10-year absence hurts chances of employment
1437
Dear Joan:
I have been absent from the workplace for 10 years after a successful 25-year history of working in public relations, media relations, internal communications, advertising, marketing, event planning and much more. I had management jobs and an excellent reputation in the community.
I have been trying to find a job and have a problem because for those 10 years I was involved in an extremely abusive relationship with a man who physically, mentally and morally nearly killed me. I had to go through much therapy and medication to get back on my feet again. I also incurred three misdemeanors during this time.
I am wondering if there is ever any hope or chance of me finding a job. I have been applying for jobs for years and haven't received one call back. I also think that my criminal record, although mild and not extensive, has destroyed any hope for any future job. Should I send the white flag up and just decide to not try anymore?
Sincerely,
Down and out
Answer:
First and foremost, congratulations for getting back on your feet again. I have first-hand experience with this kind of situation and I know how difficult it is to fight your way back after years of being beaten down. No doubt all those difficult years took their toll on your self-confidence. It’s hard enough trying to sell your skills to an employer when you come from a supportive environment, let alone a demoralizing one.
I think trying to get a traditional job—with the long absence, misdemeanors, and tough economy—could be a futile effort…that is, until you get some recent experience, so you can reestablish your credibility and confidence. This will require a slightly different approach.
Perhaps you could contract with some PR, advertising, and event planning firms. This does several things. First, it freshens up your skills and gives you recent experience. Secondly, it allows employers to see what you can do, without the pressure of making you an offer before they try you out. In a contract arrangement, they are less likely to worry about your misdemeanors, since they aren’t employing you full time.
Explore staffing agencies that place professionals in long-term projects, or temp-to-permanent placements. Once you start networking, you will discover many other ways to work besides a full-time job. You could start your own small business. Technology makes starting your own firm easy. You may be able to leverage some of the relationships you developed years ago to get some referrals. Once you have a small portfolio of good work, things can build by word of mouth and free social media.
There are other firms that are capitalizing on an older, experienced workforce; people who don’t want full-time retirement, but don’t want a full-time job either. Patina Solutions is one firm that comes to mind. Their innovative business model matches seasoned professionals with short and long-term needs in businesses.
Another approach is to do some consulting work with smaller firms who can’t afford the services of a big Marketing firm but need your expertise. For example, BizStarts Milwaukee is an organization for entrepreneurs in the seven-county area in southeast Wisconsin. Entrepreneurs can find resources on the website, bizstartsmilwaukee.com, take classes to help them create a business plan, attend networking events, and be matched to resources like marketing/PR experts, and investors, as well. Just attending a networking event for an organization like this will open you to many opportunities.
All of these solutions are designed to get you back in the mix, flex your professional muscles, and prove you can bring value to help them with their business needs. From there, you can either get a job (probably offered by one of your clients) or decide you like the independent life. After all, you’ve been under the control of an abusive husband—you may love the feeling of being in control of your own life.
Do you need answers to tough job hunting questions? Are you looking for some added punch to help you stand out from the crowd? Joan Lloyd’s has developed job hunting tools that can help you to maximize your job search:
Savvy Negotiation Strategies to Get Paid What You’re Worth on a New Job (Detailed, 8-page PDF by email – no shipping charge)
Easy, Step-by-step Guide to Using the Internet to Land a Great Job (Detailed, 10-page PDF by email – no shipping charge)
The Resume That Opens the Door and the Interview That Gets the Job (Detailed, 37-page PDF by email – no shipping charge)
Joan Lloyd is a Milwaukee based executive coach and organizational & leadership development strategist. She is known for her ability to help leaders and their teams achieve measurable, lasting improvements. Joan Lloyd & Associates, specializes in leadership development, organizational change and teambuilding, providing: executive coaching, CEO coaching & team coaching, 360-degree feedback processes, customized training (leadership skills, presentation skills, internal consulting skills & facilitation skills), team conflict resolution and retreat facilitation.
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