The other evening, I had the pleasure of meeting a number of smart women who have had to make tough choices in their lives. I recently began volunteering with WHW (Women Helping Women), and spent time as a ‘trainer’ during a resume-writing workshop.
The woman I was paired with (let’s call her Linda), has her Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (if you have ever been in manufacturing, you know that is something employers want), and is certified in project management. In the early days of her career, she worked as a civil engineer and belonged to Engineers without Borders, and APWEN (Association of Professional Women Engineers). Linda has the education, experience and passion for her chosen profession. So why was Linda at WHW learning how to put her resume together?
Linda stopped working for a period of time, to raise a child. Her daughter is now 21 years old, and Linda is in her late 50’s. Her husband passed away unexpectedly last year, and while she currently has a survival job she is really looking to get back to work as an engineer. She is facing all the things we have talked about in earlier posts: she needs to update her resume to match today’s standards, she needs to update her LinkedIn page, she needs to learn how to properly apply for jobs on line, and MOST IMPORTANTLY – she needs to bring her skills up to date and regain confidence.
Linda’s circumstance is not unusual. There are many women who by choice stepped away from their profession for personal reasons, but have found re-entering the work place to be much more challenging than they ever expected. I know – I have been there. If you are a new reader to Fabulous After Fifty, I encourage you to read earlier posts on The Dichotomy that Exists in Our Society Today, Dealing with the Stereotypes, You Have An Interview! and Ambition is Not a Bad Thing. Also, look around your community. If you are in Orange County, California – go visit Women Helping Women. If you live elsewhere, look around. I bet there is a similar organization with similar services close by. You are not alone. You will get through this and find that job you need.
Believe me – you are fabulous! An employer will ultimately recognize this fact. You just need the right tools, the right strategy, and the confidence to get your foot in the door. You can do it! Be strong!
