HOW TO GET STARTED IF YOU HAVE TO FIND A JOB

If you are thinking about finding a job in the Second Half, you’ll have a lot of company because fifty and over is one of the fastest growing labor force groups in the country. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that only 13 percent of American workers were fifty-five and older in 2000 whereas by the year 2015 workers fifty-five plus will make up over 20 percent of the workforce. The reason for this trend is clear: more and more people are looking to supplement their retirement income since many either failed to save enough money to retire or the value of their retirement plans especially 401(k)s and IRAs plummeted during the recent market crash.

According to a recent AARP study, 80 percent of Baby Boomers expect to keep working when they are retired. Some are seeking a way to get out of the house. Others want the social interaction work often provides. And still others miss the structure and routine of going to work. But, most of the respondents to the AARP survey cited money as the primary reason for seeking employment. As stated earlier, it is becoming more and more apparent that many of us will need to find part-time, maybe even full-time, employment in the Second Half in order to make up for the shortfall in our retirement portfolios.

For those who have been out of the job market for an extended period of time, this can be a very challenging time. But as with all challenges, a positive attitude, proper preparation, and a little good luck should help you find a job that will allow you to earn a steady income stream. There are numerous Web sites providing help to seniors who are looking for jobs. There are those that help you polish your résumé, sites that post your résumé, job search engines to help you find positions, and sites that list companies that hire seniors. If you decide you need to seek employment, here are some steps you can take.

Step One: Identify Your Skills

The skills that you utilized in the First Half may no longer be as relevant in today’s marketplace. Read want ads for positions you are interested in and determine if the qualifications and experience they call for match those you can claim. For example, you may find you need to update your computer skills, especially Windows-based programs. There are numerous websites offering skills inventory worksheets and programs to help you take stock of your skills as well as enabling you to assess which ones you may need to develop in the new economy. You'll be suprised after a lifetime of work and study how many skills you can legitimately claim. Just Google "skills inventory" and you are on your way.


Step Two: Update Your Skills

If you decide your skills need updating, take classes offered by local community colleges. Most offer a wide range of classes in the evening specifically targeted to adults who need to update their skills. Many of these brick-and-mortar educational institutions offer online courses you can take without leaving your home. There are, of course, a plethora of online educational institutions that also offer courses.

Step Three: Retool Your Résumé

Write a résumé making sure to highlight relevant skills and experience. Make your résumé as concise as possible to avoid appearing to be overqualified or too experienced. Emphasize your skills and relevant accomplishments rather than providing a boring chronology of where you worked, dates, etc. Think of your résumé as a biographical profile designed to differentiate you from everyone else. Remember, you have nothing to lose by separating yourself from the clutter. Once you’ve updated your skills and created a résumé, it’s time to market yourself. Keep in mind that searching for a job is a multidimensional campaign consisting of five important elements:

1. Going on line
2. Looking for companies that hire seniors
3. Answering want ads
4. Contacting recruitment agencies
5. Plugging into your network

Job Strategy #1: Going Online

Create a blog that highlights your expertise. An excellent tool is Blogger developed by Google that provides a series of blog templates you can use to post your resume. Google will also host your blog for a modest annual fee. You can also use one of a number of résumé services that can help you develop a colorful and fresh résumé. The idea is to show off your computer and other relevant skills to prospective employers. You should also use job search engines to both post your résumé and to search for jobs. Two of the more popular job search engines are Monster.com and CareerBuilder.com.

Job Strategy #2: Looking for Companies That Hire Seniors

There are a number of companies that actively recruit seniors. You can find them through the various job search engines as well as conventional search engines such as Google and Yahoo. All you need to do is type in “companies that hire seniors” and you will get extensive listings.

Job Strategy #3: Answering Want Ads

Your local paper is sure to have a want ad section listing full- and part-time jobs. Generally speaking, this is one of the least effective approaches to finding a job, but as part of an overall job search campaign, you shouldn’t overlook it. Never leave a rock unturned when job hunting.

Job Strategy #4: Contacting Recruiting Agencies

Again, not a very productive avenue for seniors. Most firms target younger individuals reflecting the demands of their client companies; but this is not to be overlooked as part of an overall job search campaign.

Job Strategy #5: Plugging Into Your Network

This is a good technique for older individuals because many jobs for seniors are not advertised. It’s a good idea to make a list of everyone you know and make sure they understand you are looking for a job. You’ll be surprised how many people get jobs using their networks. In fact it is the most productive of all the job search stratgies. When it comes to job hunting, who you know really is more important than what you know.

The most difficult part of searching for a job is remaining positive and optimistic especially since you are not in control of events. The best approach is to turn the process into a numbers game much like insurance sales professional who are taught the 10/5/1 rule. It goes like this, for every ten phone calls they make they'll book five appointments and sell one policy. Based on these ratios when a top insurance professional gets turned down for an appointment rather than feeling rejected they assume they are one phone call closer to making a sale. The job search process works much the same way. So when you feel rejected and disheartened reframe the situation by focusing on the 10/5/1 rule. I guarantee it'll turn things around for you. It did for me during some very difficult times when I was on the beach looking for work.