Age 50 Plus Career Coach Blog

Many experienced workers, whether currently working or in job search mode are examining options for making a serious career change. That might be a new industry or even a new profession. The fact that you are considering such a change means you don’t see a future for yourself doing what you have done in the past. Maybe the industry or job is moving overseas. Maybe you are not getting the job satisfaction you want from your current career.  Whether you’re considering a new industry or an entirely new profession, you need to do some serious homework.

Start by assessing your skills to see what may be transferable to the new position. What are you really good at? What comes to mind as the highlights of your career? Make a list. Now look at what you really enjoy doing, whether on the job or in your personal life. What makes your socks roll up and down?  Highlight the skills on your list that are involved in these activities. If you’re unsure of your skills and interests, there are many surveys and tests that you can take to help you identify them. You can find these tools by doing an internet search. A great resource for an overview of self-assessments is the Riley Guide (www.rileyguide.com). Still a little confused? This is where the services of a Career Coach are worth their weight in gold.

Once you’ve figured out what you’re good at and what you love to do, the next step is identifying the profession that’s right for you. You certainly don’t want to end up doing all this work only to find that in a year or two the profession you’ve chosen has moved offshore or contracted to the point where there’s no hiring going on.  Back to the internet for more research!  The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Occupational Outlook Quarterly (http://www.bls.gov/ooq/) which projects employment for hundreds of positions through 2018.  Another good resource is O*Net (online.onetcenter.org/help/bright/), a program sponsored by the Department of Labor which has highlighted hundreds of jobs that have a “bright outlook” and are expected to grow rapidly in the next few years. Now, choose a few that appeal to your talents and your desires and check out similar job postings on the internet. Do the job requirements sound like what you'd like to do?

NEXT STEPS:  Investigating Potential Career Choices – stay tuned for the next installment.

Posted by Camille at 03:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Definition of Age Discrimination

The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) prohibits an employer from firing, refusing to hire, or otherwise discriminating against an employee age 40 or older, solely on the basis of age.

Strategies for Overcoming Age Bias

1. DON’T mention it.  Don’t bring up your age or your years of experience which may suggest your age.
2. DO develop an air of confidence, vigor, and competence. Rid your mind of thoughts of age bias so you don’t give out any unconscious signals that age is an issue.
3. DO make sure your skills and training are up to date for the job you seek.
4. DO remove dates from your resume that may give away your age.  Those may be dates of education or certifications.
5. DON’T go back any further than 15 to 20 years of work history on your resume.
6. DON’T focus on your years of experience on your resume. Employers want to know what you can contribute now.
7. DO emphasize your skills and accomplishments on your resume.  Create a T-chart and match your skills and accomplishments to the key requirements of the job. This exercise will prepare you for writing your resume and for the interview questions.
8. DO seek out “age-friendly” employers. Identify 10 to 20 companies you want to work for and find out if they welcome mature workers. Network to find people who currently work there or have worked there in the past and get information from them. Check out the company website for photos, press releases, statements about corporate culture. Check out certified age-friendly employers at RetirementJobs.com and AARP.org. Visit the company parking lot and see who’s coming and going.
9. DO make a good first impression at the interview.  Dress appropriately for your age and the company culture, display enthusiasm, and confidence. Leave any thoughts of age discrimination outside the building—they will poison your attitude and jeopardize your chances for a successful interview and never mention the subject of age, even in jest.
10. DO prepare for the “tough” interview questions that relate to age.  Use active listening skills and look behind the questions.  What are the interviewer’s concerns?

• How old are you?  Yes, this is a legal question. Maybe the interviewer is concerned that your skills are out of date, or you are applying for a position that’s a step back from what you did before. A potential response: “If you are concerned that my skills (education) may not be current, please let me assure you that I have recently attended professional development classes and am current in all of the latest technology required by this position.” 
• Aren’t you overqualified for this job?  Prepare your response in advance and make sure you believe it and are comfortable delivering it.  A potential response: “Although I have been a manager in the past, at this time in my career I have decided to do what I like best, which is the ‘hands on’ aspect of the job.”
• How long do you plan to work?  You should be honest, but if you don’t know you can say, “I don’t have a specific time in mind.  The challenges of this type of work are important to me and I plan to continue to grow professionally.”
• How will you fit in with a younger workforce? Never say you plan to mentor them, unless that’s in the job description. Rather say, “I value the experience of working with a diverse, multigenerational workforce for all the learning opportunities and benefits it can provide and I see that as a great benefit of this job.”
  

Posted by Camille at 11:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

You’ve been looking for a job for over six months and discouragement is a mild description of your attitude.  It may seem like you’re sinking deeper and deeper into the well with no lifeline.  What can you do to restore your faith in yourself and your confidence in your ability to find a job?  You know your attitude affects the persona you present at an interview so it’s critical for your mental health as well as your ability to land that job.  It’s time to take a break! 

Give yourself a week of NOT job hunting. No searching the job boards, no sending resumes, no phone calls, or emails.  Instead focus your “vacation” time on restoring your mental and physical health. Create a vacation schedule includes rest, exercise, and mental health restoration. Start with an exercise program—whether it’s working out on a treadmill, taking a long walk, swimming, stretching, yoga, or whatever is available to you—do it every day for at least 45 minutes. Eat healthfully by planning well-balanced meals. 

Devote 30 minutes each day to restoring your mental well being by meditating. If that sounds too foreign to you, then spend the 30 minutes thinking and writing about yourself—your best qualities—the things about you that make you the unique and valuable person that you are. If you have negative thoughts, just push them aside and focus on a positive one. This isn’t always easy when you’re in a period of discouragement, but just note one or two positives to start.  If you practice every day you will discover more.

Restart your job search after your “vacation.”  Don’t just pick up where you left off, but start all over.  Carefully review your job search goals. If the jobs in your field have pretty much dried up, identify the skills you have that are transferable to another position. Conduct some informational interviews to verify your suitability and get more data.  Revise your resume.  Make sure your resume is focused on a particular job title. You need a different resume for each position title.  Do your listed skills support the position for which you are applying?  You may need to reorder or add skills, depending on the position description.  

Searching for a job is a job and you may need a break—a “vacation” to restore your energy and gather your strength. Take a little time off to refocus and come back to your job search renewed.

Posted by Camille at 07:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Just laid off?  Still unemployed?  Job Search is now your full time job.

After the shattering experience of being laid off (i.e. "outsourced", "removed", "excessed", "separated", and other such odious words), one common approach is to pull inward and disengage from the world, from friends and family, and especially from the job market.  It's normal.

But at some point, you have to re-engage with the job market, and find that next job.  And between now and that next paying job, your new full time job is finding the next job. 

Without going into the details (which we will get around to in future blogs), you will need to set a schedule and goals, and get moving with your new occupation as job seeker.  Of all the tasks associated with job search, the most important is to create a daily schedule, and stick to it.  Create daily and weekly goals and then accomplish them. 

Don't plan of working on your job search all day long, every day, but do set at least half a day every day for job search functions. Keep records of who've you talked to; where you've applied; and a calendar of upcoming events. Spend time every day researching and completing your master resume and your master job application form. Keep your records organized and available whether in a notebook, binder, or PDA.  Create some business cards (many free sources available on the web) and begin to hand them out.  Develop your elevator speech and practice it often.  Find out what services are available at your local one-stop employment centers and take advantage of them.  Most offer free computer services along with training classes and a large reference library.  Get out of the house and talk to people. Build your network.

You've got a lot to do, but don't devote all your time for job search.  You also have a life to live.  Exercise, work out, and meet with friends, and be with your family.

It will be a lot of work, but all you are looking for is just one job.

Camille

Continue reading "Job Search is Your New Job" »

Posted by Camille at 07:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)