Wiser Worker Blog

I just learned that 25.00 can go a long way…… for the next 48 hours you can purchase one-way flights on Southwest for as little as $25.  Don’t worry; you can buy round trip tickets for as little as $50.00 so you won’t be stuck at the kids house!  There are additional fare specials for $50, $75, or $100, based on length of trip. Good for travel between Dec. 2, 2009, and Dec. 16, 2009, or travel between Jan. 5, 2010, and Feb. 10, 2010.

You better hurry!

These fares are available through 11:59 p.m. PST Oct. 29, 2009,

Don’t cut and paste your resume into your profile.

You wouldn’t hand out your resume before introducing yourself, so don’t do it on LinkedIn.  However, describe your experience and abilities as you would to someone you just met.

Borrow from the best marketers.

Interject your profile with your voice. Use adjectives, colorful verbs, active construction (managed project team). Don’t write in the third person. Picture yourself at a conference or client meeting. How do you introduce yourself? That’s your authentic voice, so use it.

Write a personal tagline.

That line of text under your name is the first thing people see in your Profile. It follows your name in search hit lists. It’s your brand.  Create your professional personality into a more eye-catching phrase that describes who you are at a glance. (Your e-mail address is not a brand!)

Put your elevator pitch to work.

Create a 30-second description

The essence of who you are and what you do, is a personal elevator pitch. Use it in the Summary section to engage readers. The more meaningful your summary is, the more time you’ll get from readers.

Explain your experience.

Help the reader grasp the key points. Briefly say what the company does and what you did or do for them.   Use those clear, succinct phrases here and break them into visually digestible chunks.

Pat your own back and others

Get recommendations from colleagues, clients, and employers who can speak credibly about your abilities or performance. (Think quality, not quantity.) Ask them to focus on a specific skill or personality trait that drives their opinion of you. Make meaningful comments when you recommend others.  

Build your connections.

Connections are one of the most important aspects of your brand. The company you keep reflects the quality of your brand.    Identify connections that will add to your credibility and pursue those.  As you add connections and recommendations, your Profile develops into a peer-reviewed picture of you and of your personal brand.  

That’s right folks, the baby boomers are creating a wave in the labor pool big enough that employers are sitting up and taking notice; and it’s about time! Forget about retirement; in a recent survey done by MetLife over ½ of the respondents reported that over the last two years older worker have changed their minds about when they will retire, while many are actually heading back to work.  The job market has changed a little over the last 15 years. 

Don’t worry the basics are still the same, however, gone is the day you waltzed into a business and asked if they were hiring. Technology is KING and the king has changed the game a little.

Research: Take a personal inventory of your skills and abilities.  WiserWorker.com Suggestion: Keep your inventory list close by when you are searching for jobs; match it up against the job requirements.

Online Applications: Companies have gone to online applications; take your time and fill them out as complete as possible. WiserWorker.com Suggestion: Research the job and or company and make sure they are both something you are seeking before you spend the time to fill out the application.

 Job Boards: Visit the right job boards, you will find they have information beyond job search that can help you navigate through your journey.  WiserWorker.com Suggestion: Start with a few job boards - get used to them and then broaden your experience to others.

If you take the time to dedicate to your job search I think you will find the journey rewarding. Start your journey with WiserWorker.com, we are waiting for you!

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.

Now that you know how to write your resume, (Thanks Amy!), it is time to focus on the cover letter.  It is just as important as your resume.  Think of your cover letter as a bridge between your resume and the job you are applying for.

Do your research

Before writing your cover letter, research the company you are applying to.  Find out who the hiring manager is by calling the company.  Also, find out some information to use in your letter. For example, is company XYZ a leader in their particular industry?

Read the job description very carefully.  By doing so, you will be able to figure out the important skill / qualifications of the position.

Write the cover letter

Now that the research is done, it is time to start writing the cover letter.  Your first sentence should stand out and grab the reader’s attention.  The rest of the paragraph is the “why you are applying” paragraph.

The next 1 -2 paragraph(s) are the “what can you do for the company” paragraphs.  Highlight a couple of your skills that strongly match the qualifications in the job description.  Remember to keep the focus on how you can help the company.

The last paragraph is the “summary” paragraph.  Thank the hiring manager for their time.  Let them know you are available for interviews and that your resume is enclosed.  Indicate know you will follow up with them.

Finally, here are a few more tips for writing a good cover letter.

·         Proofread, Proofread, Proofread. Spell check your document and have a friend read it.  There cannot be any mistakes or typos.

·         Be concise. Don’t use two words when one will work. Make every word in your letter work for you.

·         Be upbeat and positive in your letter. Sound excited about the prospect of working for this company, all the way though the letter.

·         Do NOT write a generic cover letter.  It shows a lack of interest on your part.

Do you have other suggestions for writing a resume or cover letter?  If so, we would love to hear about it.

I attended a job fair for older workers last week and held a workshop on navigating the job market, I was interested in what information was shared and what needed to be talked about these are just a few of the topics covered. I hope this information helps you get through the rough seas ahead.

More is TOO MUCH

It’s a fact more is just too much, often people who are in the older worker category give to much information on their resume.  It’s essential that you keep your resume to ONE page. Yep that’s right folks I said ONE page. You can tell a hiring manager everything they need to learn about you in one page, more will get you shuffled to the bottom of the pile.

History is Irrelevant

Hiring managers what to know what you CAN do for them if you get hired, they are less interested in what you have been doing for the last 20 years. Make your resume stand out,  make your past work history relevant to the job you are applying for, with that said the experience you have gained in past positions is more than relevant.

Example:

Your Past: You have been in the medical field managing a office full of nurses. 

Your applicable skill transfer: Your ability to manage an office staff.

Telling Yourself That No One Hires Older Workers

Phooey, if you start out with an I can’t do attitude well you know the outcome.  Go to each and every interview with the mindset that you are the best person suited for the open position. Remember you come to the table with years of experience and the will to get the job done and done right.

Persistence Pays

If you feel that you have found the job that was meant for you then by all means apply for it and follow up with the online application. There is no harm in checking in with the hiring manager to see what the hiring process looks like. You don’t want to be one of a 100 resumes, be the one that stands out.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Before your actual interview practice questions that might come up and have answers ready, there is nothing worse than being unprepared. Grab a friend and hold practice interview or if all else fails stand in front of a mirror and practice.

At the end of the day stop trying to blend in among the millions of job seekers. YOU were born to Stand Out! 

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?