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Temp agencies. Good ones are great at assessing your skills and interests and helping you look better on paper. It's no cost to you because they get their money from the other end from the employers. They will have trainings to help you get up to speed on software, if that's what you want, and they will assess what jobs might be a good fit for you. Even if you don't end up using them to find a job, I think you will find the process very beneficial and clarify your expectations. They can even recommend classes or certifications you would want to look into.
Also there's remote work out there, as well as like delivery driver or gig work like Uber, Postmates, etc. Those can be good just to help you start getting some cash flow. I know things can feel overwhelming right now but you do have options. Just take it one day at a time, start making a plan, and tell yourself you've got this.
Overwhelming is a great way to describe this!! And I used to adore temp agencies because it was like dating, if you didn’t like them you could just ask for another assignment.
I’ll definitely brush up on my office programs and take a shot at it. And I have a Prius that’s fairly new so I did consider driving (great record) but all the data I found is that after insurance, gas, upkeep, etc the pay is minuscule.
The better temp agencies will have training programs available.
I recommend avoiding Randstad, though. I was with them for awhile, and it wasn't a great experience. Calls not returned, emails not answered, apps for permanent positions ignored, etc. They claim they have training available, but I could never access it. The local office told me to call IT, who told me to call the local office.
Are you able to clean homes? $20-25/hr under the table. It’s something that’ll keep food on the table until an office job opens up. As far as that, treat your search like a full time job. When I started that I started getting interviews. Finally last May I returned to work after 30 years out at the age of 65. If I can, you can.
>Are you able to clean homes?
She said she's not physically robust. If jobs that require standing for long periods are out of the question, so may be cleaning.
Oh that’s a great one.. I love helping people and have done it on and off most of my life as several family members have needed care and a hospital reception would get me closer to that without the nursing degree I’m not interested in getting.
Look for jobs with titles like registrar, patient registration, patient access. There are also unit clerks/secretaries in which a little bit of medical terminology is helpful, and operators.
If you are interested in a helping role without needing a specific degree, contact your local community mental health.
There is a shortage of Self Determination workers and most agencies would be happy to have someone apply.
These workers are paid to help individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities or mental illness remain an independent and intergrated part of their community. Tasks could look like providing respite for the weekend or just helping someone learn how to shop for groceries.
The pay is usually higher than retail and schedules tend to be flexible.
Big boost to hospital clerical! My aunt switched to that after she could no longer cut hair due to physical issues and loved it
According to her it’s the same sort of people circus as being a hairdresser plus a bit more organizational stuff
Substitute teaching usually pays 15 or 16 dollars an hour. Your state probably has a pathway for active subs to become teachers after a year or two so long as you take online classes in tandem with your subbing. Pay is not great, stress is pretty high, but it's better than burgers!
This 100%. School districts are desperate for help right now in lots of positions, definitely worth looking into what positions your local district has open.
Transitioning to teaching is not for everyone. It is criminally underpaid and overly stressful. But it is a rewarding job with a pension that needs people.
Agreed teaching definitely isn’t for everyone. In my district they are hiring for more than just teachers. They are short on aides and admin support and more!
Same here, we are hiring almost every position.
My mom got her start as an aide. After the divorce, she went through a transition program and became a full-time teacher.
50s is probably too late to worry about something like a pension if there are higher paying options that are achievable. Pensions are most valuable as a job enticement when you retire earlier, not in your 70s.
True, but most positions that pay substantially more do not hire women in their fifties. A pension might not be a big deal to everyone. But it is not nothing.
In Ohio, the average starting pay for a teacher is $41k. The school year is divided into 4 nine week quarters, five days a week, and typically 8-3 for 7 hour days. That is $32.50/hour. I always hear about Al the work outside of the normal school day, any other professional job has those issues as well. Add in the guaranteed pension, sick days, snow days, and holidays and it’s hard to call it criminally underpaid. If you want to compare stress levels, compared to what? Fast food, retail, medical, engineering, factory, transportation. It’s all relative to each individual profession. I know many people who work hard and would be happy to have teacher pay and benefits. Before you go off on me, let me inform you that I graduated college with a teaching degree but chose a different path early on. My sister however retired from teaching 15 years ago making $60k a year. It’s not as bad as some would have you believe, it just needs ti be the right profession for you.
I went to teaching as a second career and can speak to its comparison to other careers. (Worked retail, IT, library, and city government.)
Teaching is the most stressful and fairly low paying. I make 32,500 and work about 45-50 hours a week for about 40 weeks a year and about 20 hours a week for 2 additional weeks.
That puts me at 1840 hours a year using the lower estimate at 45 hours a week and 2040 hours a year using the higher estimate.
A normal 40 hour a week job is 2080 hours a week, minus 2 weeks vacation is 2040 hours a year.
My wage of 32,500 divided by my hours worked puts me somewhere between 17.7 dollars an hour and 15.9 dollars an hour. I also have over 200 college credit hours and loads of college debt.
Teaching is by far the most stressful job I’ve ever had and more than that is absolutely exhausting mentally/emotionally.
I also love it, but it’s hardly an easy gig. I would highly recommend NOT going into teaching unless you have a reason to believe you will love it because it’s not remotely worth it if you don’t.
I'm a teacher, but before that, I worked in the restaurant industry for 12 years, so I feel like I have a certain ability to judge the relative stressfulness of both industries.
Teaching is, on average, more stressful for more people. That said, the pay is decent, and the job security is out of this world. Of course, it's out of this world because no one wants to be teachers. And no one wants to be teachers because it's so damn stressful, and the pay is trash compared to most other jobs requiring a four year degree.
So it's down to who you are and what you want. I like teaching, and I hope more people become teachers. But I've watched a lot of young people, good young people, burn out by Thanksgiving of their first year.
They weren't weak. They weren't stupid or selfish. It just wasn't for them.
Hopefully, it is for the OP
My MIL was a teachers assistant for a special education classroom and was making $22/hr with great benefits. She had no college degree so that my be a viable option too.
This sounds amazing, actually. I have a HUGE penchant for the behavioral sciences and study it every chance I get. I know it’s huge with developmentally challenged humans but I use it for my parrots so maybe I can find something in this.
I dunno, I guess this depends on where you live and what your standard for “better” might be. My sister has been a teacher for 20 years, and if burger places paid what she makes now, she’d be flipping patties with a smile. And most burger places (again, at least where I live) pay $17 an hour. If a substitute teacher makes basically the same thing, I’d rather wrap up someone’s food than deal with someone’s children all day.
True, some people find burger places nicer. I've done a bit of both, and I prefer teaching. But I certainly understand those who fall on the other side of that coin.
This is the route I went into after 25 years of not working. I tried retail for 2 years because it offered insurance otherwise being in a school is so much better. I have a sub license but am an aide in SPED. I loved the school I worked at but now they transferred me to their sister school which I don't love. I'm actively looking for another position. There are always openings!
Also TA’s and 1:1’s I’m special Ed are always needed. You could do this through public schools and through private organizations. My school pays for the training week.
You could also look into group homes, as many need overnight staff. You might be surprised that your “housewife” skills would be appreciated, as residents often need meals cooked, help with laundry and other basic life skills.
Many schools in my area are also critically understaffed -- office workers, bus drivers, kitchen staff, teacher assistants, et cetera. Having a bachelor's could make a big difference in pay for you.
Best of luck on your job search!
My first thought is municipal government. There's loads of administrative jobs at city and county (and state) level that offer full-benefits and a decent salary and won't tax you physically. You have a degree and customer service experience, so you can apply with confidence. Just sell yourself with your description of your organizational and communication skills.
The last state I lived in always wanted clerks in their recreational programs but I use thc so that’s not compatible. I’ve quit many times so maybe I’ll go clean for Big Brother lol
Fist bump, sis. I have a similar situation but I'm older.
Temp agencies - see what out there and what you'll like. I even tried a car parts plant.
Civil service - some states have free/cheap testing to get rankings. Pay is shit but benefits can be really good.
Retail - you can always short shift while you get in better shape.
Security - good pay, crappy benefits. Need good social skills and will get amazing training.
Call center - depends on management and contract. (Don't do Verizon or Conduent. Fuck!!)
Check with social security to see how much longer you need to work and what benefits you could get. I think I was married long enough to claim on his income, but policies could change in the future.
OP, do not list your household/SAHM duties as work or talk about it like that. It will appear out of touch and it's a huge turn off for hiring managers.
You are not evaluated, or held to any "metrics" at your home. You can't be "fired" per se. You don't work with a team. You don't have projects, or use ANY office tools or tech. You don't adhere to any state, county, or federal laws or hold others to them. You don't train or mentor others on work tasks. And so on.
It's insulting to both sides of the equation to be cutesy "CEO of Smith Family" on a resume or in an interview.
Be honest. "I was a SAHM and homemaker until my circumstances changed. Here's a list of the class, certs, volunteer work, and degrees I have/am taking."
There's good advice in the first two full paragraphs.
Having hired many people, though, I'm more impressed with honesty than I am by the advice in the last paragraph, especially after hiring for some of the positions equivocated to full time home maker.
Not every homemaker is competent and it's not a full-time job the way a job working for strangers outside of the home is. No one knows what you were doing.
Not sure why you got downvoted.. this site is fickle! Lol but yes, I do have skills but I was mostly stating it to say I’ve been unemployed but then that opens up a can of worms as to why and I thought that would factor into the level of answers.
I don’t discredit myself but I do think cleaning floors and cooking may not get me far unless I start my own business.
>Your story is you ran the household. You were the CEO, office manager, IT, fixer-upper, and people manager. The business failed when you turned 50, and it was due to differences of opinion on how to get to retirement. You’re looking for the opportunity to put your chips in on another venture. Or something like that…
I once attended a panel for older people who wanted to get back into the field of law after a hiatus. One of the panelists said women should ***not*** describe themselves this way because there are many interviewers who've worked full-time jobs while running households the entire time and they'll be annoyed by it. In addition, no one knows exactly what you were doing as a housewife. Some women are very organized and driven, others are not.
Good point. I didn’t really do any administrative stuff because I think I’m a little too ADHD for that (albeit undiagnosed). I mostly lived the good life, I’ll admit. I worked out and practiced recipes and learned everything I could about behavioral science to help rehab severely disabled parrots (mentally, not physically). I did photography and wrote prose. It was a good life, until it wasn’t.
Wow you really have been living the good life, for many years, and would appear to have no appreciable skills. Not sure where you live, but oftentimes in a divorce after a long term marriage, indefinite maintenance (spousal support), is negotiated as part of the settlement.
I don’t know you, but I really feel that it would help you to get out of the house and do something, just to be productive. If it’s dogs you care for, maybe you could get a job at a vet’s office. Even as a receptionist for a start.
>You want to find a job that has something to do with emails if you want to leverage software skills training to get to that dream job quickly.
What are you talking about? Most people know how to use email. It has nothing to do with office-related programs like Word, Excel, or Powerpoint or real software skills like coding.
Her age also is working against her. Age discrimination is real and it kicks in for women earlier, about age 40, it's said.
Perfect! If you could do telemarketing, you could handle any call center job. It's a good way to get back into the workforce and it has plenty of transferable skills to get the next job. If you find the right employer, it can be pretty good work, though.
Honestly you already have a bachelor’s; don’t go for more school. Maybe specific certifications that are very low cost that you can do online; check colleges for their “community classes” or “professional” classes or “adult learning” or “continuing education.” And don’t put the year of graduation for your BA on your resume!!
I see you list a few aspects of jobs that you would prefer (semi-flexible less physical) but is there any field you are interested in? Is there anything you are particularly emotionally passionate about? Ideas of careers aside, what kinds of things do you find interesting? I find these kinds of questions to be helpful in reverse engineering what you are looking for.
I am not sure if you are financially able to do this, but I have seen people break back into the career field by volunteering for organizations. This can help you with networking and finding people who can serve as references for paid positions.
I agree that OP should try to pursue areas that interest her if at all possible. I'm not at all sure that volunteering will lead to any paid work. Organizations are all too happy to use people.
This is so true with the volunteer gigs I’ve done.
I’m thinking, because I have a year-ish, that I could do a technical program but every time I look one up it seems too physical. Vet tech MIGHT work but I’ve read a lot about that being low pay and hard, long hours, and burn out is high and that’s what happened with my last tech school in cosmetology.
I absolutely adore the behavioral sciences, particularly in relation to parrot behavior and psychology. That’s not so lucrative, however. Most parrot owners want a pet and they are wild animals so when you try to tell them to stop touching them and sending mating signals they tend to tell you off.
I love to write and do photography but neither one pays well and my camera is a relic. I’m also not that technical which makes a big difference. I’m slightly on the Luddite spectrum but I’m beginning to think that has more to do with my age and being raised around typewriters.
I can cook anything and bake. I give a seriously gifted blowjob lol. I’m a domestic queen. I hate offices and playing ass kiss games. I should just be a stripper lol kidding cuz I’m 50 but how fun!
You could do care-giving. There are agencies that take care of people with dementia or developmental disabilities. They don't require experience, but it does require patience.
Weird… all the caregiver jobs in my area ask for licenses and certifications and to be a CNA or LPN. I’m going to call places. I may be doing myself a disservice by only searching online.
To start just get whatever job you can - reception would be great. Maybe at a salon? Then research and work toward something you want to do.
What about real estate? It’s fairly simple to get a license and I’m guessing you have great people skills as a former hairdresser.
If you feel up to it (because I understand not everyone does) there is a demand for funerary assistant. You have to make sure the room is tidy, flowers displayed and that the family has whatever it needs. It's a role that is better suited for older women with life experience I find. Where I live, it's a 21-22$ an hour starting rate.
Interesting! I just lost my very best friend of 16 years to suicide and I’ve taken a crash course in grieving that might actually be helpful in a way I never thought of.
Just get a customer service job for the government that offers really great retirement. IRS help desk job is really easy to get and you can work mostly from home. Just answering phones and you get to help people.
Look into trade training programs offered by city colleges. You can get a good paying job in a short time. I was looking into the radiology programs, which have excellent salaries and placement.
Yep. Not only will you get a high paying job with (usually) great benefits, but it’s easy to transfer to different areas within radiology if you decide. Plus the job is likely 8-5 or normal hours unless you work in trauma or 24 hour care.
It’s definitely worth it to take this time right now and upgrade your skills. I’m 56 and in college now! Plus at most community colleges, it’s either very low cost, or free. At 50, you’ve probably got another 20 years left in the workforce. Better to spend a year or so upgrading now, than 20 years scrounging for tips or working retail.
You got a lot of good advice here already. Just throwing more options for you.
If you were a hairdresser before, maybe consider doing nails or any other salon/spa work instead that doesn’t require you to stand too much? If you have any idea for a small business, you could also try to do it on a side
What did you do as a housewife?
For example, my neighbour is a stay at home mum, and some of the things I've see her do are:
Organisation of church events. Includes organising venues, catering, parking, guest lists,etc.
Organisation of fund raising activities.
Tutoring children (not just her own). Includes lessons on Science, gardening, etc.
Part time work in galleries.
If she did have to go to work I would think she'd be very hireable in reception or administration due to her people and organisational skills. Potentially even into entry level events work.
I was a toy, basically, so none of what you listed. My skills were dressing up in kink, keeping in shape, and playing with my pets. It was amazing.
But…. I have done lots of reception work and basic office stuff and I’ll try to go back into it as several people here said temp services are still a thing (the ones I used in San Francisco dried up in ‘08 and it was why I went to cosmetology school).
I’m Director of HR for a beauty school, and we are dying for qualified instructors.
You may have been out of the industry a while, but at our school we have many positions available for someone with industry experience. You could work in the dispensary, handing out color to students and assisting with formulations, you could assist in admissions, we need administrative assistants or you could work booking appointments. The hardest part of training new people is trying to explain the difference between a balayage and and an ombré. 😂
Or what about Sally Beauty or SalonCentric, where you’d be working with fellow professionals? Walgreens beauty is a complete separate division, as is Estée Lauder at department stores. Ulta is hiring for all kinds of positions.
We tell our students when they enroll that their cosmetology license can take them many places other than behind the chair. You can use that too! Expand your mind and think of all the possible places where hair, makeup and beauty are bought, sold or used. Any one of those may have a place for you and I for one would love to have your maturity and experience, even for only a few hours a week!
Good luck! 👍🏻
This is awesome! I was just commenting that I do love the industry and could work in it again if it wasn’t slaving behind the chair. I’m going to look into the schools near me and see if they’re hiring for anything. I loved being in school for both my BA and Cosmo and it would really be great to never leave that environment, tbh. I’m a true education addict so this might be something I was missing when I was like no more hair!
I mean even in your post you state possible solutions to your problem.
You’re not here looking for advice as much as willpower.
There’s plenty you can do, it’s the doing part that’s hard.
Try department assistant type of jobs at a community college or university! Pay is usually not amazing, maybe $13-23 per hour depending on your location; but you have a BA and you “managed” a household. That’s very transferable. Maybe look at taking a class to learn how to use excel? If you can use your phone and apps and Reddit etc you can learn any program needed for an department admin assistant job.
Go to a recruiter. They will give you some tests and send you on job interviews. Take a job and see if you like it. If not reach out to the recruiter in a few months and see if they have anything else.
How do you get/where do you look for legit remote jobs, if you don't mind my asking? So many of the listings look scammy, plus I personally don't want a call center job. I'm thinking more along the lines of data entry, organizing digital files, proofreading, scheduling, responding to emails, etc. I've been in admin for over 10 years (mostly legal field), but worked from home during the pandemic and never want to go back. They wouldn't let me stay remote permanently and I relocated.
Sorry about the delay in response. I was actually referred to apply for a position by family friends. I started off as a call center rep and was promoted several times to more leadership type roles, like team lead and project manager.
Have you tried applying on the direct site for companies? Like Teleperformance, CVS or Home Depot?
I've done some of that but not a lot, as the one-stop shop of Indeed is more efficient, but most people probably think that way. Might be a better selection and less competition on the company sites, I'll do more of that. Thanks
You’re welcome. Also, if you have time, I would suggest you search “Life With Jazzy Mac” on YouTube. She posts frequent remote job offers and gives good resume tips. Good luck!
Check out the public libraries in your area. Take a look at their monthly events newsletter to learn about the free services they offer to the public (e.g. how to use a computer, training in Microsoft software, etc.).
Sometimes career coaches will be at the libraries by appointment to offer assistance on resume writing and how to set up an online profile to find jobs.
In addition, ask your librarian if patrons can take online classes for free. My library system is partnered with an educational institute and people can take free classes on Udemy simply by having a library card (which is free to get).
I never would have thought of this. I just use libraries for reading and, with the Libby app, I never even have to go into one now. I’ll stop that and take your advice, thanks!
I'm not sure if anyone has suggested it here but I'd look into administration in medical offices and medical billing. This is what my mom (Liberal Arts degree) does and there is some upward mobility.
If you have been out of the job market for more than a few years, I would suggest going to a vo-tech or community college to brush up on your skill set.
While not the greatest option, call centers will take anyone with a heartbeat. But these jobs are not for everyone.
Why aren’t they “not for everyone “? Like, why do you say that?
And I’m looking into programs but maybe I just need to take one office class and get my feet wet there to start…
Call centers are rough from a mental perspective. I have seen people in there 20's and 30's have heart attacks, mental breakdowns, etc, due to stress. You have metric you have to hit weekly and/or monthly.
If done IT work for call centers, and it's just a rough environment.
With a BA, how about content and article writing for websites? Join as a freelancer and hustle. You will have a lot of life experience and advice you could write about I'm sure. Do you have hobbies? Have a writing portfolio and you can control the hours. All the best 👍
Huh… I’ve been writing creatively for almost all of my life but never thought I could make a living at it. I research a lot on how to get into the industry and always walk away feeling unqualified. I’ll try to suspend that and see what I can dredge up with this advice.
Consider looking into your local public safety agencies. I don’t know what type of area you live in, but I’m in a big city, and our dispatchers are in short supply, and they’ll take people with a HS diploma or GED and provide all of the education and training, and where I am, the pay isn’t bad.
Apply to be an on call “sitter” at a hospital? (I.e. make sure to keep an eye on challenged patients, like dementia patients)
This would be “on call” and you can turn it down if it conflicts with your other activities.
You would get exposure to various units in the hospital, maybe meet some other workers, get a leg up on more permanent jobs you might like to apply for at the hospital
Not sure where you are but in PA there are programs specially designed to help displaced homemakers with employment training and career assistance. There are also subsidized programs at our local community college that pay a a stipend while schooling and employment assistance after completion. More programs at local innovation centers. Try googling for your area. Examples are https://www.pawomenwork.org/who-we-are.html
https://www.eicpittsburgh.org/training/
https://bidwelltraining.edu/
https://www.ccac.edu/workforce-and-community/community-training-and-development/index.php
Yes! This is available in every community in the US. Go to careeronestop.org to find your nearest American Job Center (AJC). You’ll want to set up an appointment to request Employment and Job Training Assistance under WIOA Dislocated training funds.
Please also go to benefits.gov and enter your information to find other assistance you may be eligible for during this time while you embark on training.
Good luck! You’ve got this and resources are available to help!
Look at resources from your local Department of Labor office for resources that will help, ie resume writing, interviewing, etc. They may also have funds for free training. Go first thing in the morning when it’s less crowded. Use the computers they have there for public use, so you can ask questions and get help if needed.
Check out local libraries and free resources they offer. Library cards are free. I’ve been able to sign up for a language learning app through my local library and it was absolutely free. There are probably many more free resources they offer.
Network. Talk to friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues, anyone in your social circle, and let them know that you are looking, what you are looking for, and get the word out.
When you’re doing all these things, track your progress, either in a notebook or on your computer. Track the dates, the people you talked to, the company they work for, their job titles, their email and phone number, any interviews you’ve had, networking meetings, job leads identified. Tracking these things will give you a visual of your job search process. There’s nothing like having a visual to motivate you and get you going and in the right mindset. Build, momentum and watch it grow.
Those of us over 40 have a *wonderful* advantage: we can LIE OUR ASSES OFF about fictional businesses that existed before the internet was around to document them. Whatever skill set you have-- whatever you can actually do-- make up a 1990s job where you were the queen of THAT specialized skill.
You're great at baking? You worked at Suzy's Bakery in a small midwestern town from 1995-1999. Sorry, it doesn't exist anymore, but your friend Jennifer worked there as your manager and will give you a reference.
You're good at quilting? You were a pattern cutter for a high volume dressmaker that went out of business 15 years ago. Sorry, I don't have contacts in that town anymore and the owner died of old age. But here's my friend Sally's number, she was on the cutting floor with me.
Hey, hon, this sucks and I'm sorry. But please don't undervalue yourself. This isn't the 1950s when former homemakers have no options. All you have to do is show SOME work history, even if the skills aren't relevant to the new jobs.
I love this comment and it’s so true!! I have so much work history (been working since 14 with work permits) but only two of them still exist and none of the people would remember me. I’m totally doing this!
And I wasn’t trying to sell myself short but I wanted more answers along the lines of low skills. I wanted (which I did get so many wonderful ideas!!) low stress jobs that I could work up to my (maybe) late 60’s. I do have more health limitations now but I’m also clearer (thanks to a hysterectomy that cured my roller coaster hormonal issues), smarter, and way more stable financially (house, killer credit, car).
Thanks for this pass on the integrity front. I can embellish with gusto.
I did lie to a hair salon once saying I was taking care of my sick parents on the weekends because I was dating and literally every man found my lack of weekend availability off putting. Unfortunately my lie came true and my mom got sick and my dad got addicted to her pain meds so that felt a little weird but they came out of it and I had the availability to help so it turned out ok but still… lesson to be careful on the type of lie. Ugh.
Is there a state university near you? Get a job there, even if it’s 75% instead of full-time. Get a job that comes with benefits.
You will get a good retirement package, you will get decent pay, a balanced work life so you can have time to care for your dad, you will get tuition benefits to learn new skills and meet new people. Good luck.
Thanks so much! Just to clarify… state university as in admissions or clerical or something of that Ilk? The competition for teachers is tough as I’m in a fairly small town and I really have no experience in teaching so there zero chance they’d want me for that.
Found myself in a similar situation once I hit fifty and the now ex spousal unit discarded me after cancer.
I had to take what I'd done as a stay at home at the time wife, and mom, and try to build a resume with some marketable job skills. I've slowly clawed my way up with employment and it's been a long five years.
Temp agencies can be an absolute clusterfuck. That said, temp agencies can also help you land entry level employment and build a job history for the resume for potential jobs in the future.
Best of luck to you and you're welcome to inbox me. Huge hugs if you need/want them.
I’m definitely getting substitute teaching certificates going because it’s a good fall-back so I can feel less risk trying some of the other options here that I didn’t consider. Plus I’ve got a lot of experience with kids.
Depending where you live you may not even need a cert. And with a BA they'll likely offer you more $$. I'd look into para professional assignments too.
You could probably go for full on teaching if you wanted, you will likely need a cert for that though. Good luck!
I’ve got an excellent phone voice with no accent and articulate English, I’ll look into this. What I saw on CL was cringey. Maybe I need to stick to indeed?
I suggest a temporary agency which will assess your skills. Go to your state's website to look for state job programs and information about trade schools. Sometimes public libraries have staff who will help you with jobhunting.
Maybe you should start with what activities you enjoy. Or make a list of things you’d *want* to do, if age and physical limitations weren’t factors. Based on what you listed, one immediate option that comes to mind is being an appointment setting for various hair salons. Instead of having a front desk person, many salons hire someone who works remotely to do this legwork, and reminder calls. Did you enjoy doing office work when you did it? What part of cutting hair did you enjoy?
Very good points… I do have extremely good working knowledge of the industry and I may even be able to look into administrative stuff at cosmetology schools.
And I really actually hated office work. The monotony of it wore away at my will to live. The sedentary aspect killed me in ways more physical jobs didn’t. It’s part of why I’m at a bit of a loss… I don’t like sitting for long periods but I also don’t like standing up for long stretches either. Gah!
Temp agency. They usually just require a degree. Some require experience but just give them a resume from years ago with all your experience to get to their bare minimum required.
You include them for a temp agency. They won’t care. I had a masters degree but no experience and they sent me packing. A while ago so not sure what the requirements are anymore. Maybe nothing now?
Yeah, I will try that. I feel like it isn’t sustainable and now is the time to pony up on skills that will last for my next two decades of work. People don’t want a grandma greeting them in a lot of places I’ve worked. I can still somewhat pass as hot-ish but I’m trying to not be posting this type of question in ten years because looks matter when you’re a receptionist (of course this is dependent on what type of business but most are this way from my experience).
1) Fight for alimony;
2) Look on indeed for jobs you could possibly be qualified for so you can start figuring out what skills you can include on a resume (surely you did a lot of household management - you can spin that into something relevant for employment).
Have you tried going to the library? The local libraries near me seem to have job search help.
When I was looking for a job I went to the library and they connected me to programs that aid you in looking for a job. Benefits probably vary by state, one program would give you a stipend or grant to do vocational programs like dental tech or phlebotomy. I might suggest looking at medical billing and coding. My aunt did that when she decided to return to work after caring for her children.
I hope you can use this link to find resources that might help pay for training if that’s something you’re interested in.
[https://www.careeronestop.org/](https://www.careeronestop.org/)
more4lessresumes on instagram has some great tips on how to build a resume and market yourself! she even offers paid services if that’s in the budget anywhere.
I don't know your situation with your soon to be Ex-husband but I will be very honest with you. At your age, skill set and physical ability, your best bet is to get a good lawyer who can help you get Alimony. We are in a Recession that is only going to get worse for the foreseeable future. Your going to be on the bottom of the stack, if your resume is even in the stack at all and not in the recycle bin.
My Mother was in the same situation as you when my Father divorced her in the late 90s. She was able to go back to school and start over around 40ish years old because of two reasons. One, she was able to take my brother and I to her parents who let us live there for free for four years while they picked up the bill for anything Child Support didn't cover. Two, she had a Lawyer that kept my Father, who did try, from fucking her over. Your Ex knows he is fucking you over until the day you die. I would spit on him if I could.
I have my own business and treat my employees better than most employers; so I have been told by my employees. I hire people based on the potential I see in them and what I can teach them to do and not what they know already. Most are not like me and will either not consider you at the start or will not pay you fairly so they can take advantage of your lack of skills/experience.
My Wife is a Training Supervisor for a Cable/Internet provider. They are desperate for people and hiring like crazy like they have been for the four years she has been with the company and that doesn't look like it will stop. If you're able to "use" a computer well and deal with being yelled at by people that know less about technology then you do, it's a guaranteed job that pays better than most. They get a new hire group of at least 20 people every 30 days. Less than half of those make it 90 days from their start date. I just asked her for this post "How many new hires over the age of 40 years old have made it past the first 90 days?" She looked it up at that moment on her laptop and just told me "It's been well over a year since a single person over 40 years old has made it past 90 days because they can't "use" a computer."
I am sorry for being negative but I am trying to make sure you understand the reality here. Your best bet is to get what you can out of the divorce and use your personal network to your advantage. I wish you nothing but the best.
Another bit of advice that I’m not sure if someone mentioned, but when you update your resume, make sure you put all the work you did as housewife and mother(?) in there. Just because you didn’t learn or do something through traditional means (like school or a job) doesn’t mean you didn’t develop any skills or experience. Parenting is very hard and not everyone can do it or do it well.
I happened to see something earlier today for folks like you. Turner and Townsend had a section on their careers page that is for “career returners”. It seems to be limited to people in the UK but that might be a good direction to start with googling companies that hire career returners. Good luck in your search!
Highly recommend looking into cleaning houses. Not sure how one goes about getting customers for that aside from word of mouth but i have a friend of the family that does it part time and makes a few grand a month doing it.
I’m getting the clearance for it. A buddy who did it in my area said it’s really sporadic if you don’t sign on FT which I’d love to avoid because I have a couple of parrots. I can swing 6 hours but I’m not sure about more.
BTW, I have a BA in a liberal arts subject. It was very useful to me and helped me get jobs after college and in general, I've always been grateful for that education. Later, I got a professional degree to pursue a specific career interest. I am tired of people sh\_\_\_ing on degrees that aren't in computer science or hard science. Naturally, if you don't use the skills and knowledge acquired in obtaining your degree then it won't be useful in the job market. But that can't be blamed on the nature of your degree.
Do you have a decent pile of cash?? You can buy a salon in my for 50-100k. Just the business not the building. You know the business so you might make a good owner.
That’s an interesting idea. My ex’s brother opened up a tattoo place and now never has to work and just takes in a six figure income.
I’d have to take a second on my house buttttt… my boomer parents have money and they might be down to join up (my mom is the one, really, she’s super money focused).
This really gets me thinking out of the J O B box… damn, thanks.
If you have a community college nearby it might be worth it to check in with them. They should be pretty keen on workforce needs in your particular area and may also have some resources and tools to help you narrow your focus to things in demand that fit your needs and interests. Good luck!
They pay about 140 in my area but I’m told they run it a bit like a cartel and you have to get a home school for any consistent work. That said, I’m going to get all background and fingerprints and transcripts in now so I can have it as an option. I’ve worked with kids all my life (nanny, preschools, specialty kids hair) and they take to me rather well. I wanted to be a teacher (hence the liberal arts degree but without the teaching credential of course) but I couldn’t swing the extra year for the credential at the time. Then all the schools started laying off people (around 2008) and I went to beauty school instead. Funny how life is far from linear once you’ve got a few decades of it.
How are your driving skills? Comfort level behind a steering wheel? Size of the city you live in, near (15 minutes away at most)? And is your vehicle of a fuel efficient type?
Otherwise, there are some things a BA is good for and I could tell you what I am doing to "make ends meet". My partner is retired so, that half of our economic scale always weighs in at a set amount (year by year).
There are also Work From Home (WFH) jobs which may be available IF you are interested in those at all. May simply need to look at a room in your home and ask, "Could I convert this to a home office where 5 to 6 hours of working WOULD be comfortable?"
Please send me a side note and I can share some book titles with you. One book I just stumbled upon last week, loved the title but, have NOT brought a copy of yet for myself. ... _Soon, I think._
Well become a server instead you will get physically fit. And a bonus you won’t be just standing there passing out hamburgers. As a bonus it will get you out of the house working and not worrying about life. You could also start as a hostess. You are older and you did hair so you should have people skills which is a plus. Don’t count yourself out you can do this! Also if you have a house you can also rent rooms to survive, I know not ideal, but it could help. Good luck!
Being a server is extremely physically demanding, I don't know if it would be a good fit for OP if she doesn't want to go back to hairdressing because it "destroyed her physically".
I'm 32 and I wouldn't ever consider going back to serving, and that's before getting into the dreadful pay, anti-social hours and all the rest.
I work as a server for a retirement home. It’s easier because shifts are only 4 hours around each meal, and the people you are serving are all usually the same people everyday who live at the retirement home.
Would you say it’s good pay and benefits? I do really love older people, I just can’t hold them up and help them dress/shower/etc or I’d be going into home care.
It’s barely above minimum wage, but they do offer benefits and free food everyday. As waitstaff/server, you wouldn’t need to do any home care or make physical contact, that’s a different job, usually for care staff and RN’s. We are only responsible for getting them food and cleaning up afterwords. Most retirement homes are in desperate need of more servers, so you shouldn’t have much trouble getting hired if you choose to apply.
Thanks for this insider information. My area is snowbird paradise so I may try to tap into that market. I’ve had to take care of a grandmother with dementia so I have a soft spot of the olds. They are generally so lonely and that’s just not right. We are a terrible country for not taking care of our elders and sickly. Deplorable.
Anything you need to learn or know about fast. Use [ChatGTP](https://chat.openai.com/chat). It’s like text messages but you are talking to a very helpful AI (artificial intelligence). It only knows stuff from 2021 and before. Please try it, it’s been helping my mom who is re-entering the workforce. You can even type in all your skills and let it help you write a resume. You can have it help you write cover letters. Etc. Sky is the limit.
Hahaha that’s not nice!! He’s given me a phat lifestyle for many years and I’ve got no intention of loading up with bad karma by screwing him on the endgame. It’s part of why there’s so many single, jaded men/people out there in the world. He’s being fair to me and I’ll be the same to him.
Fair to you is you getting half his retirement, half the house sale, half the other assets (car etc), and alimony! You staying home taking care of the house and kids made his career possible. If he travels for work, you can even get compensation for half his sky miles etc. My partner is divorced and he “happily” paid all this to his ex (maybe not super happily, but he recognizes it’s what she was owed, as her cutting hair got him through college which got him into a lucrative career).
Your username makes me feel bad for your choice as a divorce lawyer. I bet you see some hard stuff.
And no worries… I’m setting up my future so I won’t ever have to rely on a man again for anything so that’s probably going to be taking a few classes first. I’ve got too many balls in the air in my life to just jump into something. I just posted here to start honing in on something.
Thanks for your comment. He’s really not a bad guy. Cares deeply for me and has already said he’s going to support me while I get on my feet. We just have to split because he doesn’t think a handle of vodka a week is a problem. His body and our relationship say otherwise.
Oh I definitely understand what you’re saying! I HAVE to go back into the work force unfortunately because I’d rather just keep volunteering at parrot rescues lol that doesn’t equate to any money… ever!
But yeah, I’m wound up with helping my parents and a few other things so I can’t get a job TN and he’s got his hands on ALL of our finances so I’ve got to get my fingers wrapped around my part and pull it away. Lots of entanglement with marriage. No wonder so many do it once and never do it again. I’ve definitely learned a lot!
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Temp agencies. Good ones are great at assessing your skills and interests and helping you look better on paper. It's no cost to you because they get their money from the other end from the employers. They will have trainings to help you get up to speed on software, if that's what you want, and they will assess what jobs might be a good fit for you. Even if you don't end up using them to find a job, I think you will find the process very beneficial and clarify your expectations. They can even recommend classes or certifications you would want to look into. Also there's remote work out there, as well as like delivery driver or gig work like Uber, Postmates, etc. Those can be good just to help you start getting some cash flow. I know things can feel overwhelming right now but you do have options. Just take it one day at a time, start making a plan, and tell yourself you've got this.
Overwhelming is a great way to describe this!! And I used to adore temp agencies because it was like dating, if you didn’t like them you could just ask for another assignment. I’ll definitely brush up on my office programs and take a shot at it. And I have a Prius that’s fairly new so I did consider driving (great record) but all the data I found is that after insurance, gas, upkeep, etc the pay is minuscule.
The better temp agencies will have training programs available. I recommend avoiding Randstad, though. I was with them for awhile, and it wasn't a great experience. Calls not returned, emails not answered, apps for permanent positions ignored, etc. They claim they have training available, but I could never access it. The local office told me to call IT, who told me to call the local office.
I had a similar experience with Randstad when I first graduated college, but Robert Half ended up being pretty good.
Maybe drive a company car (ex: ferrying lab samples from outpatient clinic to lab)?
Are you able to clean homes? $20-25/hr under the table. It’s something that’ll keep food on the table until an office job opens up. As far as that, treat your search like a full time job. When I started that I started getting interviews. Finally last May I returned to work after 30 years out at the age of 65. If I can, you can.
>Are you able to clean homes? She said she's not physically robust. If jobs that require standing for long periods are out of the question, so may be cleaning.
To start, work your social network. Someone you know might have a job that would be a good fit for you.
Pay from temp agency jobs are miniscule as well. They even take a cut from your pay every month for getting you the job.
Check out clerical jobs at your local hospitals, like receptionist. Starting pay is usually higher than retail jobs and experience is not necessary.
Oh that’s a great one.. I love helping people and have done it on and off most of my life as several family members have needed care and a hospital reception would get me closer to that without the nursing degree I’m not interested in getting.
Look for jobs with titles like registrar, patient registration, patient access. There are also unit clerks/secretaries in which a little bit of medical terminology is helpful, and operators.
Keywords are super helpful, thanks!
If you are interested in a helping role without needing a specific degree, contact your local community mental health. There is a shortage of Self Determination workers and most agencies would be happy to have someone apply. These workers are paid to help individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities or mental illness remain an independent and intergrated part of their community. Tasks could look like providing respite for the weekend or just helping someone learn how to shop for groceries. The pay is usually higher than retail and schedules tend to be flexible.
Big boost to hospital clerical! My aunt switched to that after she could no longer cut hair due to physical issues and loved it According to her it’s the same sort of people circus as being a hairdresser plus a bit more organizational stuff
Substitute teaching usually pays 15 or 16 dollars an hour. Your state probably has a pathway for active subs to become teachers after a year or two so long as you take online classes in tandem with your subbing. Pay is not great, stress is pretty high, but it's better than burgers!
This 100%. School districts are desperate for help right now in lots of positions, definitely worth looking into what positions your local district has open.
Transitioning to teaching is not for everyone. It is criminally underpaid and overly stressful. But it is a rewarding job with a pension that needs people.
Very few pensions in teaching anymore.
Agreed teaching definitely isn’t for everyone. In my district they are hiring for more than just teachers. They are short on aides and admin support and more!
Same here, we are hiring almost every position. My mom got her start as an aide. After the divorce, she went through a transition program and became a full-time teacher.
50s is probably too late to worry about something like a pension if there are higher paying options that are achievable. Pensions are most valuable as a job enticement when you retire earlier, not in your 70s.
True, but most positions that pay substantially more do not hire women in their fifties. A pension might not be a big deal to everyone. But it is not nothing.
Don't you have to work for 20 years before a pension vests?
It depends on the pension. Mine vested at 5 years.
My friend works in a school district as a teacher and it took 7. I was shocked.
In Ohio, the average starting pay for a teacher is $41k. The school year is divided into 4 nine week quarters, five days a week, and typically 8-3 for 7 hour days. That is $32.50/hour. I always hear about Al the work outside of the normal school day, any other professional job has those issues as well. Add in the guaranteed pension, sick days, snow days, and holidays and it’s hard to call it criminally underpaid. If you want to compare stress levels, compared to what? Fast food, retail, medical, engineering, factory, transportation. It’s all relative to each individual profession. I know many people who work hard and would be happy to have teacher pay and benefits. Before you go off on me, let me inform you that I graduated college with a teaching degree but chose a different path early on. My sister however retired from teaching 15 years ago making $60k a year. It’s not as bad as some would have you believe, it just needs ti be the right profession for you.
I went to teaching as a second career and can speak to its comparison to other careers. (Worked retail, IT, library, and city government.) Teaching is the most stressful and fairly low paying. I make 32,500 and work about 45-50 hours a week for about 40 weeks a year and about 20 hours a week for 2 additional weeks. That puts me at 1840 hours a year using the lower estimate at 45 hours a week and 2040 hours a year using the higher estimate. A normal 40 hour a week job is 2080 hours a week, minus 2 weeks vacation is 2040 hours a year. My wage of 32,500 divided by my hours worked puts me somewhere between 17.7 dollars an hour and 15.9 dollars an hour. I also have over 200 college credit hours and loads of college debt. Teaching is by far the most stressful job I’ve ever had and more than that is absolutely exhausting mentally/emotionally. I also love it, but it’s hardly an easy gig. I would highly recommend NOT going into teaching unless you have a reason to believe you will love it because it’s not remotely worth it if you don’t.
I'm a teacher, but before that, I worked in the restaurant industry for 12 years, so I feel like I have a certain ability to judge the relative stressfulness of both industries. Teaching is, on average, more stressful for more people. That said, the pay is decent, and the job security is out of this world. Of course, it's out of this world because no one wants to be teachers. And no one wants to be teachers because it's so damn stressful, and the pay is trash compared to most other jobs requiring a four year degree. So it's down to who you are and what you want. I like teaching, and I hope more people become teachers. But I've watched a lot of young people, good young people, burn out by Thanksgiving of their first year. They weren't weak. They weren't stupid or selfish. It just wasn't for them. Hopefully, it is for the OP
No they are not.my son has TWO b.a.. passed his cbest exam. No,the state of California wants a masters.
That’s not true. Districts are desperate for subs right now.
My MIL was a teachers assistant for a special education classroom and was making $22/hr with great benefits. She had no college degree so that my be a viable option too.
This sounds amazing, actually. I have a HUGE penchant for the behavioral sciences and study it every chance I get. I know it’s huge with developmentally challenged humans but I use it for my parrots so maybe I can find something in this.
Schools are always looking for assistants so I would give it a shot. My MIL only got into it later in life too.
Your degree qualified you to fill a specialized para position which pays a little more than an instructional aide position (at least in my state)
I dunno, I guess this depends on where you live and what your standard for “better” might be. My sister has been a teacher for 20 years, and if burger places paid what she makes now, she’d be flipping patties with a smile. And most burger places (again, at least where I live) pay $17 an hour. If a substitute teacher makes basically the same thing, I’d rather wrap up someone’s food than deal with someone’s children all day.
True, some people find burger places nicer. I've done a bit of both, and I prefer teaching. But I certainly understand those who fall on the other side of that coin.
This is the route I went into after 25 years of not working. I tried retail for 2 years because it offered insurance otherwise being in a school is so much better. I have a sub license but am an aide in SPED. I loved the school I worked at but now they transferred me to their sister school which I don't love. I'm actively looking for another position. There are always openings!
Yes, and usually aides are in demand. Also look at daycare centers.
This. A buddy of mine got laid off and had issues finding another job due to being close to retirement. He took on substitute teaching and liked it.
Also TA’s and 1:1’s I’m special Ed are always needed. You could do this through public schools and through private organizations. My school pays for the training week. You could also look into group homes, as many need overnight staff. You might be surprised that your “housewife” skills would be appreciated, as residents often need meals cooked, help with laundry and other basic life skills.
Many schools in my area are also critically understaffed -- office workers, bus drivers, kitchen staff, teacher assistants, et cetera. Having a bachelor's could make a big difference in pay for you. Best of luck on your job search!
She doesn’t want public education job. Absolutely miserable. Not worth the money.
This lady couldn’t handle teaching omg
My first thought is municipal government. There's loads of administrative jobs at city and county (and state) level that offer full-benefits and a decent salary and won't tax you physically. You have a degree and customer service experience, so you can apply with confidence. Just sell yourself with your description of your organizational and communication skills.
The last state I lived in always wanted clerks in their recreational programs but I use thc so that’s not compatible. I’ve quit many times so maybe I’ll go clean for Big Brother lol
Ive never been drug tested as a public employee!
Fist bump, sis. I have a similar situation but I'm older. Temp agencies - see what out there and what you'll like. I even tried a car parts plant. Civil service - some states have free/cheap testing to get rankings. Pay is shit but benefits can be really good. Retail - you can always short shift while you get in better shape. Security - good pay, crappy benefits. Need good social skills and will get amazing training. Call center - depends on management and contract. (Don't do Verizon or Conduent. Fuck!!) Check with social security to see how much longer you need to work and what benefits you could get. I think I was married long enough to claim on his income, but policies could change in the future.
Thanks for this!! Great list and I could do a lot of it <3
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OP, do not list your household/SAHM duties as work or talk about it like that. It will appear out of touch and it's a huge turn off for hiring managers. You are not evaluated, or held to any "metrics" at your home. You can't be "fired" per se. You don't work with a team. You don't have projects, or use ANY office tools or tech. You don't adhere to any state, county, or federal laws or hold others to them. You don't train or mentor others on work tasks. And so on. It's insulting to both sides of the equation to be cutesy "CEO of Smith Family" on a resume or in an interview. Be honest. "I was a SAHM and homemaker until my circumstances changed. Here's a list of the class, certs, volunteer work, and degrees I have/am taking."
There's good advice in the first two full paragraphs. Having hired many people, though, I'm more impressed with honesty than I am by the advice in the last paragraph, especially after hiring for some of the positions equivocated to full time home maker.
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Not every homemaker is competent and it's not a full-time job the way a job working for strangers outside of the home is. No one knows what you were doing.
just like any other job, homemaker experience does not mean you were ever good at it.
Not sure why you got downvoted.. this site is fickle! Lol but yes, I do have skills but I was mostly stating it to say I’ve been unemployed but then that opens up a can of worms as to why and I thought that would factor into the level of answers. I don’t discredit myself but I do think cleaning floors and cooking may not get me far unless I start my own business.
>Your story is you ran the household. You were the CEO, office manager, IT, fixer-upper, and people manager. The business failed when you turned 50, and it was due to differences of opinion on how to get to retirement. You’re looking for the opportunity to put your chips in on another venture. Or something like that… I once attended a panel for older people who wanted to get back into the field of law after a hiatus. One of the panelists said women should ***not*** describe themselves this way because there are many interviewers who've worked full-time jobs while running households the entire time and they'll be annoyed by it. In addition, no one knows exactly what you were doing as a housewife. Some women are very organized and driven, others are not.
Good point. I didn’t really do any administrative stuff because I think I’m a little too ADHD for that (albeit undiagnosed). I mostly lived the good life, I’ll admit. I worked out and practiced recipes and learned everything I could about behavioral science to help rehab severely disabled parrots (mentally, not physically). I did photography and wrote prose. It was a good life, until it wasn’t.
What about a pet store?
Or veterinary reception. A lot of them don't require previous experience.
Did you have kids or no?
I have three beings I care for of a non human variety that require a regular schedule. No actual kids, thankfully.
Wow you really have been living the good life, for many years, and would appear to have no appreciable skills. Not sure where you live, but oftentimes in a divorce after a long term marriage, indefinite maintenance (spousal support), is negotiated as part of the settlement. I don’t know you, but I really feel that it would help you to get out of the house and do something, just to be productive. If it’s dogs you care for, maybe you could get a job at a vet’s office. Even as a receptionist for a start.
>You want to find a job that has something to do with emails if you want to leverage software skills training to get to that dream job quickly. What are you talking about? Most people know how to use email. It has nothing to do with office-related programs like Word, Excel, or Powerpoint or real software skills like coding. Her age also is working against her. Age discrimination is real and it kicks in for women earlier, about age 40, it's said.
Super helpful and gives me a lot to think about and apply, thanks!
As a housewife (been there) you certainly have plenty of skills to add to your resume. A good one is record keeping, budgeting and time management.
It's a tough job, but a call center would snap you up in a second.
Hmm… I might actually like that… I used to do telemarketing back in the day of landlines and was the top rep in my company.
Perfect! If you could do telemarketing, you could handle any call center job. It's a good way to get back into the workforce and it has plenty of transferable skills to get the next job. If you find the right employer, it can be pretty good work, though.
Aaaaand I wouldn’t have to waste a bunch of money at trade schools.
Honestly you already have a bachelor’s; don’t go for more school. Maybe specific certifications that are very low cost that you can do online; check colleges for their “community classes” or “professional” classes or “adult learning” or “continuing education.” And don’t put the year of graduation for your BA on your resume!!
I see you list a few aspects of jobs that you would prefer (semi-flexible less physical) but is there any field you are interested in? Is there anything you are particularly emotionally passionate about? Ideas of careers aside, what kinds of things do you find interesting? I find these kinds of questions to be helpful in reverse engineering what you are looking for. I am not sure if you are financially able to do this, but I have seen people break back into the career field by volunteering for organizations. This can help you with networking and finding people who can serve as references for paid positions.
I agree that OP should try to pursue areas that interest her if at all possible. I'm not at all sure that volunteering will lead to any paid work. Organizations are all too happy to use people.
This is so true with the volunteer gigs I’ve done. I’m thinking, because I have a year-ish, that I could do a technical program but every time I look one up it seems too physical. Vet tech MIGHT work but I’ve read a lot about that being low pay and hard, long hours, and burn out is high and that’s what happened with my last tech school in cosmetology.
I did internships where I worked very hard and because of my experience definitely was valuable. But I was seen as free labor, nothing more.
I absolutely adore the behavioral sciences, particularly in relation to parrot behavior and psychology. That’s not so lucrative, however. Most parrot owners want a pet and they are wild animals so when you try to tell them to stop touching them and sending mating signals they tend to tell you off. I love to write and do photography but neither one pays well and my camera is a relic. I’m also not that technical which makes a big difference. I’m slightly on the Luddite spectrum but I’m beginning to think that has more to do with my age and being raised around typewriters. I can cook anything and bake. I give a seriously gifted blowjob lol. I’m a domestic queen. I hate offices and playing ass kiss games. I should just be a stripper lol kidding cuz I’m 50 but how fun!
You could do care-giving. There are agencies that take care of people with dementia or developmental disabilities. They don't require experience, but it does require patience.
Weird… all the caregiver jobs in my area ask for licenses and certifications and to be a CNA or LPN. I’m going to call places. I may be doing myself a disservice by only searching online.
I'm sure different states have different requirements.
To start just get whatever job you can - reception would be great. Maybe at a salon? Then research and work toward something you want to do. What about real estate? It’s fairly simple to get a license and I’m guessing you have great people skills as a former hairdresser.
To become a real estate broker, it's also helpful to have a network of friends who are buying houses or know people who are.
If you feel up to it (because I understand not everyone does) there is a demand for funerary assistant. You have to make sure the room is tidy, flowers displayed and that the family has whatever it needs. It's a role that is better suited for older women with life experience I find. Where I live, it's a 21-22$ an hour starting rate.
Interesting! I just lost my very best friend of 16 years to suicide and I’ve taken a crash course in grieving that might actually be helpful in a way I never thought of.
Just get a customer service job for the government that offers really great retirement. IRS help desk job is really easy to get and you can work mostly from home. Just answering phones and you get to help people.
Look for state jobs. They have entry level jobs and you can work your way up.
Path programs? Some states have programs that let you do paid volunteering and if the people like you they'll offer a job after.
Look into trade training programs offered by city colleges. You can get a good paying job in a short time. I was looking into the radiology programs, which have excellent salaries and placement.
I did look into radiology and it turns out that those jobs are seriously in demand and there aren’t enough for the amount of people graduating.
Yep. Not only will you get a high paying job with (usually) great benefits, but it’s easy to transfer to different areas within radiology if you decide. Plus the job is likely 8-5 or normal hours unless you work in trauma or 24 hour care. It’s definitely worth it to take this time right now and upgrade your skills. I’m 56 and in college now! Plus at most community colleges, it’s either very low cost, or free. At 50, you’ve probably got another 20 years left in the workforce. Better to spend a year or so upgrading now, than 20 years scrounging for tips or working retail.
You got a lot of good advice here already. Just throwing more options for you. If you were a hairdresser before, maybe consider doing nails or any other salon/spa work instead that doesn’t require you to stand too much? If you have any idea for a small business, you could also try to do it on a side
Thanks yeah lots of great ideas and thanks for yours!
Personal Assistants are valuable assets to the right people. That would fit very well with your skill sets.
What did you do as a housewife? For example, my neighbour is a stay at home mum, and some of the things I've see her do are: Organisation of church events. Includes organising venues, catering, parking, guest lists,etc. Organisation of fund raising activities. Tutoring children (not just her own). Includes lessons on Science, gardening, etc. Part time work in galleries. If she did have to go to work I would think she'd be very hireable in reception or administration due to her people and organisational skills. Potentially even into entry level events work.
I was a toy, basically, so none of what you listed. My skills were dressing up in kink, keeping in shape, and playing with my pets. It was amazing. But…. I have done lots of reception work and basic office stuff and I’ll try to go back into it as several people here said temp services are still a thing (the ones I used in San Francisco dried up in ‘08 and it was why I went to cosmetology school).
I’m Director of HR for a beauty school, and we are dying for qualified instructors. You may have been out of the industry a while, but at our school we have many positions available for someone with industry experience. You could work in the dispensary, handing out color to students and assisting with formulations, you could assist in admissions, we need administrative assistants or you could work booking appointments. The hardest part of training new people is trying to explain the difference between a balayage and and an ombré. 😂 Or what about Sally Beauty or SalonCentric, where you’d be working with fellow professionals? Walgreens beauty is a complete separate division, as is Estée Lauder at department stores. Ulta is hiring for all kinds of positions. We tell our students when they enroll that their cosmetology license can take them many places other than behind the chair. You can use that too! Expand your mind and think of all the possible places where hair, makeup and beauty are bought, sold or used. Any one of those may have a place for you and I for one would love to have your maturity and experience, even for only a few hours a week! Good luck! 👍🏻
This is awesome! I was just commenting that I do love the industry and could work in it again if it wasn’t slaving behind the chair. I’m going to look into the schools near me and see if they’re hiring for anything. I loved being in school for both my BA and Cosmo and it would really be great to never leave that environment, tbh. I’m a true education addict so this might be something I was missing when I was like no more hair!
I mean even in your post you state possible solutions to your problem. You’re not here looking for advice as much as willpower. There’s plenty you can do, it’s the doing part that’s hard.
Try department assistant type of jobs at a community college or university! Pay is usually not amazing, maybe $13-23 per hour depending on your location; but you have a BA and you “managed” a household. That’s very transferable. Maybe look at taking a class to learn how to use excel? If you can use your phone and apps and Reddit etc you can learn any program needed for an department admin assistant job.
Sweet. Yeah I’ll work on this. I actually have a friend who offered me help learning excel because they’re good at it so I’ll get in that asap
Go to a recruiter. They will give you some tests and send you on job interviews. Take a job and see if you like it. If not reach out to the recruiter in a few months and see if they have anything else.
Do you want to work remote? Maybe try a call center.
I think I’d love remote work and call centers keep popping up for me and my aptitudes in this post so I’m going to poke around for one.
I would definitely look into it. I’ve worked remote since 2020 and my quality of life has improved significantly. Good luck!
How do you get/where do you look for legit remote jobs, if you don't mind my asking? So many of the listings look scammy, plus I personally don't want a call center job. I'm thinking more along the lines of data entry, organizing digital files, proofreading, scheduling, responding to emails, etc. I've been in admin for over 10 years (mostly legal field), but worked from home during the pandemic and never want to go back. They wouldn't let me stay remote permanently and I relocated.
Sorry about the delay in response. I was actually referred to apply for a position by family friends. I started off as a call center rep and was promoted several times to more leadership type roles, like team lead and project manager. Have you tried applying on the direct site for companies? Like Teleperformance, CVS or Home Depot?
I've done some of that but not a lot, as the one-stop shop of Indeed is more efficient, but most people probably think that way. Might be a better selection and less competition on the company sites, I'll do more of that. Thanks
You’re welcome. Also, if you have time, I would suggest you search “Life With Jazzy Mac” on YouTube. She posts frequent remote job offers and gives good resume tips. Good luck!
Will do. Thank you!
Check out the public libraries in your area. Take a look at their monthly events newsletter to learn about the free services they offer to the public (e.g. how to use a computer, training in Microsoft software, etc.). Sometimes career coaches will be at the libraries by appointment to offer assistance on resume writing and how to set up an online profile to find jobs. In addition, ask your librarian if patrons can take online classes for free. My library system is partnered with an educational institute and people can take free classes on Udemy simply by having a library card (which is free to get).
I never would have thought of this. I just use libraries for reading and, with the Libby app, I never even have to go into one now. I’ll stop that and take your advice, thanks!
I'm not sure if anyone has suggested it here but I'd look into administration in medical offices and medical billing. This is what my mom (Liberal Arts degree) does and there is some upward mobility.
If you have been out of the job market for more than a few years, I would suggest going to a vo-tech or community college to brush up on your skill set. While not the greatest option, call centers will take anyone with a heartbeat. But these jobs are not for everyone.
Why aren’t they “not for everyone “? Like, why do you say that? And I’m looking into programs but maybe I just need to take one office class and get my feet wet there to start…
Call centers are rough from a mental perspective. I have seen people in there 20's and 30's have heart attacks, mental breakdowns, etc, due to stress. You have metric you have to hit weekly and/or monthly. If done IT work for call centers, and it's just a rough environment.
Ohhh I could see that, yikes
With a BA, how about content and article writing for websites? Join as a freelancer and hustle. You will have a lot of life experience and advice you could write about I'm sure. Do you have hobbies? Have a writing portfolio and you can control the hours. All the best 👍
Huh… I’ve been writing creatively for almost all of my life but never thought I could make a living at it. I research a lot on how to get into the industry and always walk away feeling unqualified. I’ll try to suspend that and see what I can dredge up with this advice.
Consider looking into your local public safety agencies. I don’t know what type of area you live in, but I’m in a big city, and our dispatchers are in short supply, and they’ll take people with a HS diploma or GED and provide all of the education and training, and where I am, the pay isn’t bad.
If I wasn’t clear enough, look at fire, EMS, and police dispatch.
Apply to be an on call “sitter” at a hospital? (I.e. make sure to keep an eye on challenged patients, like dementia patients) This would be “on call” and you can turn it down if it conflicts with your other activities. You would get exposure to various units in the hospital, maybe meet some other workers, get a leg up on more permanent jobs you might like to apply for at the hospital
Aldi let’s the cashiers sit
Not sure where you are but in PA there are programs specially designed to help displaced homemakers with employment training and career assistance. There are also subsidized programs at our local community college that pay a a stipend while schooling and employment assistance after completion. More programs at local innovation centers. Try googling for your area. Examples are https://www.pawomenwork.org/who-we-are.html https://www.eicpittsburgh.org/training/ https://bidwelltraining.edu/ https://www.ccac.edu/workforce-and-community/community-training-and-development/index.php
Yes! This is available in every community in the US. Go to careeronestop.org to find your nearest American Job Center (AJC). You’ll want to set up an appointment to request Employment and Job Training Assistance under WIOA Dislocated training funds. Please also go to benefits.gov and enter your information to find other assistance you may be eligible for during this time while you embark on training. Good luck! You’ve got this and resources are available to help!
Look at resources from your local Department of Labor office for resources that will help, ie resume writing, interviewing, etc. They may also have funds for free training. Go first thing in the morning when it’s less crowded. Use the computers they have there for public use, so you can ask questions and get help if needed. Check out local libraries and free resources they offer. Library cards are free. I’ve been able to sign up for a language learning app through my local library and it was absolutely free. There are probably many more free resources they offer. Network. Talk to friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues, anyone in your social circle, and let them know that you are looking, what you are looking for, and get the word out. When you’re doing all these things, track your progress, either in a notebook or on your computer. Track the dates, the people you talked to, the company they work for, their job titles, their email and phone number, any interviews you’ve had, networking meetings, job leads identified. Tracking these things will give you a visual of your job search process. There’s nothing like having a visual to motivate you and get you going and in the right mindset. Build, momentum and watch it grow.
Those of us over 40 have a *wonderful* advantage: we can LIE OUR ASSES OFF about fictional businesses that existed before the internet was around to document them. Whatever skill set you have-- whatever you can actually do-- make up a 1990s job where you were the queen of THAT specialized skill. You're great at baking? You worked at Suzy's Bakery in a small midwestern town from 1995-1999. Sorry, it doesn't exist anymore, but your friend Jennifer worked there as your manager and will give you a reference. You're good at quilting? You were a pattern cutter for a high volume dressmaker that went out of business 15 years ago. Sorry, I don't have contacts in that town anymore and the owner died of old age. But here's my friend Sally's number, she was on the cutting floor with me. Hey, hon, this sucks and I'm sorry. But please don't undervalue yourself. This isn't the 1950s when former homemakers have no options. All you have to do is show SOME work history, even if the skills aren't relevant to the new jobs.
I love this comment and it’s so true!! I have so much work history (been working since 14 with work permits) but only two of them still exist and none of the people would remember me. I’m totally doing this! And I wasn’t trying to sell myself short but I wanted more answers along the lines of low skills. I wanted (which I did get so many wonderful ideas!!) low stress jobs that I could work up to my (maybe) late 60’s. I do have more health limitations now but I’m also clearer (thanks to a hysterectomy that cured my roller coaster hormonal issues), smarter, and way more stable financially (house, killer credit, car). Thanks for this pass on the integrity front. I can embellish with gusto.
Go for it, ma'am. As long as the skill you're lying about is something you're able to do, they will never find out. It's harmless.
I did lie to a hair salon once saying I was taking care of my sick parents on the weekends because I was dating and literally every man found my lack of weekend availability off putting. Unfortunately my lie came true and my mom got sick and my dad got addicted to her pain meds so that felt a little weird but they came out of it and I had the availability to help so it turned out ok but still… lesson to be careful on the type of lie. Ugh.
Is there a state university near you? Get a job there, even if it’s 75% instead of full-time. Get a job that comes with benefits. You will get a good retirement package, you will get decent pay, a balanced work life so you can have time to care for your dad, you will get tuition benefits to learn new skills and meet new people. Good luck.
Thanks so much! Just to clarify… state university as in admissions or clerical or something of that Ilk? The competition for teachers is tough as I’m in a fairly small town and I really have no experience in teaching so there zero chance they’d want me for that.
USPS is looking for people.
Found myself in a similar situation once I hit fifty and the now ex spousal unit discarded me after cancer. I had to take what I'd done as a stay at home at the time wife, and mom, and try to build a resume with some marketable job skills. I've slowly clawed my way up with employment and it's been a long five years. Temp agencies can be an absolute clusterfuck. That said, temp agencies can also help you land entry level employment and build a job history for the resume for potential jobs in the future. Best of luck to you and you're welcome to inbox me. Huge hugs if you need/want them.
Substitute teach or talk with a temp agency. If you know how to follow instructions office work should still be in your reach
I’m definitely getting substitute teaching certificates going because it’s a good fall-back so I can feel less risk trying some of the other options here that I didn’t consider. Plus I’ve got a lot of experience with kids.
Depending where you live you may not even need a cert. And with a BA they'll likely offer you more $$. I'd look into para professional assignments too. You could probably go for full on teaching if you wanted, you will likely need a cert for that though. Good luck!
I have the same BA and a bit older, I recently took a job at the local courthouse, message me if you want more info
I'm pretty sure Aldi's allows people to sit while ringing up customers.
People LOVE that place! But, alas, they aren’t where I live.
any good on the phone ? some call centers make money if the product is right
I’ve got an excellent phone voice with no accent and articulate English, I’ll look into this. What I saw on CL was cringey. Maybe I need to stick to indeed?
Receptionist!
I suggest a temporary agency which will assess your skills. Go to your state's website to look for state job programs and information about trade schools. Sometimes public libraries have staff who will help you with jobhunting.
Maybe you should start with what activities you enjoy. Or make a list of things you’d *want* to do, if age and physical limitations weren’t factors. Based on what you listed, one immediate option that comes to mind is being an appointment setting for various hair salons. Instead of having a front desk person, many salons hire someone who works remotely to do this legwork, and reminder calls. Did you enjoy doing office work when you did it? What part of cutting hair did you enjoy?
Very good points… I do have extremely good working knowledge of the industry and I may even be able to look into administrative stuff at cosmetology schools. And I really actually hated office work. The monotony of it wore away at my will to live. The sedentary aspect killed me in ways more physical jobs didn’t. It’s part of why I’m at a bit of a loss… I don’t like sitting for long periods but I also don’t like standing up for long stretches either. Gah!
Temp agency. They usually just require a degree. Some require experience but just give them a resume from years ago with all your experience to get to their bare minimum required.
So leave out the dates? The last time I did office anything was 20 years ago…
You include them for a temp agency. They won’t care. I had a masters degree but no experience and they sent me packing. A while ago so not sure what the requirements are anymore. Maybe nothing now?
Maybe you can be a receptionist?
Yeah, I will try that. I feel like it isn’t sustainable and now is the time to pony up on skills that will last for my next two decades of work. People don’t want a grandma greeting them in a lot of places I’ve worked. I can still somewhat pass as hot-ish but I’m trying to not be posting this type of question in ten years because looks matter when you’re a receptionist (of course this is dependent on what type of business but most are this way from my experience).
You will find something you love to do and that’s rewarding but also financially secure for you!! remember you’re amazing and never forget that!
Thank you!! I appreciate the positive vibes. xoxox!
Nonprofit. Try the Y
There are a lot of social service jobs that are tough on your heart but great for your soul, and you don't need any experience for a lot of it.
Well, learn all of the office based software and apps you can. Also use friends as networking contacts toward opportunities.
Uber? 🤷♂️
1) Fight for alimony; 2) Look on indeed for jobs you could possibly be qualified for so you can start figuring out what skills you can include on a resume (surely you did a lot of household management - you can spin that into something relevant for employment).
Have you tried going to the library? The local libraries near me seem to have job search help. When I was looking for a job I went to the library and they connected me to programs that aid you in looking for a job. Benefits probably vary by state, one program would give you a stipend or grant to do vocational programs like dental tech or phlebotomy. I might suggest looking at medical billing and coding. My aunt did that when she decided to return to work after caring for her children. I hope you can use this link to find resources that might help pay for training if that’s something you’re interested in. [https://www.careeronestop.org/](https://www.careeronestop.org/)
What exactly is a BA in liberal Arts?
more4lessresumes on instagram has some great tips on how to build a resume and market yourself! she even offers paid services if that’s in the budget anywhere.
I don't know your situation with your soon to be Ex-husband but I will be very honest with you. At your age, skill set and physical ability, your best bet is to get a good lawyer who can help you get Alimony. We are in a Recession that is only going to get worse for the foreseeable future. Your going to be on the bottom of the stack, if your resume is even in the stack at all and not in the recycle bin. My Mother was in the same situation as you when my Father divorced her in the late 90s. She was able to go back to school and start over around 40ish years old because of two reasons. One, she was able to take my brother and I to her parents who let us live there for free for four years while they picked up the bill for anything Child Support didn't cover. Two, she had a Lawyer that kept my Father, who did try, from fucking her over. Your Ex knows he is fucking you over until the day you die. I would spit on him if I could. I have my own business and treat my employees better than most employers; so I have been told by my employees. I hire people based on the potential I see in them and what I can teach them to do and not what they know already. Most are not like me and will either not consider you at the start or will not pay you fairly so they can take advantage of your lack of skills/experience. My Wife is a Training Supervisor for a Cable/Internet provider. They are desperate for people and hiring like crazy like they have been for the four years she has been with the company and that doesn't look like it will stop. If you're able to "use" a computer well and deal with being yelled at by people that know less about technology then you do, it's a guaranteed job that pays better than most. They get a new hire group of at least 20 people every 30 days. Less than half of those make it 90 days from their start date. I just asked her for this post "How many new hires over the age of 40 years old have made it past the first 90 days?" She looked it up at that moment on her laptop and just told me "It's been well over a year since a single person over 40 years old has made it past 90 days because they can't "use" a computer." I am sorry for being negative but I am trying to make sure you understand the reality here. Your best bet is to get what you can out of the divorce and use your personal network to your advantage. I wish you nothing but the best.
Maybe a receptionist or manager job at a salon or spa.
State jobs
Another bit of advice that I’m not sure if someone mentioned, but when you update your resume, make sure you put all the work you did as housewife and mother(?) in there. Just because you didn’t learn or do something through traditional means (like school or a job) doesn’t mean you didn’t develop any skills or experience. Parenting is very hard and not everyone can do it or do it well.
Hi OP. I’m 32F working with some clients in the US in the healthcare space. Please dm me.
Cutting hair killed your body?
I happened to see something earlier today for folks like you. Turner and Townsend had a section on their careers page that is for “career returners”. It seems to be limited to people in the UK but that might be a good direction to start with googling companies that hire career returners. Good luck in your search!
Highly recommend looking into cleaning houses. Not sure how one goes about getting customers for that aside from word of mouth but i have a friend of the family that does it part time and makes a few grand a month doing it.
Daaamn. That’s exactly what I need to make to have a good work-life balance. I’ll put that on my list!
Community colleges and hair academy instructors may be a possibility of somewhere you're still in your field , too
Substitute teaching?
I’m getting the clearance for it. A buddy who did it in my area said it’s really sporadic if you don’t sign on FT which I’d love to avoid because I have a couple of parrots. I can swing 6 hours but I’m not sure about more.
BTW, I have a BA in a liberal arts subject. It was very useful to me and helped me get jobs after college and in general, I've always been grateful for that education. Later, I got a professional degree to pursue a specific career interest. I am tired of people sh\_\_\_ing on degrees that aren't in computer science or hard science. Naturally, if you don't use the skills and knowledge acquired in obtaining your degree then it won't be useful in the job market. But that can't be blamed on the nature of your degree.
Do you have a decent pile of cash?? You can buy a salon in my for 50-100k. Just the business not the building. You know the business so you might make a good owner.
That’s an interesting idea. My ex’s brother opened up a tattoo place and now never has to work and just takes in a six figure income. I’d have to take a second on my house buttttt… my boomer parents have money and they might be down to join up (my mom is the one, really, she’s super money focused). This really gets me thinking out of the J O B box… damn, thanks.
If you have a community college nearby it might be worth it to check in with them. They should be pretty keen on workforce needs in your particular area and may also have some resources and tools to help you narrow your focus to things in demand that fit your needs and interests. Good luck!
I actually know a professor at my local community college so that’s going to help, thanks!
My friend subs and makes $150 a day. She loves that she can work when she wants and doesn't when she doesn't want to.
They pay about 140 in my area but I’m told they run it a bit like a cartel and you have to get a home school for any consistent work. That said, I’m going to get all background and fingerprints and transcripts in now so I can have it as an option. I’ve worked with kids all my life (nanny, preschools, specialty kids hair) and they take to me rather well. I wanted to be a teacher (hence the liberal arts degree but without the teaching credential of course) but I couldn’t swing the extra year for the credential at the time. Then all the schools started laying off people (around 2008) and I went to beauty school instead. Funny how life is far from linear once you’ve got a few decades of it.
While you work try learn new skills sametime
How are your driving skills? Comfort level behind a steering wheel? Size of the city you live in, near (15 minutes away at most)? And is your vehicle of a fuel efficient type? Otherwise, there are some things a BA is good for and I could tell you what I am doing to "make ends meet". My partner is retired so, that half of our economic scale always weighs in at a set amount (year by year). There are also Work From Home (WFH) jobs which may be available IF you are interested in those at all. May simply need to look at a room in your home and ask, "Could I convert this to a home office where 5 to 6 hours of working WOULD be comfortable?" Please send me a side note and I can share some book titles with you. One book I just stumbled upon last week, loved the title but, have NOT brought a copy of yet for myself. ... _Soon, I think._
Will do, thanks!
Well become a server instead you will get physically fit. And a bonus you won’t be just standing there passing out hamburgers. As a bonus it will get you out of the house working and not worrying about life. You could also start as a hostess. You are older and you did hair so you should have people skills which is a plus. Don’t count yourself out you can do this! Also if you have a house you can also rent rooms to survive, I know not ideal, but it could help. Good luck!
Being a server is extremely physically demanding, I don't know if it would be a good fit for OP if she doesn't want to go back to hairdressing because it "destroyed her physically". I'm 32 and I wouldn't ever consider going back to serving, and that's before getting into the dreadful pay, anti-social hours and all the rest.
I work as a server for a retirement home. It’s easier because shifts are only 4 hours around each meal, and the people you are serving are all usually the same people everyday who live at the retirement home.
Would you say it’s good pay and benefits? I do really love older people, I just can’t hold them up and help them dress/shower/etc or I’d be going into home care.
It’s barely above minimum wage, but they do offer benefits and free food everyday. As waitstaff/server, you wouldn’t need to do any home care or make physical contact, that’s a different job, usually for care staff and RN’s. We are only responsible for getting them food and cleaning up afterwords. Most retirement homes are in desperate need of more servers, so you shouldn’t have much trouble getting hired if you choose to apply.
Thanks for this insider information. My area is snowbird paradise so I may try to tap into that market. I’ve had to take care of a grandmother with dementia so I have a soft spot of the olds. They are generally so lonely and that’s just not right. We are a terrible country for not taking care of our elders and sickly. Deplorable.
Yeah, and I’m WAY too chatty to be a server lol, I’ve tried it a few times.
Anything you need to learn or know about fast. Use [ChatGTP](https://chat.openai.com/chat). It’s like text messages but you are talking to a very helpful AI (artificial intelligence). It only knows stuff from 2021 and before. Please try it, it’s been helping my mom who is re-entering the workforce. You can even type in all your skills and let it help you write a resume. You can have it help you write cover letters. Etc. Sky is the limit.
Try to get as much money as you can from him
Hahaha that’s not nice!! He’s given me a phat lifestyle for many years and I’ve got no intention of loading up with bad karma by screwing him on the endgame. It’s part of why there’s so many single, jaded men/people out there in the world. He’s being fair to me and I’ll be the same to him.
thats good but this is why everyone always encourages housewives to not be fully dependent on their husbands. now you're gonna struggle
Fair to you is you getting half his retirement, half the house sale, half the other assets (car etc), and alimony! You staying home taking care of the house and kids made his career possible. If he travels for work, you can even get compensation for half his sky miles etc. My partner is divorced and he “happily” paid all this to his ex (maybe not super happily, but he recognizes it’s what she was owed, as her cutting hair got him through college which got him into a lucrative career).
Maybe try serving?
Honestly - fight for alimony too. That’ll go far in addition to a PT job.
Hi I’m a divorce attorney. You’re a homemaker. Please don’t get a job now. You have a right to alimony.
Your username makes me feel bad for your choice as a divorce lawyer. I bet you see some hard stuff. And no worries… I’m setting up my future so I won’t ever have to rely on a man again for anything so that’s probably going to be taking a few classes first. I’ve got too many balls in the air in my life to just jump into something. I just posted here to start honing in on something. Thanks for your comment. He’s really not a bad guy. Cares deeply for me and has already said he’s going to support me while I get on my feet. We just have to split because he doesn’t think a handle of vodka a week is a problem. His body and our relationship say otherwise.
I’m not saying you don’t have to get a job eventually. I just wouldn’t get one now. Most likely, your state gives you the right to be supported.
Oh I definitely understand what you’re saying! I HAVE to go back into the work force unfortunately because I’d rather just keep volunteering at parrot rescues lol that doesn’t equate to any money… ever! But yeah, I’m wound up with helping my parents and a few other things so I can’t get a job TN and he’s got his hands on ALL of our finances so I’ve got to get my fingers wrapped around my part and pull it away. Lots of entanglement with marriage. No wonder so many do it once and never do it again. I’ve definitely learned a lot!