Surviving the Recession as a Single Mother

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The recession is taking its toll on millions of Americans each day. One unique sector affected by the economy is single mothers whose careers are necessary on many levels. When these women suffer the impersonal blow of job termination, their core foundation is hit profoundly. How do they survive so to best support their family emotionally and financially. They do what women do best ... pick themselves up, dust themselves off and start all over again!

Leslie Padilla, former public relations executive for Comcast Programming, and single mother of two, has channeled her recent personal and professional challenges to find tactical and inspirational ways to face the recession while advancing her career and nurturing her family.

"Having worked since the age of 13, being laid-off was perhaps the most humbling experience of my life," confessed Padilla. "I had always identified myself with my career and now I found myself in an unexpected role of divorced, single mother. For weeks I was paralyzed by this reality. But through writing and healing I found my inner voice and began networking at rapid-fire pace to build my foundation for our future."

Padilla is just one of millions of women around the world facing similar setbacks during the recession. Through her own journey she aspires to give hope and tips to her fellow sisters so they too may find their silver lining during this passing storm.

1) Allow yourself time to heal: Losing a job requires mourning. Alert family members and friends that you need their support during this time of loss. And recognize that immediately after being severed is not the best time to interview as you will not reflect your innate confidence and knowledge to further your career.

2) Visit the doctors: Schedule all of your family's preventative doctor appointments and get your prescriptions filled prior to losing your health insurance benefits. Work with your doctors so medications can be prescribed in a quantity to last a few months.

3) Continue working: Remain connected with colleagues and industry members by offering to do pro-bono or charitable work during your severance time. It will add to your resume and make you feel good simultaneously. These "free" services also allow you to demonstrate your strengths so you can potentially begin to work freelance and then land a full-time job with your clients once the recession resides.

4) Utilize ALL severance offerings: Many companies these days include corporate counseling in their termination packages. Use these services to redesign your resume. Research the possibility of utilizing company or agency offices from where you can job search productively and at no cost by using their computers, Internet, printers, scanner, resume paper, and business card production. Plus, these environments are great for networking with other individuals in similar career transition who can help with both emotional support and potential job leads.

5) Leverage your industry resources: Meet with the president of your industry trade organization's local chapter so they know you in-person and your individual qualifications and goals. These contacts can be invaluable and serve as true ambassadors in recommending you to companies they know have openings.

6) Network: Arrange in-person meetings with everyone you know -- you never know who may have a contact worth leveraging. Offer to meet them for coffee or a drink, and always pay the bill as they are doing you a favor. Try to avoid lunches and dinners as they can get expensive quickly and chip away at the severance payments you need to manage wisely.

7) Create a Budget: Be prepared for the long-haul should you not be able to land a job prior to your severance running out. Cut back immediately on all unnecessary expenses like dining out, clothing, beauty services, and coffee shops. And make a budget line for networking expenses as these add up, but are tax deductible.

8) Remain Optimistic: Use the term "in transition" as opposed to unemployed, laid-off and collecting unemployment. You have paid into the benefits you are receiving and you are entitled to what your employer and government is offering.

9) Don't Settle: Remember you are valuable; do not take a job in which you have no interest or if it does not pay what you are worth. Be patient and focused on what you want and work for that position.

10) Nurture your nature: Through all of this, make sure to find time for yourself. This is a process and to remain strong tap into personal passions that soothe your soul -- whether it's a bubble bath, journaling or just taking a walk and breathing slowly. These small gifts will pamper your nature allowing you to be a better mother and woman in all realms of life.

Padilla continues her journey each and every day gathering new and helpful ways for surviving the recession. For more suggestions and inspirations visit Leslie's Voice blog at http://lesliepadilla.wordpress.com or visit www.lesliepadilla.com.