Though I feel grateful that my husband and I are retired and therefore we have not had to worry about being unemployed, I know that many of you have lost your jobs during this covid pandemic. Thankfully a lot of people have been able to continue working from home which has been a great opportunity for them to spend more time with their family and reassess their priorities. This has been good, but what about those of you who lost your job and are trying to find new employment so you can support your families?
Here is a place where you can find a great deal of useful employment assistance. Wish we had had help like this when we were younger.
I was also thinking that sharing some things we learned during our 45 years of employment in the hopes that they might help you.
- Things often work out in unexpected ways. For instance, many years ago my husband, who was working for the Post Office, tried to get a training job, but he didn't get it which was very disappointing since he had a degree and experience in training. The next year the position opened up in the area where we had decided that we wanted to live. A person he had met during the training test the year before arranged this transfer. Now my husband not only had the job he wanted, but he had it where he wanted it. I loved not having to worry about him having to drive home an hour each night on dangerous roads, and it also gave him more time with his family.
- Take opportunities even if they don't seem perfect. When my husband began working for the Post Office, it was just a job he could get as a Vietnam veteran to provide him with income while he finished his second college degree. We had no idea at the time that he would continue working there for 46 years until he retired. During that time, he had the opportunity to use his teaching credential in providing employee training and his building construction degree as he worked doing the building maintenance for many years. This gave him further training and experience enabling him to have the expertise to do two retirement businesses.
- Get as much training as possible. - When my husband graduated from college in 1978 with a degree in building construction, interest rates were high, Savings and Loan businesses were folding, and building was almost at a standstill. It definitely was not the time to quit our job and start building homes. Because my husband had a degree in secondary teaching, experience with organizing and leading as a captain in the Army Corps of Engineers, a degree in building construction, and could even take shorthand, we were able to readjust our plans and found opportunities to use his training and experience in unplanned for ways.
- Seek help from others. Yes, networking can really help, but we found that our most valuable contact was only a prayer away. We learned to trust His timing and those feelings He sent us about things we should do. For instance, when my husband took the test to become the Building Equipment Mechanic, he didn't get it, but we still felt that it was the right job for us. The next year, after more study, my husband took the test again. This time he passed the exam becoming responsible for maintaining two large commercial buildings. Soon we found out that his new job would require months away from home so he could receive training on the various building systems. The year before, our youngest child was in his last few months of high school. It could have had life changing consequences for our son to have had his dad gone at this crucial time in his life.
- God is the best employment counselor possible. Even when you can't see how things will work out, it can. Develop your talents, write a good resume, practice for your interview (we spent hours doing this and it really helped), pray, network, have faith, and don't give up hope. Remember you are never alone and it will work out - somehow.
photo is of my husband many years ago - he doesn't have a beard now but he's still cute
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