In a less than robust economy, your spouse isn't the only person making career choices. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that as of July 2010, 7.8 percent of women and 9.9 percent of men are unemployed. If your spouse has recently lost a job, you can be the one to help him make the right career choice when he needs to make a change. By showing encouragement, patience and being smart about the way you search for jobs, you can help your spouse find a job that both you and he can be proud of.
Step 1
Ask your spouse about her various career ambitions, suggests Careerealism. If she doesn't seem to know what she wants to do, ask her about her interests and where she sees herself in five years. If she wants a career helping people, you can follow choices that will get her there. If she wants to be creative, you can help her look for applicable jobs. Using her interests, you can help point her to a career she'll enjoy and find success.
Step 2
Take stock of your spouse's various talents and abilities so you can clearly see the things in which your spouse excels. Life coach Ruth Purple suggests encouraging your spouse to choose a path based upon the talents that he already possesses. If he as an aptitude for numbers, a career in accounting may be feasible. If he loves to draw, something in art and advertising may be appropriate. Talking about your spouse's abilities may give him the confidence boost he needs to start looking for the right career.
Step 3
Encourage your spouse to receive further training and education. Some careers and jobs will need highly specialized training, and if your spouse has been out of the job market for a while, she'll need to learn new skills to adapt. If she wants an administrative career, she may need to take a course on basic computer functions or learn more about the specialized career that she most wants. Spending time in training can also let her know if she really enjoys the career choice she's making.
Step 4
Watch and actively search for job opportunities in your spouse's current field. If he's lost his job due to a failing economy or downsizing, he may feel hopeless about the number of applicants for a career that he'd like. As a spouse, you can do some of the legwork so he can see the opportunities available and encourage him to apply, says CVTips.com.
Step 5
Help your spouse prepare a resumé and practice interviewing skills to give her the best chance possible at securing a job in the career that she wants. If she hasn't worked for a while or been in the same job for a long period of time, you'll need to help her update her resume with her job skills and any new education she's received. Hold mock interviews so she can become more comfortable with the typical questions and showing confidence that she's the one for the job.
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