is to start applying for jobs right away. For others, waiting a few weeks before applying for any jobs works best. While it is not always possible if that is the best way for you to mourn, consider waiting a week or two to adjust to some of the other changes in your life, and then start applying for jobs. At times, this might mean allowing family and friends to help you financially for a short time as you look for work.
Don’t Be Afraid to Do Part-Time Work
If you are reentering the workforce after being a stay-at-home parent or a caregiver for your spouse for years, going back to work full-time might feel overwhelming. Going back to work part-time may allow you to ease back into the routine of working outside of your home. Plus, working full-time might feel overwhelming at first after dealing with the death of your spouse.
When looking for a part-time job, you will likely want to look for a job that provides opportunities for full-time work. A job that starts out as part-time but that expands to full-time work once you have proven yourself is a great option. A job that will give you the experience to apply for a full-time job with another company is another great choice.
Revamp Your Resume
If it’s been a while since you last updated your resume, now is the time to look it over and remove any outdated or irrelevant information. It is also a good idea to have at least one friend or family member look it over and give you advice on any changes you need to make. Have a friend who has good grammar and English skills proofread it. You do not want any embarrassing misspellings or other mistakes on your resumé. If you need help creating a great resumé, we encourage you to use some of the resumé tips we have provided on our website.
Work With the Right Job Agency
Finding work on your own can be difficult if not impossible as you deal with your grief. If you’ve been out of the workforce for a significant time, you may not know what’s available or even where to look. At Bishop & Co., we are dedicated to helping you find more than just any job. We want to help you find a job that is the perfect fit for you. We do this by looking over your resumé and then sitting down with you to conduct a private one-on-one interview, where we will get to know you and to understand your unique needs and strengths.
Conclusion
Finding a job after a major life change can be a challenge. If you are interested in learning more about how we can help you find the right job, contact us. You can call or email us, or if you prefer to talk in person, come in and visit us at our downtown Honolulu location.
For more career tips, check out this page, filled with our curation of helpful resources.
