A neutral vocational consultant can evaluate the stay-at-home spouse’s transferable skills, interests, medical issues (if any), education, and formal training. The vocational consultant can then offer advice related to the current labor market and the necessary steps to be taken to position oneself to return to satisfying employment.
Sometimes, all that an unemployed or underemployed spouse may need is a revamp of a resume or open-ended vocational counseling. Perhaps one might need assistance with informational interviewing.
In other instances, verifiable labor market research can be conducted by the consultant by contacting employers, recruiters, schools, and identifying available job openings in the spouse’s area of interest. It may be that experience can be obtained through an internship or short-term temporary positions. The end result of the consultant’s work is a roadmap for the unemployed or underemployed spouse to determine what is needed to update skills for a particular vocational goal. The consultant can provide the costs and timelines.
There are other vocational resources in the community, such as Career One Stop Centers, which provide job seeking skills workshops and job club programs free of charge. The federal government funds these centers. There is also a site known as GFClearnfree.org, where one can study various computer tutorials at no charge.
In conclusion, a neutral vocational consultant is a valuable resource for any number of services that an individual may need to enter or reenter the workforce.
Ms. Rachel Hawk, CRC, ABVE has a Master’s Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling. She has worked in her field for over thirty years and has an office at The Collaborative Practice Center in Santa Rosa, CA. http://www.vocationalexperts.com
photo credit: Ann Buscho, Ph.D.
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