Wiser Worker Blog

These payments are part of the Stimulus package that was enacted in February.  The targeted recipients of these payments are people who receive Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, railroad retirement or veteran’s disability benefits.

The $250.00 checks will serve as a boost just as the recession is showing signs of easing a little speculate Economists. These payments represent a little more that $13 billion dollars of the stimulus program.

If you fall into the category of individuals who will be receiving these payments you can expect them in the early weeks of May.  The goal of the stimulus package is to get people to spend money at a time when most are reducing spending and saving more. These payments are also expected to provide much needed relief too many struggling seniors.  

The extra Social Security payments should boost spending because retirees on fixed incomes are more likely to spend them than workers earning more money, said Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial.

“The people who live closer to paycheck-to-paycheck are more likely to spend it,” Swonk said.

“You’re 62, you’re eligible, you just lost your job,” Swonk said. “It’s better to get something than nothing.”

Hopefully you don’t have the swine flu, but there’s nothing worse than finally finding a job only to end up sick. It happens and all too often in fact…. why does this happen? Well it’s simple when you are pounding the pavement in pursuit of a job you are bound to encounter germs.

How can you put your defenses up and ward off the ever present germs that are out there in the job seeking world? I found the following useful tips at the Center for Disease Control:

Avoid close contact: How do you avoid contact when interviewing?  Well you can’t what you can do it this: wash your hands frequently and if you can’t get to a washroom use antibacterial gel. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands.

Cover your mouth and nose: if you do have to cough or sneeze cover your nose and mouth and wash your hands before contacting other people.

Clean your hands: Wash your hands, this must be important because I am mentioning it again…..   

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth: with dirty hands especially……

Practice other good health habits: gets lots of rest, drink LOTS of water.

Stay Home: If you are sick stay home.

It’s a real threat out there and it’s called the flu, make sure you ward off the germs that can stop you in your tracks. It’s no fun to finally find the perfect job only to have to call in sick.  At WiserWorker.com we want you to be well and in tip top shape to start your new job!

Whoever said this is a genius, it’s one of my favorite pick me ups when I am feeling particularly frustrated on any situation.  I have been known to thrown this out a group of people…..I don’t know what we are going to do…but it better be pretty great because…..and here it comes….”Failure is not an Option.”

It’s a group of words that just works! The phrase instantly gets the blood flowing and the troops lining up. I read an article that used this quote today and it’s not important what the article was about, what’s important is my reaction. I instantly was reenergized and launched into my next project; because in the world of searching for a job “Failure is certainly not an Option.“  WiserWorker.com is open 24 hours a day with the latest most up to date job postings, a robust resource section and finally a dedicated blog that talks about topics that matter most to the older worker.

At WiserWorker.com we are working to make this site better for the end user-YOU. If there is something you would like to change let me know, there is nothing I like more than talking to job seekers. You can reach me at 1-888-606-7896 Ext 238 or my email is amy.hoster@wiserworker.com.

Just remember as a job seeker I know searching for a job can be difficult but remember “Failure is not an Option.”

From our Friends over at Grandparents.com

Learn to be a better communicator! Communication is the key to all positive family interactions. But how do you know if you’re communicating effectively? Join the experts at Grandparents.com for a live online seminar (a webinar!). This interactive event will show you how to:- Identify your communication style
- Discover new ways to resolve family conflict
- Learn valuable listening skills
- Understand how others perceive you

It’s FREE — all you need is a computer and a telephone. Register now!

When 8:00 PM – 9:00 PM EST

Where Thursday; May 14, 2009

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/544722659

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

Webopedia tell us that webinar is Short for Web-based seminar, a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the internet. 

Essentially you can attend a learning seminar over the internet and anyone in the world who has access to the internet can attend. Can you imagine attending a learning session from your living room in Phoenix, AZ and someone in Tampa, FL can attend the same meeting at the same time?

Pretty impressive, I have been to webinars where I can actually interact with participants who are at the same meeting all the way across the country. You can learn without having all the hassles of travel.

More importantly how is a webinar important to you?  You can learn almost anything from the comfort of your home.  You can have discussions with people you have never have met and maybe would not have met without the help of a webinar.   

It’s the latest in the every evolving world of technology.  Check back on Monday when you can read all the details on the upcoming webinar on communications.    

I remember the last time I was out of work and had just starting my job search; my ever so helpful mother gave me this advice: “You better get yourself out there and fill out LOTS applications”.   Little did my mother know that over the years the job market has changed and the job seeker needs to have an entirely different set of tools to look for a job in today’s job market.

Today’s job search doesn’t just mean knocking down doors and filling out applications. Don’t get me wrong many companies still use paper applications. Today, however the application is just ONE step in the job search process.  So what tools to you NEED to search for a job?    

1.    Updated Resume

2.    Updated Cover Letter

3.    Computer Access- Gain FREE access from any public library

4.    Know the Best Job Boards……WiserWorker.com

5.    A pad of paper – To take notes

6.    Your Employment History for times when you DO need to fill out a application.  

In some respects searching for a job today is easier because most of it can be done from home, you can cover a lot more territory from in front of a computer. It’s a different world so start with WiserWorker.com when you start your job search it was created for a job seeker just like you!

From the beginning of my WiserWorker.com blog I have talked about many topics all relating to job search, specifically I try and gear my blogs to topics that matters most to job seekers over the age of 40. On a few occasions I have addressed paid services and today I’m taking a look at membership fees, because it can be confusing and you need to understand it.   

My general overall comment it this: Job Seekers who are looking for work shouldn’t have to PAY to look at Jobs that are “from Age-Friendly Employers.”  All of our postings on WiserWorker.com are there because the employer is targeting older worker. The job postings wouldn’t be on WiserWorker.com if they didn’t want that job candidate.  Why are they targeting the older worker?  For many reasons; first and foremost they are the largest age demographic in the labor market right now.  

One of the sites boasts that if you join their membership program you can have a “50-page job guide for people over 50”.  You want one….call me, ours is called the Mature Workers Survival Guide and I will mail you one today….for free!  Amy Hoster 623.869-8888 Ext 238 or email me amy.hoster@wiserworker.com.  

Folks, because you are searching for a job you are already in a club: The club of unemployment. You shouldn’t have to join a secret club with super special jobs and or perks that only premium members get.  You shouldn’t have to PAY to find a job. You are looking for a job not going to the spa….save the pampering for where it belongs.  

At WiserWorker.com I promise you this: every job seeker and every employer will be treated the same. You won’t find a “premium” membership program; because we treat everyone with the same “premium” standards. All our users are special.

You need a job and WiserWorker.com is here to help you find a job.

Dreams….Are we ever too old to dream or perhaps reinvent ourselves?  I don’t think so; on the contrary I think dreaming keeps us young.   As you get older your dreams and ambitions may change but you always should keep dreaming and reaching for your next moment in your limelight.  It takes a confident person to pursue their dreams and then make it happen; those people I admire!   It takes courage to leap into the next phase of your life and sometimes your dreams give us the inside scoop as to where you might leaping. Allow yourself to dream…it’s good for the soul.

What’s your next dream? It doesn’t have to be grand in nature; it can be something as simple as a career change, starting a new business or perhaps it’s as simple as going from full time employment to part time.  Maybe take a vacation with a long lost family member. You’re next step should you choose to accept it is to turn your dream into reality.

I met a young lady that had a dream and now her dream is reality: Naturally Naked Soaps was her dream.  Kristen had a vision of a product for people who have sensitive skin issues and live on a budget.  Kristen did the research and learned there wasn’t a soap product made with natural products and MADE IN AMERICA.   It’s a labor of love- Kristen’s love and you can see it in her product line.  It took creativity and courage to turn her dream into a business. Kristen had confidence in herself and in the future of Naturally Naked Soaps.    

My advice?  Start small and dream big.  Find your niche in life and dream big to make it happen. As follows is what I like to call the Dream Plan:

1.    Take the time to Dream and Plan

2.    Keep that plan in the front of your mind…..

3.    Keep your eye on the future and avoid the past

4.    Avoid Dream Killers

5.    Take action: maybe small, maybe large but TAKE ACTION

WiserWorker.com was a dream….

and today it lives for you.

Pleasant Dreams to you.

Over the last few weeks I have spoken with many people who have found themselves caught on one particular question during the interview process. So many in fact that I ‘m taking a moment to explore this jaw dropping, conversation stopping question. So you ask…..what is this elusive question that has left many wondering if their answer or lack of answer blew the interview for them?  Tell me something thing about you that you would like to change, or Name one weakness you have. 

Let’s start with WHY this question stumps so many… it’s the most basic reason we are taught from a very early age to focus on the positive; to highlight what we excel at. I can’t once remember my parents teaching me to talk about the fact that I couldn’t clean my room to save my life. My mother in fact would be mortified if I had gone around telling people that I was a slob, she is just thankful I have grown up and keep a clean house. So it’s not surprising that when we ask people what they are not good at we are greeted with a deer in the headlights expression.

Okay so we know this question is going to come up; so get prepared! Have an answer formulated before your next interview because how you answer it shows something about your character. Remember its okay to have weakness we all do we just aren’t conditioned to talk about it.  BOTTOM LINE: We all have something we could like to change or get better at, the key is to have a plan lines out how you overcome that weakness. 

For instance I’m the queen of procrastination because I procrastinate; I know that I need to plan and then leave myself extra time. I keep my schedule online, carry it with me and I set reminders.  I try to block my time with specific goals in mind for that time. This helps me be more effective because I am aware of this weakness and I take steps to overcome it. Okay here’s another not so secret about me….I am a terrible speller so I try to always have someone proof my written work or re-read it myself.

The rule to remember is this: when someone asks me what my weakness is I cannot only tell them my weakness I can tell them how I can prevent it from affected their company.  That’s what they care about…..IF your weakness will prevent you from doing the job you are applying for.  

See it’s not so scary….if you know its coming and what to do with it.  I hope that you can take this information and form your own answer that fits you so when you are asked this question you don’t find yourself speechless.

The most basic need for any job seeker is this you need to have an updated resume.  In this economic climate we should be reaching out and helping each other with the basic skills necessary to obtain a job. Your resume is your professional story it serves as a glimpse of what you can offer a company.  The bottom line is this: YOU can write your own resume, have someone proof read it and provides you any feedback.  

What you need is this a path on how to get started; so I am creating just that a path for you to help yourself….below is an example of what I found when I visited Google and entered “resume help” in the search perimeters.   Look out I found more information than you will probably ever need. Notice all of these options are FREE, they may have a paid service but they will give you free information as well.  Everything I needed was free!  

ResumeHelp.org They provide useful hints and tips for FREE; you can pay a small nominal price for advanced help. Everything I needed however was free and they have lots of examples 

JobStar.org Lots of great information on major cities and examples of resumes and cover letters and almost all the information I found was FREE.

WiserWorker.com check out our resume center

Free Resume Service Ten tips to writing a better resume

AARP.ORG Providing insight on what you need to get a job especially for the older job seeker.

You can use any one to these tools to create a resume that will tell your story and get your message out to perspective employers. If all else fails and you need help contact me direct and I will help you find the perfect resource for you.

Good Luck!