Wiser Worker Blog

Next week is the BIG week, the job fair series designed - just for you the older worker!  Visit WiserWorker.com for an event in your city. Are you ready for the job fair series?  Over the last few weeks WiserWorker.com has provided you will all the tips and tricks on how to get prepared for YOUR big day.  You have all the tools to make this day the day you found a job.

When you arrive at the job fair you will be ready because you took the time to do all the research we talked about in: Advanced Preparation for the Job Fair.  You wll be confident because you learned what type of questions you should ask employers when meet them: Job Interview Questions For the Employer. Let’s not even talk about how ready your resume is because you took the time to read Is Your Resume Job Fair Ready? Finally you are sure to the best dressed because you know what to wear to a job fair.

What’s left to get ready for the job fair?  You got it all! Go with confidence…you are prepared review the informationm put your best foot forward. Rememeber employers are eager to talk to you because you are the best candidate for their open positions.

My hope is that I gave you the information you needed to be ready, but if you need more information drop me an email or call me (813) 775-6279.   After the event let me know what happened: Did you get hired?

Good Luck…..You won’t need it you took the time to prepare.   

Our job fair series banner week is NEXT week, and it just for you the older worker! Visit WiserWorker.com for an event in your city. Are you ready for the job fair series?    My hope is that we can help you get ready so when you get to the job fair you are ready to get hired!  If you need more information drop me an email or call me (813) 775-6279.  I would love to hear from you!

Annually The Employment Guide holds hundreds of job fairs and our most common issue at job fairs is job seekers not knowing what to wear to a job fair.  Usually before we hold an event it is not uncommon to get many calls from job seekers asking that “what should I wear”?  I always answer the question the same: Dress like you would if you were going to an interview.  Because you are, job fairs are a place where you can and will talk to possible future employers in an interview setting.

Let’s face it—first impressions stick. Studies conclude that people form an impression of someone within the first 15-30 seconds. Given this time frame, your outward appearance makes up a majority of a potential employer’s first impression. Follow these simple rules to ensure you are dressing the part.

Standard Interview Dress: Men

Wear slacks

Wear a dress shirt or nice colored shirt

Wear dark dress shoes in good condition

Wear socks that match

Wear a belt that matches your shoes

Have well-groomed hair and nails

Standard Interview Dress: Women

Dress conservatively (preferably dark colors)

Wear a pantsuit, jacket and skirt, dress

Wear dark dress shoes with 1-3 inch heel in good condition

Wear hosiery that matches your outfit  

Have well-groomed hair and nails

As with a job interview, first impressions at a job fair are important. How you represent yourself sends an immediate message to employers about how serious you are in your job search. It isn’t always necessary to wear a suit to a job fair. However, you should leave the jeans and T-shirt at home. Business casual is usually the most appropriate — slacks and a collared shirt for men, and slacks or a skirt and a blouse for women. Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed.

Check WiserWorker.com blog for the latest tips on how to get the best experience at a job fair.

Best of Luck!

It doesn’t get any simpler than this folks!   Let’s talk about career profiles….the program provided The Color Career Counselor, powered by The Dewey Color System, has taken career advice to a new level, a level we can all understand. Plain, simple and colorful! One quick color quiz and can guides you down a career profile, it’s just that simple, really.  And easy, the color profile test takes you through a series of screens where you pick colors that appeal to you or maybe don’t appeal to you. From there those choices you choose the program derives what career field is best suited for you.

It’s the career color test, and it’s pretty neat. Try the quick test out and see it revels anything that sparks your interest through basic general knowledge questions.  It takes a few minutes and the results can be rather telling about what the next stage of your life can be should you choose to take the advise and run with it!  Hey maybe you can learn something about yourself that you didn’t know….

So what’s your color, email me I am curious how the older job seekers rate by the color.

I show you my color if you show me yours!

Yesterday I blogged about a Baby Boomers taking to the open road with a second career in the trucking industry, I thought it might be fun to keep the spirit of the open road alive by sharing an experience I had over the weekend.  Over the weekend I flew on my favorite airline Southwest Airlines; over time you will learn that I am a Southwest Junkie!  Today I have ONE more reason to prove they are the best in the business.  I was only minutes into the flight when I took note of the age of the flight attendants, they all seemed to be of the older worker category, and I thought wow how neat. It wasn’t until the end of the flight I realized the treat that was in store for me!

During my flight I got a chance to catch up with one of the attendants: Tom. Who I would later learn was on his THIRD career. He had already retired from a career in the banking industry spent some years as a college professor teaching finance and had officially retired from the working world 8 years ago or so he thought.

At the age of 56 Tom retired and thought he was done working and it wasn’t too long before he discovered Southwest Airlines. It was then that he found his third career as a flight attendant with the airlines; His wife saw he was having so much fun as a flight attendant it wasn’t long before she joined the airline as well!  So now they both work a very flexible 3 day work week and enjoy 4 days off. They try and organize their work schedule in a fashion that enables them to have the same days off. So they can still have time to enjoy life.

He initially went back to work for the benefits and the freedom he knew that working with the airline would give him, he has found a home at Southwest Airlines and I think they have found valuable employee in Tom. Where else can you get paid to travel?

I hope that you get a chance to fly with Tom he loves his job and you can tell!  It was the best customer service I have ever had 30,000 miles in the sky. There might be 51 ways to leave your lover and 6 ways to exit a plane but I hope Tom and Southwest Airlines never part ways! 

Over the last few weeks we have talked about how Baby Boomers have changed retirement and because of this there are more “older workers” in the workforce. I thought if might be fun and maybe useful to take a look at jobs that are perfect fit for the older job seeker! If there is career field you would like to know more about send me an email, and I will do my best to give you all the information I know and any information I can FIND.

Did you know that over 65% of truck drivers today are over the age of 50?

I didn’t, this caused me to take a deeper look into truck driving and who is hiring and why? Then finally what you the job seeker would get out of a career in truck driving.  I would venture that truck driving companies have turned their recruitment efforts to focus on the older worker because they have taken a look at the candidates and know they are the best for the job.  Mostly because what they bring to an employer: their work ethic and their loyalty to the job is unmatched.

What I found was pretty interesting, read on and maybe it will spark your interest.  

When thinking about truck driving Schneider National was the first company that came to mind, mostly because I have worked with them in the past and I know they make an effort to recruit older workers. Last year 15% of their recruits were older workers.  I was lucky enough to find a video about a couple who work for Schneider Trucking; it does a great job telling their story. I learned they started their second career truck driving as a way to supplement their retirement, keep insurance, see the country and finally reconnect with their family and each other. They found that truck driving provided and way to achieved all these things.

They have traveled over 200,000 miles in their first year of trucking driving and have seen their family many times in their travels.  Think about it: Many retirees purchase a RV and travel the country seeing family, this couple outfitted their truck be very much like an RV and are getting paid to be retired, drive see the country the only difference is they are also carrying cargo with them and getting PAID.  Talk about the best of both worlds!   

 Does this sound like something that might be of interest to you?  Well if it does check out WiserWorker.com or our sister website Careersingears.com dedicated solely to transportation jobs.  I also learned that over 65% of the CareersinGears.com visitors are over the age of 50. Many people are already driving in retirement! Our websites have many resources you might find useful when researching if a career in truck driving is right to you.   

As a company we selected this statement to represent WiserWorker.com and our older worker program and almost 2 years later I look back and think of all that this statement stands for: Older Workers, Baby Boomers and helping them find jobs.  I remember sitting around the conference table trying to select a statement that truthfully described what we were doing and what we hoped to accomplish in the future and thinking “hmmm I wonder if WiserWorker.com will live up to this”. 

So what are we doing to help you the Older Workers find work?

As company our hope is that through the continue education and awareness process we will help make a change in the recruitment world, because recruiters are the people who are make the hiring choices. Still I think older job seekers have doubts…so our job is not done.  I wrote a blog about benefits and the part time employee. I received feedback asking: “do these companies really in fact hire older workers?”  Well the companies in that particular blog are part of AARP’s national employer team as well as advertisers on our site.  I have in the past worked with them and to the best of my knowledge not only do they hire older workers they make it a practice.  Apply with confidence and know you are the best candidate!

WiserWorker.com: We created an online job board specifically designed for the baby boomers and older worker demographic. We make changes to the site based on feedback we get from job seekers. Our product was designed to be user friendly and for you, so if you would like to see a change email and I will see what I can do.  

Job Fair Series: Along with The AARP Foundation are co-hosting our biggest job fair series ever.  Last year The Employment Guide hosted over 40,000 job seekers in 40 cities nationwide and we are here to top those numbers in 2008.

Helping YOU the job seeker; I implore you to confidently attend job fairs. Contact your local WorkSeach program provided by the AARP Foundation, you will be amaze!  Finally apply for jobs that interest and share your knowledge and experience with others

WiserWorker.com has been online for 6 months and our job fair series is in its second year, while we have scratch the surface of the older worker issue, and sure we have made some strides, I realize that we have a lot to do still.   Our goal is to create a marketplace where older workers can easily find the job of their dreams. We aren’t there yet but we are closer.

So what are YOU going to do when you “Retire”?

There has been a lot of talk in the media about Baby Boomers taking a second look at retirement due to a host of reasons least not being that traditionally these are people who LIKE to work. The media has reported that Baby Boomers are nervous about the economy and yes that probably has something to do with this, however its my opinion that Baby Boomers will remain in the workforce due to the fact they have spent a majority of their adult life in the workplace, and they are comfortable there.  Let’s face it they have something to add to our marketplace and to be frank US businesses need Baby Boomers to stick around.

Wait…….I have research supporting this theory!  The following research by gerontologist and author Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D., The New Retirement Survey supports that baby boomers have very different drivers than the typical job seeker.

ü  While 76% of baby boomers intend to keep working and earning in retirement, on average they expect to “retire” from their current job/career at around age 64, and then launch into an entirely new job or career.

ü  Baby Boomers reject a life of either full-time leisure or full-time work. When asked about their ideal work arrangement, the most common choice would be to repeatedly “cycle” between periods of work and leisure (42%), followed by part-time work (16%), start their own business (13%) and full-time work (6%). Only 17% hope to never work for pay again.

ü  Baby Boomers aren’t staying in the workplace for the money! While 37% of the boomer generation indicate that continued earnings is a very important reason to keep working, 67% assert that continued mental stimulation and challenge is what will motivate them to stay in the game.

All this begs the question: What are you going to do in the next phase of your life?

Chances are you probably are going to start by looking for a part time job that has nothing to do with what you are doing now. You will look for a job you can enjoy and has benefit offerings for part time employees. Try searching for companies who value what you the baby boomer bring to the table.  

These are a few companies who stand out in the pack of companies who appreciate baby boomers:

ü  Starbucks benefits package that includes medical insurance, a retirement package and stock options, each “partners” who works 20 or more hours per week at the Seattle-based coffee chain receives a pound of free coffee each week.

ü  UPS nonunion part-timers pay approximately $50 a month for health care. Nonunion part-timers who participate in the 401(k) plan receive an immediately vested 100 percent match on the first 3 percent of compensation contributed, and both union and nonunion part-timers are covered by defined benefit retirement plans.

ü  Home Depot offers part-timers the opportunity to participate in  benefit health plan, a dental plan, term life insurance and short-term disability. 

I know if it were me, I would pick a job where I could interact with the public and help people. Baby boomers offer a lot to companies and customers, it’s our job as employers to tap into the Baby Boomer Resource.  In a recent post I wrote about how there seems to be a lack of knowledge in the world of customer service.  Trust me no matter what type of job you pick you will be appreciated if you can give customer service!

Our job fair series is officially underway and coming to a city near you. This is the third installment in a series of blogs aimed at getting you ready for the job fair series.  My hope is that we can help you get ready so you enter the job fair and get you hired!  If you need more information regardless of if you need to know how attend as a job seeker or participate as an employer drop me an email or call me (813) 775-6279.  I would love to hear from you!

Once you have researched the companies that are going to be at the job fair. You are probably prepared to look for a job and know which companies are best suited for you. It’s time to start getting your resume together for the big event. It’s a good idea to keep your resume updated at all times.  Before you give it to prospective employers have someone take a look at it to make sure you didn’t miss anything.  Sometimes writers make the worst editors, so get into the habit of having someone edit your resume.  

Follow these simple steps and you are sure to have a winning resume:

1.    Keep it simple and short give a brief history of you in no more than 2 pages.  (1 is even better)

2.    Include content information a phone number and email address. You can get free email at AOL, Yahoo and Google.  

3.    Use a practical font that is easy to read Times New Roman, Tahoma or Arial.

4.    Make sure you include where you worked, dates of employment, job titles, job responsibilities, and accomplishments for each position.

5.    Summary of Qualifications highlight your 5 strong skills.

Remember this is your one shot at a first impression make sure your resume if the best one received.  If you would like a copy of our Mature Worker Survival Guide a guide that goes into more detail on how to write the best resume and cover letter drop me an email and I will mail you a copy.

Good Luck!

The Employment Guide, WiserWorker.com and The AARP Foundation kicked off the Older Worker Job Fair Series this week with a BANG. Our goal is to get as many older workers and baby boomers hired during the series and we are well on our way! The first event was held in St. Louis Missouri, Todd Harrison general sales manager, reported that they broke attendance records in the first hour with over 600 in attendance at the one-hour mark and around 1200 attending by the 3:00 pm buzzer. The event was so successful that there will be a repeat performance Job Fair on October 1^st in St. Louis for more information visit WiserWorker.com.

The Employ The Older Worker Job Fair Series is upon us and now is the time to make sure you know how to get the most out your job fair experience. Plan ahead, make sure before you even walk through the door of the job fair you are prepared to get the most out of the event by doing research.  This will enable you to have insightful conversations with employers and place you ahead of potential candidates. Follow these simple steps on pre-job fair research and you find yourself full of confidence and ready to tackle the event.

Advanced Preparation for the Job Fair

1.    Pick up a copy of The Employment Guide, they are available in many locations in your city; check your local grocery store.   A list of companies that are attending the job fair will be listed in the paper.   

2.    Make a list of companies that you are most interested in, list them in priority order.

3.    Look up information on those companies, check out their websites. 

4.    Create a list of questions you can ask the recruiter about their company.

5.    Bring extra resumes.

6.    Keep an OPEN mind, you might find job opportunity that you didn’t know was available and it might be just perfect for you.

Keeping checking the WiserWorker.com blog for the latest tips on how to get the best experience at a job fair. If you need more information on how attend as a job seeker or participate as an employer drop me an email at amy.hoster@wiserworker.com.  I would love to hear from you!

Good Luck!

Do you consider yourself an older worker?

You’re not alone if you do, if you fall into this category you are over the age of 65 and you’re the vast majority of the population. It also means that you are the most valuable and sought out jobseeker out there. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that employment within the over 65 market rose by 101% and if that doesn’t catch your attention this will: people aged 16 to 64 only rose 59%. It doesn’t stop there, these numbers don’t include the Baby Boomer generation, the first baby boomer won’t turn 65 until 2011. Yes, you guessed it, the older worker demographic will increase dramatically in the years to come.

So what type of jobs are the typical “older worker” seeking?

You might be surprised that the field is wide open. The Employment Guide is an older worker friendly company we have a wide variety of employees who fall into this category. From sales managers to circulation drivers we employ a host of older workers. As a company we find that they add value to our product and our customers. A perfect job for someone who falls into this age category might be a job that compliments their skills and lifestyle. Maybe you are looking for a part-time job half the year in one part of the county and the other half across the county. Employers such as Home Depot like to work with older workers to accommodate their lifestyles and skill sets.

What does the future of the recruitment hold?

Well the “grey” wave as they are calling it is going to be hanging on BLS experts reports: “With the baby-boom generation about to start joining the ranks of those age 65 and over, the graying of the American workforce is only just beginning.”