A corporate trainer doesn't let unemployment get her down

By Beth Carey

Jobs Vacancy, Employment, Employment Jobs

Dara was a 9-to-5 career woman for 20 years. She commuted daily into Houston, looking confident with her auburn Halle Berry haircut and power suits, her cell phone and organizer at arm’s reach.

But when Dara lost her job with the large corporation where she’d earned the best salary in her career, the family income was suddenly cut in half. She’s been doing a lot of soul-searching in the many months since her layoff. Now the question friends constantly ask her is, “How do you keep such an upbeat attitude in the face of such loss?”

Working full-time and raising two children with her husband, Rodney, was a fact of life for Dara. She worked professionally as a corporate trainer for 20 years. The family never imagined Dara’s last job would end in just 18 short months. The job had boosted their income enough so they’d decided to sell their starter home and buy a larger home to accommodate their growing family. They also replaced their old van with a new one. Both purchases came with large monthly payments.

The family expected Dara to land a new job without too much trouble. But the months keep going by and no full-time job has come her way. Is it the economy, or a dried-up job market in their city? It’s hard to tell.