Entrepreneurs
By: Dr. Barbara Seifert, CPC www.cyscoaching.com
If you have been umployed for longer than 3 months, you need to find a
career coach – and fast! Here are some benefits:
1. they can help you to regain composure when you feel thrust into
unemployment and help you to regain your equilibrium
2. they can help you become focused and to set new career goals with action
steps
3. they can give you “the scoop” on the job market: who is hiring, where to
leverage your skills and experience, using technology to market yourself
4. they can coach you on job search techniques, such as resumes,
interviewing, business etiquette, and salary negotiations
5. they can help you to find your purpose and passion and take that into the
workforce
6. they can help you to resolve workplace conflicts or stressors and help you
learn more adaptive skills to cope with work life
7. they can help you to learn to manage your personal life and your work life
8. they can help you decide if you want to retire, and then help you exit the
workforce on your terms
9. they can help you to leverage your skills and talents into a career path,
possibly to get paid for what you know
10. they can help you to understand yourself better so you can manage your
emotions and increase your attitude to be a highly engaged, highly motivated,
and highly productive employee
A job search can become tedious and demoralizing, as job searches are
done and resumes are sent but there may be no responses. It can become
very depressing and frustrating. Hiring a coach and spending money may
seem like an impossibility, but the money you invest in yourself, and in your
job search, can pay off enormously. Having someone who knows the industry
and who is focused on your success can help save you time that could be
better spent on the right direction rather than the traditional way of job
hunting. A career coach can help you gain more money and benefits through
salary negotion; they can help you to see how valuable you are to an
organization. A coach can help you to see your worth, to take more risks, and
to grow your ego-strength, all of which will help you to believe and act on your
behalf. The end result will be a successful job search that will help you
effectively manage your career and give you the preparation for the future
should you need it. Of course, these tips do not apply only to those who have
lost a job as they serve well to all job seekers. Shouldn’t you make the
investment in yourself?
By Nancy Anderson Job Search Trainer and Author
http://blackbirdlearningassociates.com/
I've been doing a number of trainings for the class, Job Search for the Mature Worker.
One of the things we inevitably get to is the Overqualified Statement. Since it is illegal
to infer that someone is too old for a position, many hiring managers wonder out loud if
the candidate may be overqualified for a particular position. In other words, “Why would
you want this job when you are clearly three levels above it?” Some class participant’s
have asked if they should dumb their resumes down. It really is a sad mess in the job
quest and needlessly makes a candidate and interviewer uncomfortable. It is bad
enough knowing that you are getting up there in age but it hurts more when someone
in a hiring position acknowledges it.
What are my responses to this?
1. Ask for clarification. What do you mean? How do you define overqualified? Once you
get a response, you may be better able to respond.
2. Expect it and be prepared. What is it about this job that you like or can compensate
for a lower salary? Is it closer to your home? Can you telecommute? Do you admire
their corporate responsibility? Can you work an eight hour day rather than a ten hour
day? How can you contribute your knowledge and background to this company in a
lesser role? Can you be a mentor? Do you really mind having a lower role in the
organization/how does this align with your work values?
3. Prepare a response based upon your reflection.
4. Match your skills and accomplishments to the position. Focus on how your past
accomplishments can align with the department/organizational goals.
5. Sell yourself if you really want this position.
Most companies ask this because they think that you will leave after the economy
improves or if you get a better offer with a higher paying position. Why would they
invest in you if you are going to leave? You can’t blame them for wondering. Be
prepared and don’t let them catch you off guard.
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Network Your Way to a Job
By Dr. Tom Denham www.CareersInTransitionLLC.com
Many people use the classified ads as their sole job search technique. Unfortunately,
statistics show that only 10% to 20% of jobs are ever published, which means that 80%
to 90% of jobs remain hidden in the job market. For this reason, networking remains the
number one job search strategy.
Eight Keys to Networking
1. Be Prepared, First, define what information you need and what you are trying to
accomplish by networking. Remember, your purpose in networking is to get to know
people who can provide information regarding careers and leads. Some of the many
benefits of networking include increased visibility within your field, propelling your
professional development, finding suitable mentors, increasing your chances of
promotion and perhaps finding your next job.
2. Know yourself, your education, experience and skills. Practice a concise, one-
minute presentation of yourself so that people will know the kinds of areas in which you
are interested. Your networking meeting should include the following elements:
introduction, self-overview, Q&A, obtaining referrals and closing.
3. Be Targeted, Identify your network. For some, “I don't have a network. I don't know
anyone,” may be your first reaction. You can start by listing everyone you know who are
potential prospects: family members, friends, faculty, neighbors, classmates, alumni,
bosses, co-workers and community associates. Attend meetings of organizations in
your field of interest and get involved. You never know where you are going to meet
someone who could lead you to your next job.
4. Be Professional, Ask your networking prospects for advice, not for a job. Your
networking meetings should be a source of career information, advice and contacts.
Start off the encounter with a firm handshake, eye contact and a warm smile. Focus on
asking for one thing at a time. Your contacts expect you to represent yourself with your
best foot forward.
5. Be Patient, Heena Noorani, research analyst with New York-based Thomson
Financial, recommends avoiding the feeling of discouragement if networking does not
provide immediate results or instant answers. She advises, “Be prepared for a slow
down after you get started. Stay politely persistent with your leads and build momentum.
Networking is like gardening: You do not plant the seed, then quickly harvest.
Networking requires cultivation that takes time and effort for the process to pay off.”
6. Be Focused on Quality, Not Quantity, In a large group setting, circulate and meet
people, but don't try to talk to everyone. It's better to have a few meaningful
conversations than 50 hasty introductions. Don't cling to people you already know;
you're unlikely to build new contacts that way. If you are at a reception, be sure to wear
a nametag and collect or exchange business cards so you can later contact the people
you meet.
7. Be Referral-Centered, The person you are networking with may not have a job
opening, but he or she may know someone who is hiring. The key is to exchange
information and then expand your network by obtaining additional referrals each time
you meet someone new. Be sure to mention the person who referred you.
8. Be Proactive, Stay organized and track your networking meetings. Keep a list of
your contacts and update it frequently with the names of any leads given to you. Send a
thank-you note or email if appropriate. Ask if you can follow-up the conversation with a
phone call, or even better, with a more in-depth meeting in the near future.
Be Dedicated to Networking. Most importantly, networking should be ongoing. You will
want to stay in touch with contacts over the long haul, not just when you need
something. Make networking part of your long-term career plan.
For the Do's and Don'ts of networking meetings and a list of questions to ask, visit our
Networking page to read the rest of Dr. Tom's article and find all of our Boomer Friendly
pros who can help you network your way to a new, or a better job.
By: Dale G. Klein, M.A., Corporate Communication & Speech Specialist www.profitablespeech.com
When requested to write an article about public speaking tips, I experienced an epiphany, of sorts. Many people
will do just about anything to avoid public speaking. Or, you may have said “Who’s got the time?” or “That’s not
good use of my time.” Therein lies the epiphany; it’s all about time!
**The best public speakers make the time to learn about their audience so that what they’re saying is what the
audience is interested in hearing.
**The best public speakers know that timing is everything. They find out exactly what their speaking time
allotment is, and then practice getting their timing right so they don’t run over or run short.
**The best public speakers appreciate the value of time out. They leave a “cushion” of time before and after they
speak, to reduce stage fright.
**The best public speakers recognize the third time’s a charm. On average you’ll want to practice your
presentation aloud three times to work on your opening and closing, your nonverbal language and your intonation.
**The best public speakers are aware that time marches on. While the initial 30-60 seconds of a presentation
seem like hours due to an elevated stress level, it quickly subsides as you proceed with your purpose and
remember that the audience is there because they need what you have.
Finally, there’s no time like the present to work on your T.I.P.S., which by the way represents Talking Is Public
Speaking©. Every time you speak, it’s a form of public speaking. If you want to develop your skills, I urge you to
only seek input from an experienced and credentialed professional. Nothing less will do. Isn’t it about time?
BY ART KOFF, Founder of RetiredBrains.com
1. Register with temp firms in your local area as they don't care about age but are more interested in your skills
and experience. Also if you get work through a temp firm it helps build your resume for future work assignments.
2. Try to get an interview with an employer you are not interested in working for to practice your interviewing
skills. You don't want to go to your first interview in a long time with the employer you are really interested in
working for and make easily correctable mistakes.
3. Consider having your resume re-written or updated by an expert as the resume you used years ago is no
longer appropriate.
4. Search for a job in areas that connect older workers with employers seeking to hire them. Go to
RetiredBrains.com and chose your state in the "location" area and your job category in the "job type" area. Then
enter your city location in the "keyword" box as well as other modifying criteria to narrow your job search.
Consider putting the word temporary after some of these criteria so the system will return job postings often more
appropriate for older workers as employers are more likely to hire older workers on a temporary basis than their
younger counterparts.
5. Look for temporary or project assignments as they are much more available than full-time jobs.
6. When applying for a job tell the employer you are willing to start working as a consultant or on a project basis;
this often gives you a leg up on younger workers or are often unable to accept this kind of employment.
Temporary employment or working on a consultative basis can often lead to full-time work.
7. Get information on the perspective employer prior to your interview. For example contact someone who works
for this employer who attended the same school you went to saying. "Hi. You and I went to the same school but
graduated at different times. I'm interviewing for a position in your firm later this week and, before I meet with the
hiring manager, I would like to test out a couple questions I have about the firm on you and see what you think the
answers might be." (Later, ask if you can use their name as an employee referral)
8. Volunteer with a charity or non-profit. Although in most cases there is little or no monetary compensation, it is
often excellent experience and can possibly lead to employment with a firm that is seeking that particular
experience or appreciates your work ethic. It is also easier to find employment while you are working as you have
a better mind set. Looking for a job on a full-time basis is not a very rewarding experience.
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