What a Changing Job Market Means for Your Child Custody Case and Your Community

“How can you serve?” You don’t answer that question with a piece of paper. -- The Wall Street Journal reports that employers are rethinking the need for college degrees in a tighter, more skills- and experience-oriented job market. One fundamental, important point here is the mindset of both employers and aspiring employees gravitating towards what Jay Shetty calls the “transformation to service.” Id est, it’s less about who YOU are than what you can actually DO to serve your organization’s mission and your community. Or, perhaps, what you do to serve IS who you actually are. What does this mean for your Child Custody, Divorce or DHR Case? (For one, your Judge will take a “no excuses” mentality towards your ability to support yourself and your family)...

At Foxtrot, we talk a lot with our clients about taking care of (1) your body, (2) your money and (3) everything else (including your kids), an in that order. Parsing that out warrants a separate article in itself, (e.g., putting your own oxygen mask on first), but this article focuses on how the job market can affect your money and your case… AND what you need to do about a job market like this.

First, as mentioned earlier, the Judge in your case is unlikely to believe there is any excuse for not having a job, for not supporting yourself or your kids, financially. We heard one Judge mention from the bench how he couldn’t get to work from home 10 minutes away without driving by several ‘now hiring’ signs. Lots of folks joke or complain about how entitled society is becoming but, if that’s true, it makes those who are ready to work, ready to serve and ready to support their families that much more valuable. That’s an OPPORTUNITY.

Second, as the Wall Street Journal article mentioned, you can develop your skill set and advance your career WITHOUT spending a ton of money or time on a postsecondary education. The bottom line is HOW CAN YOU SERVE? You can develop your skills with certification courses, online programs or even Youtube videos, no kidding. The key, though, is to DEMONSTRATE your ability to serve. Build a portfolio like an artist or photographer would. If you’re applying for an office job, assemble a handful of great-looking documents you’ve drafted and laid out.

PLEASE NOTE, we are not advocating ‘going back to school’ for this or that without maintaining full-time employment. The idea is to work full-time and study or otherwise advance your skill set ON THE SIDE, not the other way around. Far too many of our clients, against our advice, for the most part, and other parties are sitting there telling judges that they’re ‘going back to school’ and not working, not earning, not supporting their families and, most importantly, not SERVING.

What all this amounts to, and what Jay Shetty and the Wall Street Journal note, is that a degree DOESN’T MEAN ANYTHING or, at the very least, it means less than it used to and that trend continues.

The Question is… how have you learned to serve? How can you help our team serve our mission, serve our customers or clients… serve our community? You don’t answer that question with a piece of paper or a line on a resumé.

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If you would like to learn more about how you, as a Committed Parent or Caring Relative, can stand up for yourself and be more effective in your Child Custody, Divorce or Adoption case, please click “book appointment online” on the menu or top right of your screen to schedule your initial consultation at one of our offices.

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This article contains general information and should not be construed as legal advice for you and or your unique situation. ~SW, Foxtrot