Over the weekend I witnessed an interaction between a group of people and frankly I thought it was “cute” and as I have moved along through this week I realized what I witnessed was more than cute it was a desire for more.  This single event has given me renewed hope that people are still striving for more; and moreover it’s never too late to do more or perhaps be more.  

Last Sunday was Mother’s Day; I was planning on taking my grandmother to lunch as usual I arrived early at her retirement home.   Admittedly I like to arrive early because I love to sit in the lounge as the people there are so nice, and there’s always someone to talk to!  This Sunday was no different, and the ladies were dressed to the nines!  I had only been there moments before 3 nice ladies sat down next to me and quickly identified themselves as the “singles” I must have displayed a look on my face as they offered further explanation. You see these three ladies were all single; but certainly not alone.  However I quickly learned that they were looking needed a 4^th person to complete their group. I noticed how quickly they worked to scan the room for the 4th lucky person who they would be invited join their lunch group. It wasn’t long until they found their target.  The rest of the story is much as you expected; one of these ladies went and caught the lucky gentleman who would be their lunch date.  As sure as I’m sitting here I bet he has a grand lunchtime!

All week I have thought of these ladies and smiled, but it wasn’t until today that their lesson caught up with me. NEVER give up. Each morning when these ladies wake up they have a choice they can be a “single” and stay up in their rooms and be alone or they can venture out and join the ranks of their single comrades and have FUN. These ladies seemed to enjoy life in fact they seemed to be enjoying it a little much!

The lesson: is it’s never too late to do anything…..get a date, find a new job, or make a new friend. These are all chances and take an element of adventure but I urge you to take the leap….the rewards are plentiful.   

Did you know there was such a day?  I didn’t. Today I learned something new that I thought I would take a moment to share with you. Knowledge is fun, right; even better when you can share what you learn with others. What I learned is this:  May Day is a day where we get to celebrate workers rights.  This year however its meaning has expanded to include demonstrations about immigration reform. Pretty interesting considering the current job market climate

The actual holiday dates back so far that there isn’t an actual date; almost back to before the age of time. I did learn that it’s held to coincide with 6 month after November 1^st. Over the years the holiday has changed in meaning and it began as a ways to celebrate the social and economic challenges of the labour movement, which is a board term for the working class of people who band together to get better treatment from their employers. In some countries such as United Kingdom it is viewed as a political wing and it’s a party name much like out democratic and republican parties.  Today it has a different meaning in almost every country across the world.

For a list of U.S. May Day Events across the country; click here. In a time where we are all fighting to find jobs and stay focused I found May Day to be particularly interesting.

WiserWorker.com: enjoy your Friday and Happy May Day!

Hopefully you don’t have the swine flu, but there’s nothing worse than finally finding a job only to end up sick. It happens and all too often in fact…. why does this happen? Well it’s simple when you are pounding the pavement in pursuit of a job you are bound to encounter germs.

How can you put your defenses up and ward off the ever present germs that are out there in the job seeking world? I found the following useful tips at the Center for Disease Control:

Avoid close contact: How do you avoid contact when interviewing?  Well you can’t what you can do it this: wash your hands frequently and if you can’t get to a washroom use antibacterial gel. Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth with unclean hands.

Cover your mouth and nose: if you do have to cough or sneeze cover your nose and mouth and wash your hands before contacting other people.

Clean your hands: Wash your hands, this must be important because I am mentioning it again…..   

Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth: with dirty hands especially……

Practice other good health habits: gets lots of rest, drink LOTS of water.

Stay Home: If you are sick stay home.

It’s a real threat out there and it’s called the flu, make sure you ward off the germs that can stop you in your tracks. It’s no fun to finally find the perfect job only to have to call in sick.  At WiserWorker.com we want you to be well and in tip top shape to start your new job!

Whoever said this is a genius, it’s one of my favorite pick me ups when I am feeling particularly frustrated on any situation.  I have been known to thrown this out a group of people…..I don’t know what we are going to do…but it better be pretty great because…..and here it comes….”Failure is not an Option.”

It’s a group of words that just works! The phrase instantly gets the blood flowing and the troops lining up. I read an article that used this quote today and it’s not important what the article was about, what’s important is my reaction. I instantly was reenergized and launched into my next project; because in the world of searching for a job “Failure is certainly not an Option.“  WiserWorker.com is open 24 hours a day with the latest most up to date job postings, a robust resource section and finally a dedicated blog that talks about topics that matter most to the older worker.

At WiserWorker.com we are working to make this site better for the end user-YOU. If there is something you would like to change let me know, there is nothing I like more than talking to job seekers. You can reach me at 1-888-606-7896 Ext 238 or my email is amy.hoster@wiserworker.com.

Just remember as a job seeker I know searching for a job can be difficult but remember “Failure is not an Option.”

Dreams….Are we ever too old to dream or perhaps reinvent ourselves?  I don’t think so; on the contrary I think dreaming keeps us young.   As you get older your dreams and ambitions may change but you always should keep dreaming and reaching for your next moment in your limelight.  It takes a confident person to pursue their dreams and then make it happen; those people I admire!   It takes courage to leap into the next phase of your life and sometimes your dreams give us the inside scoop as to where you might leaping. Allow yourself to dream…it’s good for the soul.

What’s your next dream? It doesn’t have to be grand in nature; it can be something as simple as a career change, starting a new business or perhaps it’s as simple as going from full time employment to part time.  Maybe take a vacation with a long lost family member. You’re next step should you choose to accept it is to turn your dream into reality.

I met a young lady that had a dream and now her dream is reality: Naturally Naked Soaps was her dream.  Kristen had a vision of a product for people who have sensitive skin issues and live on a budget.  Kristen did the research and learned there wasn’t a soap product made with natural products and MADE IN AMERICA.   It’s a labor of love- Kristen’s love and you can see it in her product line.  It took creativity and courage to turn her dream into a business. Kristen had confidence in herself and in the future of Naturally Naked Soaps.    

My advice?  Start small and dream big.  Find your niche in life and dream big to make it happen. As follows is what I like to call the Dream Plan:

1.    Take the time to Dream and Plan

2.    Keep that plan in the front of your mind…..

3.    Keep your eye on the future and avoid the past

4.    Avoid Dream Killers

5.    Take action: maybe small, maybe large but TAKE ACTION

WiserWorker.com was a dream….

and today it lives for you.

Pleasant Dreams to you.

Over the last few weeks I have spoken with many people who have found themselves caught on one particular question during the interview process. So many in fact that I ‘m taking a moment to explore this jaw dropping, conversation stopping question. So you ask…..what is this elusive question that has left many wondering if their answer or lack of answer blew the interview for them?  Tell me something thing about you that you would like to change, or Name one weakness you have. 

Let’s start with WHY this question stumps so many… it’s the most basic reason we are taught from a very early age to focus on the positive; to highlight what we excel at. I can’t once remember my parents teaching me to talk about the fact that I couldn’t clean my room to save my life. My mother in fact would be mortified if I had gone around telling people that I was a slob, she is just thankful I have grown up and keep a clean house. So it’s not surprising that when we ask people what they are not good at we are greeted with a deer in the headlights expression.

Okay so we know this question is going to come up; so get prepared! Have an answer formulated before your next interview because how you answer it shows something about your character. Remember its okay to have weakness we all do we just aren’t conditioned to talk about it.  BOTTOM LINE: We all have something we could like to change or get better at, the key is to have a plan lines out how you overcome that weakness. 

For instance I’m the queen of procrastination because I procrastinate; I know that I need to plan and then leave myself extra time. I keep my schedule online, carry it with me and I set reminders.  I try to block my time with specific goals in mind for that time. This helps me be more effective because I am aware of this weakness and I take steps to overcome it. Okay here’s another not so secret about me….I am a terrible speller so I try to always have someone proof my written work or re-read it myself.

The rule to remember is this: when someone asks me what my weakness is I cannot only tell them my weakness I can tell them how I can prevent it from affected their company.  That’s what they care about…..IF your weakness will prevent you from doing the job you are applying for.  

See it’s not so scary….if you know its coming and what to do with it.  I hope that you can take this information and form your own answer that fits you so when you are asked this question you don’t find yourself speechless.

Our friends over at the AARP Foundation, they are leading the charge at making resources available that will give you some relief today.  I spent some time on the site and found it to be all encompassing and worth your time to check it out.  AARP Foundation’s Real Relief covers all problems relating to our current economic climate. I found that this web page had the answers to my most basic questions on things that keep me wide awake at night.

My medical expenses seem to have overtaken my checkbook, but I don’t know what to do.  I would recommend starting with Benefits QuickLINK  this program will tell you if your family qualifies for public benefits programs that help cover the costs of food, utilities, health care, and medicine.

What is a reverse mortgage and how can it help me?  This question may be on your mind but you don’t know where to start of what the implications of such a program might be. Check out the Reverse Mortgage Education Project: Homeowners age 62 or older can access free online tools and print materials. This is the right place to start and a place you can get answers that make sense.

I used to have enough money every month, but lately I seem to never have enough money for the basics…what can I do? Money Management offers a variety of basic financial resources that can help you with budgeting, credit, and debt management.

There are scams everywhere who do I trust?  If you think it might be a scam you are probably right it’s best to err on the safe side.  If it sounds to good to be tru it probably it.  

I have been retired but need to find a part time job to make ends meet, where’s the best place to start? WiserWorker.com and WorkSearch have the best tools in place and companies that are hiring NOW. Visit us and we will help you find the perfect job that fits your needs!

These are just a few of the items I found on AARP Foundation’s Real Relief website, check it out today to see what solutions are in place to help you. Good Luck!

You know what the coolest thing about chameleons is?  They adapt to any situation, no matter where they go, who they meet, or what they need they are able to change color and adapt to their surroundings. Sometimes I think if we all had a little chameleon in us searching for a job might not be such a chore but more of an adventure.

This morning I spoke with a job seeker where my knowledge of chameleons came in handy. Mary called to share her latest job interview experience and she was rather upset.  Up until 2 years ago Mary ran and owned a deli in Pennsylvania, today she found herself looking for work. With all her experience she was sure she was a shoe in for a job opening at the local sandwich shop, where she had turned in her application.

Mary immediately got a call back from the hiring manager and set up an interview to meet with him. At the interview all was going well until the hiring manager told Mary she would need to submit to a background check and provide references.  This upset Mary….as she had years of experience she couldn’t and wouldn’t complete their background check. Mary didn’t get the job she wanted and needed at the sandwich shop.

The moral of the story: Mary failed to become a chameleon.  You must remember when you are seeking a job you need to blend in and accept reasonable companies policies and procedures. Every company has hiring policies in place that are often tailored to their specific hiring practices. Don’t do anything that you are uncomfortable with but practice being a chameleon as they often get hired because they blend in and go with the flow…

I created and represent a Wiserworker.com and that’s the primary reason why I tend to write on topics that matter/relate to that demographic. It’s where my passion lies, I know there are other demographic groups out there that are just as strong, but I feel this is the demographic that needs help and where I am needed.  WiserWorker.com was created for the older worker, however we knew at that time there were many job seekers and none were ever to be forgotten.

We honor all types of job seekers through our specialized niche job boards; for the trucking industry we have CareersinGears.com for all positions relating to the medical field we have Healthcareerweb.com and then for all jobs that fall into the hourly job category we have EmploymentGuide.com and last but not least we have Jobalot.com our aggregator site.  You can see we cover the spread when it comes to servicing the job seeker! Our goal is to leave no stone unturned.  

Last week I was contacted by a fellow blog writer who respectively disagreed with my position on the older worker being the BEST job candidate…. he offered his opinion and on many levels I think we agree, but just see things from a different prospective. George Lenard, Owner-Editor of George’s Employment Blawg offered the following statement: “Companies shouldn’t be recruiting older workers; they should be recruiting better workers — and realizing that many older workers may meet their needs — as may many younger workers.  We no more need to feed demographic divisions during tough times for all workers than we need to fan racial prejudice or anti-immigrant sentiments.” 

I quickly returned his email and said “WOW, can I quote you?”  George said sure but he thought I would ticked off at this response…..Heck no!  I love when people have opinions even different opinions.  What makes me mad is when people DON’T have an opinion. The fact of the matter is George is right employers should hire the BEST candidate for the any job. Yet all too often age becomes a hiring factor and it shouldn’t, older workers are essential to our labor market.  Just last week I read that the average age of the American worker is 40.  Hence why WiserWorker.com was created, to create a place where job seekers over the age of 40 can come to get job advice and or search for jobs.

George we don’t disagree, I just think that employers overlook the older worker and that’s why I spend so much time on this topic. Thank you for having the opinion and sharing it. YOU make a difference through opinion and sharing it.

George Lenard, the founder and editor of George’s Employment Blawg, has over twenty years of experience in all aspects of labor and employment law, including preventive law as well as litigation. George created George’s Employment Blog in May 2003 as an outgrowth of his online reading in the field of employment law. As the blog grew, he also started reading and posting more about topics of general interest in the employment and HR area.

Whoever said you can’t get something for nothing hasn’t heard about that people over at Walgreens Drug Stores. Starting TODAY Walgreens is offering free clinic visits to the unemployed and uninsured for the rest of 2009. Walgreens is providing rest and routine treatment at the clinics that are located right in their stores! Patients will still have to pay for prescriptions; this is a potential savings of $59.00 to per patients who don’t have insurance.

Who’s eligible for this free clinic?  Anyone who has lost their job and health insurance after March 31, 2009 will be able to get free treatment at its in-store Take Care clinics for respiratory problems, allergies, infections and skin conditions, among other ailments. It gets better:  Spouses and children are also eligible for free services if they don’t have insurance of their own

When can I take advantage of the clinic services? Free services will be offered only from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

What do I need to bring with me? Patients must present proof they are unemployed, including a federal or state unemployment determination letter and an unemployment check stub. They will have to sign a form at the clinic saying they have lost their jobs and health benefits.

Find a Take Care Clinic near you in 35 markets around the country, including Chicago, Atlanta, Miami and Cleveland.

Hats to the management at Walgreens……This service is invaluable and much appreciated. Thank you and you have a friend at WiserWorker.com