Wiser Worker Blog

There have been a bunch of highly publicized deaths in recent months; Michael Jackson, Farrah Fawcett, Billy Mays and most recently, Ted Kennedy.  They have all been eulogized on the airwaves and in magazines.

Michael Jackson is being remembered as “The King of Pop”.  His music will be played long after the details of his death have been forgotten.

Ted Kennedy served in the Senate for 47 years.  He drafted legislation that affects our lives and the lives of future generations.

It got me thinking about my own legacy.  How will I be remembered?  This sounds like a depressing thought, but it doesn’t have to be.  The best way to affect your legacy is while you are alive.

On May 21^st, Amy Hoster wrote a blog that very eloquently eulogized a former co-worker of ours and the impact he had on all of us.

It is never too late to start on your own legacy.  Whether it is helping the elderly neighbor across the street, volunteering at the local school or your favorite charity or even adopting a shelter animal; these small gestures can mean something huge in the lives of others.

So, how do you want others to remember you?

About a month ago, I was given the task of writing a blog for this site.  While I am not in the 50+ age group (the targeted demographic for this site), I will be one day! 

For those of you who are, things have changed a lot since you first entered the job market.  The traditional way of finding a job in the Help Wanted section of your local paper doesn’t work anymore.  Nowadays it is all about the internet (wiserworker.com), ATS (applicant tracking systems) and social media outlets such as LinkedIn and finally referral from people like you.  Who you know is just as important as what you know

Our job is to explain the process of finding a job and help you navigate through that process. To do that we need your help – in short we need your feedback to make this site more user friendly for the older job seeker.  Your suggestions are needed.

What topics would you like to read about?  How can we make the site better?  We (me and the WiserWorker team) will read every suggestion that is submitted and try to incorporate the feedback in the best way possible.

We are looking forward to your suggestions. You can contact us direct at amy.hoster@wiserworker.com or complete our online survey at http://www.wiserworker.com/survey. 

In advance thank you for taking the time to help us get better.

What do fantasy football and the job interview have in common?  More that you would think…..

The first thing is research.  Right now there are fantasy football magazines in every magazine rack, programs on ESPN centered on fantasy football and multiple internet sites dedicated to the subject.  The same is true for the job interview.

In order to get an interview, you have to apply for the job first.  There are a lot of job boards to choose from such as WiserWorker.com and EmploymentGuide.com to name a few.  You may also need to research writing a resume.  This is a good idea, especially if it has been a while since you have written one.

Now that the research is one, you are ready for the big day.  In fantasy football that means draft day.  You have to be ready for various scenarios.  Where you are in the draft and the best remaining players available determine your draft strategy.

The same is true for the job interview. Having knowledge about the company you are interviewing with and being prepared to answer a variety of questions will affect how well you will do.

Lastly, the goal is the same for fantasy football and a job interview: Success.  Thorough planning and preparation leads to a winning team. For the job interview, doing the research ahead of time and being prepared for the interview leads to getting hired.

Now, the next time you see a fantasy football magazine, it just may inspire you to brush up on that resume.

Katie Berger resides in Norfolk, Virginia; employed by Dominion Enterprises, She divides her time between all our online products and is especially passionate about blogging on topics that matter to the older worker.  Katie graduated from The University of Massachusetts with a BS in Political Science.  Katie is a stickler for details and is passionate a about information sharing.  You can reach Katie at her email: katie.berger@dominionenterprises.com.

So let’s pretend you have spent the last 20 years working for the same company, what next?  I found a pretty neat company I would like to introduce you to: FranNet.  They specialize in helping people who are ready to leave the corporate world but are not yet ready to retire to start their own business through franchised business ownership.   FranNet consultants work individually with people just like you who are interested in purchasing a franchised business and help you find the right one for you.  So what’s a franchise?  My favorite go to source Wikipedia defines it as:

“Methods of practicing and using another person’s business philosophy. The franchisor grants the independent operator the right to distribute its products, techniques, and trademarks for a percentage of gross monthly sales and a royalty fee.”

Beginning a new career is never a decision one should enter into lightly, and the consultants at FranNet are in place to help you make the correct choice for YOU. They use a specific profiling and consultative process to determine a business model unique to each person. This model suggests specific franchises that fit best with each person’s goals, skill sets and interests, both personally and professionally.

The folks over at Entrepreneur Magazine recently published the 10 most popular franchise opportunities.  The list has business ranging from hardware to food service, and provided a pretty diverse list of companies that you could own as part of a national brand. 

While it’s never an easy choice to select a second career, you should start with someone who knows a little about the next phase of career building.  If you think owning a franchise is the path you would like to take, FranNet is the company who can lead you down that path.

The last days of summer are quickly coming to an end.  This means that the first day of school is just around the corner.  It is time to pay attention to where the school bus stops and school zones are in your neighborhood.

Going back to school doesn’t have to be just for kids.  Local community colleges are a great option if you want to learn new skills or sharpen old ones.  Community colleges are usually a lot cheaper than regular 4 year institutions.  To find a community college in your area, check out the following websites: http://www.collegebound.net/community-school-guide/ or http://www.utexas.edu/world/comcol/state/

Your local unemployment office is another good resource.  They can tell you where to find classes if you want to brush up on your Microsoft Excel, Word or PowerPoint skills.

Finally, check out your local parks and recreation department.  They have a variety of classes for every age and ability level.  It is also a great way to find activities for the whole family.

Remember, it is never too late to start learning.

Katie Berger resides in Norfolk, Virginia; employed by Dominion Enterprises, She divides her time between all our online products and is especially passionate about blogging on topics that matter to the older worker.  Katie graduated from The University of Massachusetts with a BS in Political Science.  Katie is a stickler for details and is passionate a about information sharing.  You can reach Katie at her email: katie.berger@dominionenterprises.com.

Recently I was given the task to blog about trends; a nice, broad topic.  As with any new assignment, I was eager to get started.  My first task was to go on the internet to research trends and then it happened.  Distractions.  Somehow in the middle of my research, a question popped up “Do penguins lay eggs?”  Hmmm, this is a good question, let’s find out the answer.  Turns out they do.  Wonder what other interesting facts I can find out about penguins.  Next thing I know, an hour has gone by and the only “trend” that appears is procrastination and distraction.  While this may be OK for a first time blogger like me, it is not a good habit when it comes to other activities.  A real life example of someone who was distracted while at work occurred at Best Buy on Wednesday.  There was an online ad for a 52-inch flat screen TV for $9.99.  Best Buy did not honor the price and by the afternoon, the corrected sale price had been posted.  Nowadays, it is very easy to get distracted.  The key is staying focused on the task at hand.  Now where did I leave off on my research…?