For many people who have to return to work after they get divorced, one of the biggest hurdles they have to overcome is learning how to use technology that has changed while they were out of the workforce.
One woman said this was her biggest fear by far as she looked for a new job. She had stopped working during the marriage, opting to be a stay-at-home mom. While that is certainly work in its own right, she did not have to use technology that became common in the workplace. She spent eight years at home before getting divorced and going out to get a job again.
Over nearly a decade, she said she hadn’t used much more than Microsoft Word when it came to computer programs. She had no idea how to use a Mac computer or any Apple programs. She didn’t own an iPhone and didn’t know how to use one. She did buy an iPod to listen to music, but she asked her niece to put the songs on it for her because she was so unfamiliar with the technology.
Basically, her understanding of technology went on hold when she stepped out of the workforce. Everything she knew was obsolete nearly a decade later. Technology had changed dramatically, and she felt nervous and scared, lacking any self-confidence.
She did get over it and got back into the workforce, but it’s important to be aware of these fears. You may be experiencing them yourself. Getting a job again is not always simple. You need to know all of your legal options during the divorce, which may include asking for alimony to help you make ends meet when you thought your spouse was going to support you into the future.