New Me, New Job

For me, one of the scariest aspects of being separated was finding a job.

Job-hunting has never come easy for me. I have always struggled with the necessary self-confidence required for interviews, networking, and for putting myself out there.

During my first marriage, I worked for my husband’s company. I helped with the business plan to secure our initial bank loans. For years I managed the day-to-day book keeping requirements, financial planning, and forecasting the cash flow. I managed the accounts receivable and accounts payable during the company’s start up phase.

I stopped working for the company when the accounting requirements exceeded my abilities.

I am an introvert by nature. I need to push myself to be social. During my marriage, my husband helped enable me to become even more of an introvert, to the point where making a phone call to my doctor took a lot of effort for me, and I almost never picked up a ringing phone.

I kind of stumbled on to my post-marriage job. It was January, about a month after my separation, and I had decided that I deserved some new bedding. I went to my favorite home décor store in hopes of finding some new sheets and a new duvet cover.

What I found was an advertisement for new associates. To my mind, this ad was meant for me.  I turned around, went home, polished my resume, changed into more professional attire and returned to the store. It took a lot more courage than I care to admit, but I went up to the customer service desk and inquired about the positions. I filled out an application form and minutes later I was being interviewed by the administration manager. Two days later, I had a job. 

The job gave me a newfound sense of purpose, a sense of being productive. It was my introduction back into society. I have been working at the home décor store for four years now. I have moved up to full-time and moved up into a supervisory position. I am entrusted with decision-making and delegating.

The social aspect of working in retail has been good for me. I am required to be available for customers who like to ask a lot of questions. I train and mentor new associates. I anticipate the flow of inventory through the store and merchandise product accordingly. It reminds me that I do have skills and that I do have something to offer.

I am still an introvert at heart. I always will be. I am a writer. It is an incredibly isolating hobby. But I learned a valuable lesson not to cocoon myself, and shelter myself from the real world. 

My current husband is trying his darnedest to ensure that I maintain a sense of independence, something I didn’t do in my first marriage. Sometimes this is accomplished by dragging me kicking and screaming but I know he has my best interests at heart.

But I still make him deal with taking my car to the shop.

www.jenniferschipper.com