This is one of those times that it isn’t okay to be late, at midnight tonight April 15, 2009 your 2008 tax return must be postmarked by a post office, I have included a link just in case you need to find a post office—make sure you call ahead and get the hours of operation.

If you are having a hard time making ends meet because you lost your job I found some handy information on the IRS website that just might give you some relief as well as direction on what you can and can’t do.

Do you need to know where to mail your tax return?  Click here for a list of addresses to choose form.  The IRS also has a list of typical and common questions I found this list to be pretty helpful…check it out.

Are you just out of time….don’t worry you can submit Form 4868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File US Individual Income Tax Return, with the IRS by the April 15 or make an extension-related electronic credit card payment (you’ll find the details on Form 4868).  However be aware if you choose this method you will have to pay your estimated balance…the IRS can electronically withdraw funds to cover your expected tax balance. Visit the IRS website if you have questions about requesting an extension.

Best of luck!

Our friends over at the AARP Foundation, they are leading the charge at making resources available that will give you some relief today.  I spent some time on the site and found it to be all encompassing and worth your time to check it out.  AARP Foundation’s Real Relief covers all problems relating to our current economic climate. I found that this web page had the answers to my most basic questions on things that keep me wide awake at night.

My medical expenses seem to have overtaken my checkbook, but I don’t know what to do.  I would recommend starting with Benefits QuickLINK  this program will tell you if your family qualifies for public benefits programs that help cover the costs of food, utilities, health care, and medicine.

What is a reverse mortgage and how can it help me?  This question may be on your mind but you don’t know where to start of what the implications of such a program might be. Check out the Reverse Mortgage Education Project: Homeowners age 62 or older can access free online tools and print materials. This is the right place to start and a place you can get answers that make sense.

I used to have enough money every month, but lately I seem to never have enough money for the basics…what can I do? Money Management offers a variety of basic financial resources that can help you with budgeting, credit, and debt management.

There are scams everywhere who do I trust?  If you think it might be a scam you are probably right it’s best to err on the safe side.  If it sounds to good to be tru it probably it.  

I have been retired but need to find a part time job to make ends meet, where’s the best place to start? WiserWorker.com and WorkSearch have the best tools in place and companies that are hiring NOW. Visit us and we will help you find the perfect job that fits your needs!

These are just a few of the items I found on AARP Foundation’s Real Relief website, check it out today to see what solutions are in place to help you. Good Luck!

Have you ever been caught so of guard by a topic that you feel like you just won’t be able to get caught up?  Well I have to admit at times this stimulus business keeps my mind at bay and always wondering what’s next.   I have a difficult understanding or better yet explaining what the stimulus means and how it will affect people like ME. I do know this….if you are waiting for a rebate check to come in the mail because it’s not coming.

So far the best article I have found that explains the basic components of the different programs was on MSNBC.com this morning titled Bailout acronym soup: A handy guide.  This article walks you through what each of the programs that will received stimulus money does and more importantly how it will affect you.

For instance do you know what the program TIP is?  If you did your ahead of me…..TIP is Targeted Investment Program. This program, also run by the Treasury Department, allows the government to provide aid to a troubled financial institution if that company’s problems could have a ripple effect on other aspects of the U.S. economy, such as creditors.

Test your knowledge on what these other program acronym means…..

A.    TARP

B.    PPIP

C.    TALF

D.    TGLP

E.    CAP

F.     CPFF

G.    AMLF

H.    MMIFF

A.    Buy certain types of commercial paper from money market mutual funds

B.    Aim of keeping low-risk mutual funds

C.    Designed to buy up the bad debt that was threatening the financial stability of some U.S. banks.

D.    Aims to ensure that financial institutions will be able to lend money.

E.    guarantees certain types of debt issued by financial institutions

F.     Offer bundled loans for small businesses and consumers.

G.    Make it easier for companies to get a kind of short-term loan

H.    Original purpose of buying up bad debt.

Make sure you are in the “know” on all these programs and how they affect you. It’s important to understand these programs especially as you navigate thought the current economic culture. It’s also important to know about these to your can better understand the job market.

Answer Key: TARP=C, PIPP=H, TALF=F,TGLP=E, CAP=D, CPFF=G, AMLF=B, MMIFF=A  

Did you know that as a full time employee you are apt to spend 2,080 hours a year at your job?  That’s if you only work 40 hours a week, for some of us it more than 40 hours. So with this in mind you better select a job you like and people you like being around.  Over the years I have had the distinct pleasure of working with nothing short of an amazing group of individuals. Many of these co-workers have become friends over the years and can never be replaced.

However, what do you do when someone leaves?  Because we know that coworkers’ come and go in our workplace all too often. I am often sad when they leave and I never know just what to say. So I usually fumble through my thoughts and never quite get the thought or sentiment right.  

Then this week the leader or our organization; Jack Webber put what I have been trying to say all these years into words, frankly his words were so eloquent and thoughtful that they have stuck with me all week; “It’s important that we honor those who will no longer work alongside us and extend our gratitude to them for their contributions, commitment, service and belief in what we as a company are trying to accomplish.“

To those of you that have left our company best of luck to you, you will be in our thoughts always and we will carry on and continue our mission to place job seekers in the best possible jobs.

Thank you for your contributions.  

You know what the coolest thing about chameleons is?  They adapt to any situation, no matter where they go, who they meet, or what they need they are able to change color and adapt to their surroundings. Sometimes I think if we all had a little chameleon in us searching for a job might not be such a chore but more of an adventure.

This morning I spoke with a job seeker where my knowledge of chameleons came in handy. Mary called to share her latest job interview experience and she was rather upset.  Up until 2 years ago Mary ran and owned a deli in Pennsylvania, today she found herself looking for work. With all her experience she was sure she was a shoe in for a job opening at the local sandwich shop, where she had turned in her application.

Mary immediately got a call back from the hiring manager and set up an interview to meet with him. At the interview all was going well until the hiring manager told Mary she would need to submit to a background check and provide references.  This upset Mary….as she had years of experience she couldn’t and wouldn’t complete their background check. Mary didn’t get the job she wanted and needed at the sandwich shop.

The moral of the story: Mary failed to become a chameleon.  You must remember when you are seeking a job you need to blend in and accept reasonable companies policies and procedures. Every company has hiring policies in place that are often tailored to their specific hiring practices. Don’t do anything that you are uncomfortable with but practice being a chameleon as they often get hired because they blend in and go with the flow…

This morning I read an article about the one of the rarest fishes in the world the megamouth shark, researchers report that there are only about 41 reported megamouth sharks left in the entire world. Today there are only 40 left as this particular megamouth shark was accidently captured and eaten in a port city in the Philippines.  This fish is so rare that it has only been sighted a handful of times, and the first one recorded was seen for the first time in 1976 only 33 years ago. 

So how did this rare and almost extinct animal become the blue plate special?   Simple he got caught up in the fisherman’s net and the next logical step was his place on the menu as “today’s catch”.  Mr. Megamouth did nothing to make himself stand out among the crowd of fish so the fisherman didn’t know he was special.

Don’t end up like Mr. Megamouth shark in this tragic story. When you send in your resume make sure you stand out. Your resume is the first step in getting the job and you can’t take the risk that your story is going to get lost in the sea of other resumes.

Make sure your resume has these quality attributes:

·         Include your current salary range in the cover letter.

·         List specific accomplishments in each of your past jobs.

·         Talk about what you want to accomplish in your next job.

·         Tailor your resume to the position you are applying for.

·         Follow up with an e-mail.

·         Be persistent without being pushy.

You’re a rare type of job seeker and deserve to stand out when you apply for a job picture yourself as the best candidate and tailor your resume that way.  Don’t get caught up in the sea of lost resumes.

I created and represent a Wiserworker.com and that’s the primary reason why I tend to write on topics that matter/relate to that demographic. It’s where my passion lies, I know there are other demographic groups out there that are just as strong, but I feel this is the demographic that needs help and where I am needed.  WiserWorker.com was created for the older worker, however we knew at that time there were many job seekers and none were ever to be forgotten.

We honor all types of job seekers through our specialized niche job boards; for the trucking industry we have CareersinGears.com for all positions relating to the medical field we have Healthcareerweb.com and then for all jobs that fall into the hourly job category we have EmploymentGuide.com and last but not least we have Jobalot.com our aggregator site.  You can see we cover the spread when it comes to servicing the job seeker! Our goal is to leave no stone unturned.  

Last week I was contacted by a fellow blog writer who respectively disagreed with my position on the older worker being the BEST job candidate…. he offered his opinion and on many levels I think we agree, but just see things from a different prospective. George Lenard, Owner-Editor of George’s Employment Blawg offered the following statement: “Companies shouldn’t be recruiting older workers; they should be recruiting better workers — and realizing that many older workers may meet their needs — as may many younger workers.  We no more need to feed demographic divisions during tough times for all workers than we need to fan racial prejudice or anti-immigrant sentiments.” 

I quickly returned his email and said “WOW, can I quote you?”  George said sure but he thought I would ticked off at this response…..Heck no!  I love when people have opinions even different opinions.  What makes me mad is when people DON’T have an opinion. The fact of the matter is George is right employers should hire the BEST candidate for the any job. Yet all too often age becomes a hiring factor and it shouldn’t, older workers are essential to our labor market.  Just last week I read that the average age of the American worker is 40.  Hence why WiserWorker.com was created, to create a place where job seekers over the age of 40 can come to get job advice and or search for jobs.

George we don’t disagree, I just think that employers overlook the older worker and that’s why I spend so much time on this topic. Thank you for having the opinion and sharing it. YOU make a difference through opinion and sharing it.

George Lenard, the founder and editor of George’s Employment Blawg, has over twenty years of experience in all aspects of labor and employment law, including preventive law as well as litigation. George created George’s Employment Blog in May 2003 as an outgrowth of his online reading in the field of employment law. As the blog grew, he also started reading and posting more about topics of general interest in the employment and HR area.

Whoever said you can’t get something for nothing hasn’t heard about that people over at Walgreens Drug Stores. Starting TODAY Walgreens is offering free clinic visits to the unemployed and uninsured for the rest of 2009. Walgreens is providing rest and routine treatment at the clinics that are located right in their stores! Patients will still have to pay for prescriptions; this is a potential savings of $59.00 to per patients who don’t have insurance.

Who’s eligible for this free clinic?  Anyone who has lost their job and health insurance after March 31, 2009 will be able to get free treatment at its in-store Take Care clinics for respiratory problems, allergies, infections and skin conditions, among other ailments. It gets better:  Spouses and children are also eligible for free services if they don’t have insurance of their own

When can I take advantage of the clinic services? Free services will be offered only from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

What do I need to bring with me? Patients must present proof they are unemployed, including a federal or state unemployment determination letter and an unemployment check stub. They will have to sign a form at the clinic saying they have lost their jobs and health benefits.

Find a Take Care Clinic near you in 35 markets around the country, including Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and Cleveland.

Hats to the management at Walgreens……This service is invaluable and much appreciated. Thank you and you have a friend at WiserWorker.com

These are some of the terms people have chosen so far and The New York Times actually breaks it down between unemployed and employed. Giving you a glimpse of how people who fit in your situation feel. So take a moment to visit and share and most importantly blow off some steam………

How Do YOU Feel??????????????

Who might these super works be? Well it’s none other than the older workers…I beg of you get used to them because frankly they are good for you and they aren’t going anywhere, just like vegetables!  A recent report of Nielsen Online found that the 65-year-old+ age group was the fastest growing in the career development category.

YOU HEARD IT HERE!

Within this demographic there was a 20 percent increase of visitors to job sites, like WiserWorker.com growing from 2.5 million unique visitors in January 2008 to 3.6 million in January 2009, indicating that mature workers are looking for new opportunities.

Some are even taking internships to overcome the stigma of being “overqualified” or to build new business skills.  Businesses that are tuned in will act fast and pay attention to these statistics and make the right move…the move to hire older workers. Folks, this isn’t an April fool’s Joke, its reality and a sweet reality indeed. Hiring older workers is smart for the bottom line and increases customer satisfaction!  Two things ever business needs!

Visit Wiserworker.com today to look for a job or to post your job opportunity or contact me at 1-888-606-7896 Ext 238!  Don’t let your super older worker miss your job opportunity!