Wiser Worker Blog

Earlier this year and a wise man said to a large group of people “Tough Times Don’t Last, but Tough People Do” at the time this statement struck me as profound, but today it means more to me than it did on that day.  Our labor market is in what I can only describe as tough times, I also know we are a nation of determined people. The answer: job seekers need to dig in and ask am I a tough person?  In this labor market the tough people will prosper and will professionally survive.  

If you are a job seeker you need to get tough. It’s a essential for survival in the workplace.  You might ask yourself what does it mean to be a tough job seeker. As a person who works with job seekers and employers daily, I think a tough job seeker might possess these attributes:

Confident in their abilities to succeed

Aggressive - know what you want and they go after it

Skilled - a full profile of abilities to enhance your resume

Determined to be the best candidate!

Innovative– create solutions without supervision

Mentor – have the desire to share your knowledge with others.

Problem Solver – ability to solve a problem on your own

Diverse Experience - years of life learned skills.

If you’re not already become a tough person, when you apply for a position go into confidently. When you interview for a job put your best foot forward, highlight how you intend to make the company you are interviewing with a better place.  Don’t place all your focus on the negative rather highlight the positive.  The media tends to report on the negative because let’s face it that’s what sells.

Hang in there; what I can tell you is WiserWorker.com places new postings on our site every day. We strive to provide you with up to date information.  I can also tell you that people just like you are using online job boards more now than ever.  I can guarantee you WiserWorker.com is here to stay and wait out the storm with you because we are an organization made up of tough people who are here to help you the tough job seeker.  

In case you were curious, Jeff Littlejohn is the wise man who said “Tough Times Don’t Last, but Tough People Do” to our group. He is our leader and one tough guy.

Is it possible to be too aggressive in the search for a job?  I say NO, in some cases I am sure it’s happened however more commonly job seekers tend to send a resume or fill out an application and then wait and then, well ….wait some more.  To those job seekers I say….get out there and make it happen!  If it’s a job you want and think you are the ideal candidate follow up and make sure you are don’t become just another applicant in a pile of applications.   

Just yesterday I was talking to a job seeker who told me they had put in an application for the perfect job and never heard back.  My response:  Did you follow up?  Well you guess it they had not. They were waiting to see if they would call back.

Folks, there is no shame in calling and asking about the hiring process, the conversation can go something like this:

Job Seeker:  Hello, I turned in an application last Monday and I was wondering where you were in the interview process?  I am very interested in the position you have open.

Employer:  Hold on I have had so many people interested in this position, what was your name? 

Employer:  Why do you feel you are the best applicant for my position?    

Job Seeker:  I have many years in customer service as well as customer retention and I like to work with the public. I would appreciate the opportunity to come in and meet with you and discus my qualification.

Employer:  Can you come in tomorrow? I would like to sit down with you and tell you more about the job.

The current labor market is one where the eager are going to get noticed and the aggressive are appreciated.   As a manager who often recruits, I have always been in the opinion if a job seeker shows me they are interested in a job; they deserve an interview.   Make sure you start your job search  with WiserWorker.com for all the latest job openings.  

Well folks it’s here…cold and flu season. I bet you are asking yourself how cold and flu season fits into job search. Well, it does in more ways than you can imagine. It’s a plain and simple fact that this time of year is the easiest time to pick up germs and while you are searching for a job you need to avoid as many germs as possible.  It’s no fun to land a job only to wind up calling in sick so be proactive and avoid the cold and flu season.

My career with WiserWorker.com keeps me on the road and in close quarters with germs. I also HATE being sick, I have learned to pay close attention to keeping the germs at bay. The winter season is the time of the year when I have to be the most careful and work extra hard at staying healthy. Here are some of my ways to avoid being a victim of cold and flu season.

1.    Flu Shot - You can stop in at any Walgreens pharmacy and licensed health care professionals will administer flu shots and nasal spray flu vaccines in-store, in most cases they can bill your insurance. I stopped in a Brandon Walgreens and it was only $24.95.  No appointment necessary.

2.    Wash Your Hands Frequently - Get in the habit of anti-bacterial gel, it’s a live saver.  I shake a lot of hands and you can never wash your hands, don’t stop shaking hands just wash yours more often.

3.    Whip Down Common Surfaces – When I enter a grocery store I wipe down the cart with a Lysol towel. Most stores offer them free but I also carry them in my purse.

4.    Clean Your Phone – Phones are breeding grounds for germs. If you share a phone make sure you wipe your phone off with a cleaning towel.

5.     Stay Away from Sick People – your health is important steer clear of people who are already sick. 

6.    Stock up on foods that will keep you healthy- Researchers are finding positive links between immune function and components in food. Here’s a link that will give you all the info you need.

These are just a few of the things I do to ward off the cold and flu season, I also try to keep up my exercise routine a nice brisk walk keeps the heart healthy as well. If all else fails and you find yourself ill do yourself and your co-workers a break and stay home and get better. It doesn’t help anyone if you are the one who spreads germs, I want you to be a Wiser Worker!

Thinking back on lessons that stuck with me over the years, the good firm handshake stand out.  My dad always told me to make sure my handshake was firm, because it was the first impression people get of you.   Dad taught me to plant your feet, look the person right in the eye and shake their hand like you are confident in yourself. He told me that people could tell a lot about what type of person I was just by my handshake.  Looking back on it I probable dismissed it at the time but subconsciously it has stuck with me over time.

Then today I read an article that that suggests that a handshake is key to interview success.  Could my father after all of these years have been right?  Well yes it does appear that he was, and I would admit to only you that a limp handshake just does irritate me!  I almost immediately move on, part of me secretly thinks this person doesn’t have confidence in their self why should I?   Sad but true and now it’s been validated. 

So my fellow job seekers for your own best interest learn how to properly share ones hand. I thought you might need some assistance so I dug up the following information Anatomy of a Perfect Handshake:

• Speak Up: Say something when you shake hands, perhaps “It’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Franklin” or “Good to see you again.”
• Get a Grip: Your grip speaks volumes, A limp one suggests hesitance or mousiness, while a bone cruncher can seem overly enthusiastic or domineering. A medium-firm grip conveys confidence and authority.
• Dry Your Palms: Sweaty palms communicate nervousness, which can subconsciously make people feel like you’ve got something to hide.   
• Know When to Let Go: The ideal handshake lasts approximately three seconds. The hands can be gently pumped once or twice, and then it’s time to pull back your hand, even if you are still conversing.

So like my dad told me many years ago a handshake does make or break a first impression make sure yours is the right one. If you can develop a solid handshake you will be one step ahead at your next job interview.

Don’t get sucked in too crisis mode; The purpose of this blog is to provide valuable insight on improving your life through finding financial security.   In short our mission is to help job seekers find jobs and it’s the hope of WiserWorker.com that job seekers with jobs will be able to achieve financial security.  

Pretty cut and dry, right?  Not so much, the media repeatedly reports what’s wrong with the economy complete with all doom and gloom, you can stomach. For instance; just this morning on MSNBC.com there was an article titled “Hard times have some flirting with survivalism” which essentially talks about people panicking and hording food, the person that was interviewed for the article (who refused to give his real name) was quoted as saying he felt we were “entering the Greater Depression.” Doesn’t it speak volumes that the interview subject doesn’t want to give his name?  

My point, yes let’s get back to jobs and the mission….don’t you think it would serve the American people better by talking about how we can fix the situation we are in?  How you can prevent further doom and gloom? Oh I don’t know maybe let’s talk about how we can create more jobs or maybe how people can find a job with the skills they have or learn new skills to find different jobs. Let’s focus on how to fix the problem and not how to survive as the world gets worse. We have an obligation to each other to get out of the situation.

How can you help?  Well start with the basics: Stay focused, keep your resume updated keep your eyes open and figure out how you can make a positive impact on the situation.  For me I am going to make sure I have the best possible website for jobseekers and provide as many resources as I can.

I am reminded of something I read by Helen Keller “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.”     

I heard this phrase “the power of crisis” some weeks ago and it stuck with me, it’s an abstract phrase but it’s so powerful and I think I have finally figured out why I am stuck to this phrase “the power of crisis”.  Everywhere you turn you hear the word crisis, in one fashion or another the word crisis is used in conversations taking place across the globe and it’s powerful. The word crisis has the ability to stop you in your tracks and causes you to pay attention. Regardless of what you are talking about you stop and pay attention at the drop of the word crisis, it has the ability to gets and hold your attention.

I would imagine that there isn’t anyone in the workforce that hasn’t been affected by the financial crisis, but those who are looking for work are probably feeling the crisis stronger. Last week one of my associates spoke up in a meeting and said we should all be grateful that we have a job.  At the time what she said struck me as powerful but I didn’t know why, today I know it’s because I have a job with a company that I love and a product that I am passionate about. So she was right I am fortunate to have a job helping others find jobs during this time of financial crisis. Today more than ever job seekers need online job boards and resources to help them get through their job search and we are here to help.

Today I found a quote that Henry Ford, Founder of Ford Motor Company said that is perfect for where job seekers are at the moment. “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.”  Mr. Ford couldn’t have said is better for a time like NOW.  At WiserWorker.com we are here at the beginning of your job search and will be here until the end. We know the power of crisis.

My dear friend Google is 10 years old today!  All grown up and still in my mind; the most valuable resource on the internet!  I can’t believe it’s ONLY been ten years. I can’t remember what life was like before Google, but if you are interested to see what they looking like ten years ago visit here: try a search from our early days.  They have certainly made improvements over the years but remain the most reliable search engine to me.

Admittedly, I am a Google junkie, there are very few decisions I make that I don’t first consult my friend; Google. Over the years Google has helped me find my way to places unknown, with accuracy. Google has served more than once as my vacation planner and what to do on those vacations. Google guides job seeker to WiserWorker.com, in an hour of need to help people find jobs.   Let’s not forget without Google alerts I would be lost.  Google keeps me informed, it’s their job and they do it well.

So thank you Google you are my light in a dim room of questions!

Happy Birthday and here’s to many more years to come

What does $2 trillion dollars look like?  I am having a hard time picturing it, and we miss it, since it disappeared from retirement funds.  When $2 trillion dollars disappears it gets everyone’s attention and FAST.   I just read a story on CNN  and they are reporting that retirement plans suffered a loss of $2 trillion dollars.  To me this is much more of a crisis than a bunch of CEO’s who frankly are probably overpaid losing their jobs.  Still what does $2 trillion dollars look like?  I know it is a enormous amount of money and I worry that what a loss of this magnitude will do the older worker.

What $2 Trillion Dollars will buy?

·         Fully fund the cost of healthcare for the 47 million Americans who have none, thru the year 2020.

·         Fund almost 2 billion full scholarships-that’s 6 times the population of the U.S.

·         Adequately clothe, feed and nurture every child orphaned by war or inflicted by savage cruelty and abuse.

We now know what $2 trillion dollars will buy, but what does a loss of $2 trillion dollars mean to older workers?  That’s right the people who have been WORKING and saving for 20 plus years towards the next phase of their lives? For those people the cost is HUGE and painful. We’re talking about money that they needed to live on in their golden years and guess what there lucrative buyout plan isn’t waiting for them.

What does $2 Trillion Dollars look like to the older worker?

·         More years they have to remain in the workplace.

·         Less trips to see the grandkids.

·         Less money to be able to invest in the golden years.

·         Rising mortgage payments.

·         Increased healthcare costs.

To the older worker $2 trillion dollars is a lot of money and amounts to miss opportunities and empty dreams. They must and will continue to stay in the workforce out of necessity.  $2 trillion dollars is much more money that I thought.

Over the last few weeks I have been doing research on the older worker in general, but specifically on the older worker returning to the workplace. We know that our labor market is shrinking and we need the older job seekers to fill the open positions.   That’s what we know but what I didn’t know was how we can get them hired – or simply put get the older worker in front of the hiring managers.

I set out to learn: What the REAL perception of the recruiting manager of the older worker?  What does the term “older worker” mean to recruiters and the population at large?  How does the average younger co-worker interact with their older co-workers?  What is the perceived value of the older worker to a business?  Lot’s questions, since I had them I would imagine that maybe you do as well. So here is what I found out…

What is an “older worker”?  Of course there is not a simple answer but according to researches Gergen and Gergen found that current American perception is that “those between ages 18 and 35 were considered young; those between 35 and 60 were considered middle aged, and those between 65 and 80 were considered old.” Current generations do not think of themselves as “old” until age 80.   And we know that anyone over 40 is protected by the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, and you are eligible for AARP at the ripe young age of 50. 

One could surmise that a worker starts to be older worker at age forty for hiring purposes.     

Play Nice? We have several different generations in the workplace; each generation has different goals and expectations of the workplace. Even with the different values, attitudes and expectations the different generations   have found a common ground in the workplace and work well together. Its phenomenon has left management with the task of muddling through generational differences that different groups have created; it’s nothing more than a process. 

Traditionalists: Born before 1946

Baby Boomer: 1946-1964

Generation X: 1965-1980

Generation Y: Born since 1980

What do older worker bring to the table? Older workers have a good work ethic, and a good attitude toward work. Employers over the last 15 years have the skills of the older workers highly when it comes to loyalty, dependability, experience, and customer relations.

Workers 55 and older…

…can serve as mentors to younger workers.

…adapt well to new technology.

…are eager for training.

…have great loyalty to the company.

…are flexible.

When all is said and done, I think older workers have come a long way in the mind of the recruiters. Business need to realize that older workers are very positive about themselves and the company they work for. They see themselves as more reliable than younger workers, more productive, and as having great loyalty to the company.

Everyday businesses across the United States make decisions, some tough and some are easy. Hiring new employees are one of the most difficult decisions managers have to make. Why? Well if you hire the wrong candidate you run the risk of actual hurting your business.  When you hire someone you are actually hiring people to represent you and your business. Still need convincing?  Here are the obvious outcomes of hiring the wrong candidate:

1. Conflict:  How much of your time is spent trying to get employees to communicate more effectively with you or their co-workers. 

2. Poor Productivity: This is the number one business issue today.  

3. Errors: Some people have the competencies to be trained quickly, continue processing new information and multi-task. Others don’t and create the costly errors that their teammates are forced to solve.

4. Lost Customers & Sales:  You know when you’re business is experiencing conflict, apathy, low motivation and errors. So do your customers; and they won’t put up with it.

If you really care about YOUR customers that keep you in business, stop hiring the wrong people and stop losing clients to your competitors.  The topic at hand is WHY should employers hire older workers?  Today I learned a pretty amazing statistic about the older jobseeker.

The turnover rate for employees under 30 is six times greater than that of employees that are over 50.

Do you need any more proof you need older workers for your business?  Email me I will help you, in your mission to hire older workers.