Wiser Worker Blog

No one will ever forget where they were on September 11, 2001.  Those images are forever burned into our collective memory. But, true to our American spirit, we grieved for a while, then picked ourselves up and began to move forward.  We will never forget the past.

It is in this spirit that the USS New York came about.  Former New York governor George Pataki contacted the Secretary of the Navy and suggested the name for the new San Antonio class of amphibious transport dock ship.  He saw it as a way to honor the victims of 9/11.

What makes this ship unique is that part of her bow is made up of steel from the World Trade Center.  While in New Orleans being built, the USS New York also survived Hurricane Katrina.

Some may say that the USS New York is jinxed.  I think she exemplifies the fight in all of us to keep going no matter what the odds.

On October 13, the USS New York set sail for NYC for her commissioning on November 7^th.  Now I am not one for military history, but I think seeing that ship commissioned will fill me up with a sense of nationalism not felt since that tragic day in September.

In addition to the USS New York, there are two more ships being built to help fight the war on terror.  They are the USS Arlington, named after the city where the Pentagon is located and the USS Somerset, named for the county in Pennsylvania where American Airlines flight 93 went down.

We can all feel proud knowing that these ships, named after such meaningful locations in our recent history, will serve us well.

Ok, because of your awesome resume and cover letter, you have gone on an interview. I suppose your think that is the end of it, right?  Wrong!  Now you have to write a thank you letter.

Send the thank you letter within 24 hours of the interview, whenever possible.  They should be typed unless you have been corresponding via email the whole time.  Getting a business card will help you remember who you interviewed with and their title.

Be concise.  Use the same paper that your cover letter and resume were printed on. 

Address any unresolved issues that came up during the interview.  If questions came up during the interview or if more information was requested, the thank you letter is the perfect place to include that information.

Include something specific about your interview.  This will help the interviewer remember you and help you stand out from the pack.

Emphasize your strengths one more time.  Let the interviewer know that after meeting with them, you are more confident that your skills are a match for their organization.

Most importantly, thank them for their time.  Everyone’s time is valuable.  A simple acknowledgement will let them know you respect that.

Last, but definitely not least, proofread your document before sending it out.  Do not give the hiring manager an easy reason to eliminate you from consideration.

Your cover letter and resume did their jobs.  They caught the attention of the hiring manager and you are now scheduled for an interview.  Now what?

The job interview can be nerve racking.  Being nervous before a job interview is normal.  You can alleviate some of those nerves by being prepared for the interview.  This is where doing research on the company you are interviewing with will really pay off.  It shows a genuine interest in the company and it can help you come up with questions for the interviewer.

Here are a few things you can do to help the interview go smoothly.

Make sure you know where to go for the interview.  Try driving the route you will be taking prior to the interview. Being familiar with where the interview is will help you stay calm.

Arrive early.  You will probably have to fill out an application before the interview begins.  Being late may also raise a warning flag about you even before the interview starts.

Dress professionally. Hopefully this goes with out saying.  Your clothes should be clean and wrinkle free.  Your shoes should not be scuffed up. You only have one chance to make a first impression.

“Don’t fidget.” This is the one piece of advice I remember my Mom giving me before an interview.  Non verbal communication is important in interviews.  Standing up straight, making eye contact and a firm handshake are all good non verbal communication tools.

Be flexible.  Every interview is different.  Remember that the purpose of the interview is for the company to get to know you and for you to get to know the company.  There is no set formula for how to do this.  The more calm, prepared and relaxed you are the better off you will do.

Do you have any tips for a successful interview?  If so, we would like to hear about them.

Have you ever had one of those days when you wonder where the nice people went?  Today I learned that they apparently work at the Mesa, AZ Dillard’s. I read an article in the Arizona Republic that gave me hope that people really do care about their co-workers. It was a story about how one person took the initiative to help another, and I would bet my last dollar he didn’t do it to get article written about him in the Arizona Republic.

My hero of the week though I would bet he doesn’t consider himself a hero is Daniel Anderson, a part time security guard for Dillard’s. Daniel noticed that his coworker Gregory Lewis was in pain everyday from his prosthetic leg, the same leg he received 30 years ago after a battle with cancer. Mr. Lewis has no health insurance and a new prosthetic cost over $10,000.  

What happened next is a story of compassion; Daniel headed up a project to get Gregory a new leg. He contacted Hanger Prosthetics & Orthotics in Chandler, the store manager, and fellow coworkers and shared that they needed to do something to help Gregory and the rest is magical. Mr. Lewis got a new leg all because one special person took on a mission to change another’s life and he did just that. 

The special bonus to this already magnificent story is that Mr. Lewis also got a new job much closer to his home at the Arrowhead Towne Center Dillard’s. So here’s a special thank you to Daniel Anderson who chose to travel the extra mile to make a difference. You are special!

Growing up, I loved reading Dr. Seuss books.  Green Eggs and Ham was my all-time favorite.  I also liked the stories about the Zax and Sneetches.  Even now as an adult, I like giving Dr. Seuss books to my friends who are having kids.

What I am realizing as an adult is how influential those books have been in my life. The lessons in them that were transparent to me as a child are now a reminder of the things I try to be and do.

Green Eggs and Ham is still one of my favorite children’s books.  I love the persistence of Sam I Am and how hard he tries to get the green eggs and ham eaten.  Sam I Am has taught all of us to not be afraid to try new things.

Another one of my favorite stories was bout the North Going Zax and the South Going Zax.  They came to a point where they both faced each other and refused to move.  They were so set in their ways, that a whole city built up around them.  I learned that is it not always ok to be stubborn.

Then there is the story about the Sneetches.  One set had stars on their bellies and the others did not.  The ones without stars on their bellies wanted to get stars to be considered cool and equal to the star belly Sneetches.  After a bunch of adding and removing of stars, the Sneetches forgot who originally had a star on their belly and who did not.  They realize that as long as they were Sneetches, it didn’t matter what was on their belly.

All of these lessons were great to learn as a kid and stuck with me as I was growing up.  Now that I am an adult, these lessons are just as applicable.

In a new or current job or in life in general, it pays to be willing to try new things, being flexible and be true to who you are.

Thank you Dr. Seuss.

What things that you learned as a child still help you today?

2009 marks the 50^th anniversary of Alaska and Hawai’i being admitted to the union.  That just blows my mind.  It is hard to imagine only 48 stars on the flag, yet that is what baby boomers grew up knowing.  I will admit, I find American history very interesting, so the process of states being admitted to the union is fascinating to me.

What seems normal and commonplace to us now will seem strange to the next generation.  Just as my generation has always known a country with 50 states, searching for a job on the internet and networking through social media sites will be normal for the next generation.

Gone are the days when you could pick up a paper and flip to the help wanted section to find a job.  That is where WiserWorker.com can help.  We have job postings that contain companies looking to hire the mature worker.

Soon we will be making changes to the site to improve the job seeking experience.  Some changes will be cosmetic (bigger font, more audio features).  Some will be more substantial like making it easier to navigate the site.

Like they always say “Times they are a changing”

What changes would you like to see made to our site.  Take our survey and let us know what you think. http://www.wiserworker.com/survey. 

And that folks is why we not only NEED National Employ Older Workers but why I look forward to this event all year. National Employ Older Workers Week showcases as well as honors the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP), which provides on-the-job skills training to individuals 55 or older with limited financial resources. Over the years, SCSEP has helped over one million older Americans enter the workforce.

WiserWorker.com honors older workers by hosting a job fairs series that operates in markets all across the United States. Our theme this year is Putting American’s Back to Work our goal is to hold events where employers are hiring job seekers NOW!

So do yourself a favor is you come across an older worker do one of 2 things thank them for their service or better still HIRE THEM!!

September 22, 2009

What’s so special about September 22^nd?

Actually this is actually a lot of note worthy events that fall or begin on this day. First and foremost…can I get a drum roll …… National Employ Older Workers Week started yesterday will be recognized all week.  There’s lots of did you knows that correlate with this celebration such as:

Did you know that there are 16 million Americans over 55 who are either working or seeking work?

Did you know that by 2015 the number of employees over 55 will nearly double?

Did you know that by 2010 there will be a severe labor shortage as the older Baby Boomers begin to retire?

At wiserworker.com we choose to celebrate the event by helping older workers get back to work. We are hosting a nationwide job series in many states over the course of the month. Please visit our website for an event near you.

Oh! You better get a move on there are only 100 days remaining until the end of the year. Wow where did the year go?  I am having so much fun the time is FLYING!  

Have you been thinking about going back to school and finishing your degree?  Are you considering a career change?  Do you need new skills to advance in your current job?

If you answered “Yes” to any of the above questions, then going back to school is probably in your future.  With so many colleges and universities offering online courses and degrees; how do you know if it is right for you?

Here are some questions you should ask yourself before choosing online courses.

• Are you self disciplined?  Going to school online saves you the trouble of having to drive to the school.  Are you disciplined enough to do the work at home?
• How are the courses taught?  Do you have to log in at a specific time to listen to a “live chat” with a professor or can you log in and get the lecture anytime you want?
• How do you contact the professor if you need additional help?
• Can you switch to a traditional classroom setting if the online courses are not working for you?
• Is your computer capable of downloading / viewing the necessary course material?

Whether you choose online classes or the more traditional bricks and mortar setting, the most important thing is that you select the option that will work best for you.

Have you already taken classes online?

Do you have any tips / suggestions for someone considering taken classes online?

Recently, pancreatic cancer has been in the news.  Patrick Swayze’s death has brought to light this deadly killer.  He is not alone.  Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and Ruth Bader-Ginsburg have also been diagnosed with this disease.

What makes this type of cancer so dangerous is that there are usually no early warning signs.  By the time people begin to show symptoms, the cancer has already metastasized.  Below is a list of the most common symptoms of pancreatic cancer.

·         Pain in upper abdomen and back

·         Jaundice

·         Nausea

·         Loss of appetite

·         Weight loss

·         Fatigue

·         Depression

I watched my best friend’s father deal with this disease for 4 ½ years.  He survived with the disease longer than most people.  The average 5 year survival rate is 5%.

I believe what helped him survive as long as he did was a combination of early detection and his positive attitude.  Jack was one of the lucky ones who was diagnosed early and was able to have surgery to remove most of the tumor.  It was really tough watching him go through his battle, but seeing the way he bravely fought the disease was an encouragement to those around him.

Jack has been gone for 2 ½ years.  One of the things I learned as a result of his struggle was to gather as much information as you can handle and face the situation head on with the best attitude possible.  That is something we can all use, regardless of the battle we are facing.

How do you cope with a difficult situation?