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Don't
Abandon Your Career if You Decide
to Leave Work
 Can you live on one income? If you are like many couples,
you can’t even get by on two! But that doesn’t
mean you can’t stay home to raise your children.
It may be less expensive to run the household with
only one spouse working. That’s because two careers
mean additional expenses for childcare, commuting,
clothing, meals eaten out, and taxes.
But beware -- putting your career
on hold can come back to haunt
you. You’ll pay the price when
you re-enter the market. An interruption in your work
history is likely to reduce your earning potential
and cost you seniority. If your marriage ends in divorce
or the death of your husband, you may not be able to
re-enter the job market quickly if you haven’t
kept up your skills and maintained your network contacts.
Here are some
strategies to ease your transition
into and out of the workforce:
- Give
notice and gather references. Be
sure to give your employer at least
two- to three-weeks notice
when you leave your job. Ask
for letters of recommendation
from your boss and colleagues
or clients before your last
day.
- Retain your benefits. Under
the so-called federal COBRA law,
you likely are entitled to continue
the same healthcare benefits
for 18 months, though you will
have to pay the premiums that
your employer may have paid or
subsidized.
- Time your departure
wisely. If you’re
only a few months from vesting
in your employer’s stock
options or 401(k) contributions,
consider waiting a bit before
calling it quits.
- Keep up your job skills. Job
sharing, consulting, or working
part-time are great ways to stay
active in your field. Keep up
your professional certifications
so you don’t have to re-qualify
when you decide to go back to
work.
- Stay in touch. Keeping
contact with previous bosses
and colleagues will pay off.
When you are ready to re-enter
the job market, you’ll
have a network of contacts to
help with your search.
- Take classes. Attend
continuing education classes
to stay in touch and keep current.
If you are planning to go into
a different line of work, take
classes in a new field so you’ll
have the right skills when it’s
time to look for a position.
At WIFE we welcome your comments. Please feel free to contact us.
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