I've spent the last nearly two years job hunting. At 58 it isn't easy. And I'm not a nurse, teacher or computer whiz. No, I'm just me. A sometime editor, researcher, and for the last nearly two years, a blogger when I'm not job hunting. I still can't believe it's happening to ME. Where have I heard that before?
Unfortunately I'm not alone. I hear it more and more often. I overheard someone the other day deciding to be a phone sex operator. In order to eat. The choices this economy is forcing people into making are horrible. And discouraging. When even educated people can't get a job, what chance do people who are undereducated have?
It's a stressful holiday this year at my house. I'm praying for a better New Year. One that includes employment. Gainful employment. Maybe with benefits?
Our government can bail out banks and automakers but it doesn't have work for me? I mean I'm willing to work. I'm just older. Not ancient...just over fifty. I never thought I'd be in this situation. I've worked hard. I've followed all the rules. Just like thousands of other unemployed workers in the United States.
The last three jobs I've had I was thrilled because they were jobs I could have done forever. I'm not one of those people who want to retire. But they were jobs that were phased out. No more work. Laid off. Departments closed. But now... now I'm in a bind. I HAVE to have a job. I have to pay my bills. So if anyone out there is hiring...you know where to find me. Monster.com, Career Builder, Craigslist...etc. etc. etc. or blogging when I'm too discouraged to job hunt anymore.
But like most of us, I'll smile on Christmas Day, one day without job hunting eight hours a day. There won't be many new jobs posted on Christmas anyway. But the day after I'm back to the grind of hunting, emailing, attaching resumes and writing cover letters. My husband wonders why I can't sleep at night? I feel like a hamster in a wheel. There's no end. No way out. Just round and round. So I'm going to have a Merry, if reduced Christmas this year. And next year I WILL HAVE A JOB! I have to keep thinking POSITIVE!
Friday, December 23, 2011
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Finding Yourself Over 50
Most of us talk about 'finding ourselves' when we're teens, maybe just out of college, but when you're suddenly unemployed and over 50 it's time to do it all over again. More of the same angst? OH NO! That again? Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the answer to that is yes. Maybe until you were suddenly unemployed you never ever realized that somewhere along the line you'd 'lost yourself.'
How many of us get out of school, get jobs, and suddenly find our lives are half over and we're just not happy. We've never quite found our niche in life. Oh sure, maybe we're parents, and have had a job that pays the bills, but that sense of being US, finding our inner self, have you done it? If not, now is the time. Unfortunately for many of us right when we're on the road to finding ourselves we got sidetracked. All of a sudden we had spouses, children, car payments and mortgages. We no longer have the luxury of experimenting. We have to have that paycheck.
But now, while you're unemployed and looking for a job, take the time to explore who you REALLY are and what you REALLY want to do. Is there a job you've always wanted but just didn't want to risk leaving your sure fire paycheck for? Now is the time to take that risk. You can only job hunt so many hours of the day, after that what do you do? Watch TV? Read? Or is it time to find out, deep down who you really are and where you want to go in life. Consider interning while you job hunt. Explore your options. Go back to school and take some classes. It's time for you to take care of you.
Yes, I know, you may still have that mortgage (if you're lucky you've paid it off), or you have insurance that will cover your bills until you get another job. Maybe you got a severance package--use it. For YOU. After all, isn't it time to do something for you?
I'm not saying change after 50 isn't a tough thing to do. You are probably set in your ways and used to doing things one way, change is always hard, but expanding your horizons is always worth it. Give it a try, at least an attempt, before you settle back into another 9-5 ho hum job that's the same as your last one.
How many of us get out of school, get jobs, and suddenly find our lives are half over and we're just not happy. We've never quite found our niche in life. Oh sure, maybe we're parents, and have had a job that pays the bills, but that sense of being US, finding our inner self, have you done it? If not, now is the time. Unfortunately for many of us right when we're on the road to finding ourselves we got sidetracked. All of a sudden we had spouses, children, car payments and mortgages. We no longer have the luxury of experimenting. We have to have that paycheck.
But now, while you're unemployed and looking for a job, take the time to explore who you REALLY are and what you REALLY want to do. Is there a job you've always wanted but just didn't want to risk leaving your sure fire paycheck for? Now is the time to take that risk. You can only job hunt so many hours of the day, after that what do you do? Watch TV? Read? Or is it time to find out, deep down who you really are and where you want to go in life. Consider interning while you job hunt. Explore your options. Go back to school and take some classes. It's time for you to take care of you.
Yes, I know, you may still have that mortgage (if you're lucky you've paid it off), or you have insurance that will cover your bills until you get another job. Maybe you got a severance package--use it. For YOU. After all, isn't it time to do something for you?
I'm not saying change after 50 isn't a tough thing to do. You are probably set in your ways and used to doing things one way, change is always hard, but expanding your horizons is always worth it. Give it a try, at least an attempt, before you settle back into another 9-5 ho hum job that's the same as your last one.
Saturday, December 3, 2011
Job Hunting After The Wrinkles Set In--Or Job Hunting After 50
It's happened. Your inhumane 'human' resources department just sold you out. They told you your entire department or section of the company has been eliminated. Starting at the end of their meeting with you, you don't have a job. No warning. No time to look for another job while you still have one. Just good-bye, don't let the door hit you on the way out the door. Workers at Sunoco just got the word in the suburban Philadelphia area and it's not the first company in the area to be hit hard by closures or heavy layoffs.
It's happened to me three times. It's always a shock and it never gets easier. Obviously I'm not in professions that are recession proof. Television and Editing. The good thing is I'm one of those people who see being laid off as an opportunity to expand my horizons. You could say I'm a glass half full kind of person.
The real benefit in this job market is it gives you the opportunity or forces you to take a good hard look at what you were doing and find something that will make you happier. It lets you explore your options. You can pick up your talent and experience and take it 'on the road.'
It's critical in this tough job market to keep an upbeat attitude. And if you are over 50 and job hunting it's all about ATTITUDE. You need to remember you may have lost a job but you still have your talent, job skills and expertise.
Showcase that talent and expertise so an employer will look past the beginning of wrinkles and that body that's no longer marathon ready. (OK some of you may be marathon ready, but the majority of over 50's aren't.) Be cocky? No, just be assertive and the professional you are. Be creative (but not with your resume!) Face it, by the time you're over 50 you've had the time to develop into a super talent in your own little niche.
How to look for a job? Think about where your dream job is. No, I'm not kidding. If you're going to change jobs you might as well go for it! Contact people in the industry or company you want to work in and let them know you're interested. Sometimes the ability to generalize skill sets from one industry to a totally different one is a real asset. It shows initiative and the ability to think outside the box.
When I was laid off from doing medical research I made the move to working in television. Big leap? Yes. Impossible? No. It's all about the details! I am the woman on the other end of the phone you don't want to say no to. I'm not high pressure, I'm just good at finding a way to convince you to do what I want. This means any job that needs extreme attention to detail is my personal specialty. Anyone who can talk families into coming back for a medical appointment for followup for a medical study from halfway across the country can certainly talk someone into putting up their huge Christmas display two months early so we could film it for reality television.
OK, parts of my jobs have been a little...odd. And none of my jobs have ever been 9-5. I'm not a 9-5 kind of girl. But I do odd very well and weird hours suit my circadian rhythm. I am an EXPERT at odd. The key word here is EXPERT. Be an expert in your own little area. Expertise in any area is always valuable.
So go ahead, take a day or two, apply for your unemployment so you have food till you find that next job but don't let the hunt get you down! Embrace the opportunity for change. Stay positive. Make new contacts everyday. Now is not the time to start being shy!
Post and let us all know how your job hunt is going. I love hearing from my readers.
It's happened to me three times. It's always a shock and it never gets easier. Obviously I'm not in professions that are recession proof. Television and Editing. The good thing is I'm one of those people who see being laid off as an opportunity to expand my horizons. You could say I'm a glass half full kind of person.
The real benefit in this job market is it gives you the opportunity or forces you to take a good hard look at what you were doing and find something that will make you happier. It lets you explore your options. You can pick up your talent and experience and take it 'on the road.'
It's critical in this tough job market to keep an upbeat attitude. And if you are over 50 and job hunting it's all about ATTITUDE. You need to remember you may have lost a job but you still have your talent, job skills and expertise.
Showcase that talent and expertise so an employer will look past the beginning of wrinkles and that body that's no longer marathon ready. (OK some of you may be marathon ready, but the majority of over 50's aren't.) Be cocky? No, just be assertive and the professional you are. Be creative (but not with your resume!) Face it, by the time you're over 50 you've had the time to develop into a super talent in your own little niche.
How to look for a job? Think about where your dream job is. No, I'm not kidding. If you're going to change jobs you might as well go for it! Contact people in the industry or company you want to work in and let them know you're interested. Sometimes the ability to generalize skill sets from one industry to a totally different one is a real asset. It shows initiative and the ability to think outside the box.
When I was laid off from doing medical research I made the move to working in television. Big leap? Yes. Impossible? No. It's all about the details! I am the woman on the other end of the phone you don't want to say no to. I'm not high pressure, I'm just good at finding a way to convince you to do what I want. This means any job that needs extreme attention to detail is my personal specialty. Anyone who can talk families into coming back for a medical appointment for followup for a medical study from halfway across the country can certainly talk someone into putting up their huge Christmas display two months early so we could film it for reality television.
OK, parts of my jobs have been a little...odd. And none of my jobs have ever been 9-5. I'm not a 9-5 kind of girl. But I do odd very well and weird hours suit my circadian rhythm. I am an EXPERT at odd. The key word here is EXPERT. Be an expert in your own little area. Expertise in any area is always valuable.
So go ahead, take a day or two, apply for your unemployment so you have food till you find that next job but don't let the hunt get you down! Embrace the opportunity for change. Stay positive. Make new contacts everyday. Now is not the time to start being shy!
Post and let us all know how your job hunt is going. I love hearing from my readers.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Selling Yourself - When You're A Vintage Product
Are you a salesperson? Even if that wasn't your former job position, when you're unemployed you DO have a job, it's selling yourself and finding a new job. You are selling you. This is the time when the phrase 'know your product' is critical in your job search. And you ARE the product. The good news is after 50 plus years you should 'know your product' very well. But if you're from the boomer generation or older you need to create a need for a 'gently used' or 'vintage' product.
If the terms 'gently used' and 'vintage' make you think 'shopping at Goodwill' it may NOT be what you're used to. So if those terms don't scare you, nothing will.
How can you sell what's the equivalent of used or vintage products? Think about what makes these things valuable. If you're selling a vintage dress, what makes it valuable? It's appeal to nostalgia, it's rarity? Maybe it's the appeal of the knowledge an older worker brings or the quality of their workmanship. Pride in workmanship is frequently a hard thing for employers to find in younger employees, but older workers tend to have been brought up with a different work ethic.
Evaluate your strengths and sell them during your interview. Be sure to ask the potential employer what they are looking for in an employee and then tailor your answers to fit
Remember: whether you're at home, working for someone else or running you own business, you are a sales person. Make sure you know what you're selling, give to other people because "what goes around, comes around" and you never know if the next person you meet through someone in your network won't be you next big client or your partner in business or in life. Paying it forward never hurts. Good luck with your job quest--follow your star and be one. And it doesn't hurt if you have the ability to sell a bridge to someone who doesn't need one!
If the terms 'gently used' and 'vintage' make you think 'shopping at Goodwill' it may NOT be what you're used to. So if those terms don't scare you, nothing will.
How can you sell what's the equivalent of used or vintage products? Think about what makes these things valuable. If you're selling a vintage dress, what makes it valuable? It's appeal to nostalgia, it's rarity? Maybe it's the appeal of the knowledge an older worker brings or the quality of their workmanship. Pride in workmanship is frequently a hard thing for employers to find in younger employees, but older workers tend to have been brought up with a different work ethic.
Evaluate your strengths and sell them during your interview. Be sure to ask the potential employer what they are looking for in an employee and then tailor your answers to fit
Remember: whether you're at home, working for someone else or running you own business, you are a sales person. Make sure you know what you're selling, give to other people because "what goes around, comes around" and you never know if the next person you meet through someone in your network won't be you next big client or your partner in business or in life. Paying it forward never hurts. Good luck with your job quest--follow your star and be one. And it doesn't hurt if you have the ability to sell a bridge to someone who doesn't need one!
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