Tips for Older Job Hunters

Tips for Older Job Hunters

“That Awkward Age – Programs Help Older Job Hunters Clear An Extra Hurdle”,  an article in the July 29, 2010, edition of The Dallas Morning News in Section 1D  provides helpful suggestions for job seekers of my vintage.  Below are five ways to overcome age discrimination:

1.     Buy a computer and cell phone; if you do not have them already.  Almost all jobs in business require employees to be able to effective use these devices.  It is time to move beyond faxes.

2.    Dismiss negative thoughts about age. Stay positive by focusing on your strengths and experience.  Discussions of medical procedures and recent illness are not helpful.

3.    Look good so you feel good.  Stay fit and well-dressed. Confidence shown in a job interview can get you down the road to employment.  

4.    Seek out age-friendly employers.  Use sites such as retirementjobs.com and many other sites – just Google – “job sites for older job seekers”.

5.    Network – online and in person.  Linkedin.com, civil organizations such as Senior Source, SCORE, and Rotary and religious organizations are good sources.

If you have joined my age group, please share with readers of this blog your suggestions for finding meaningful and rewarding employment.

Thanks!    Glyn    

Do You Have a Brand?

A brand is very important in marketing and is defined in the article “A new Focus in Job Searching” in July 25, 2010, edition of The Dallas Morning News in Section 1J.  “In marketing, branding is an intangible collection of perceptions in the consumer’s mind about a product or service.  A brand name helps to raise awareness and builds trust in a crowded market place.  Personal branding is the process of distinguishing the essence of an individual’s relevant career attributes and communicating them consistently throughout the resume and interview process.

I think the branding concept is important and may be the key for an applicant to win a job!  What are five or six key words that represent your brand?  The article suggests that you should integrate such works in your resume and interview.  The words about me that come to mind are teacher, husband, father, volunteer, salesman, and enabler.

What are the words that describe your brand?  Please share with readers of this blog your thoughts about developing a personal brand.

Thanks!    Glyn    

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Professional Career Help

Where can an unemployed person go to get some professional help finding employment?  Mentioned in The Dallas Morning News in Section 1J an article “Shop Around for the Right Career Professional” by Cheri Butler are several professional counseling organizations.  Typically career counselors charge fees for their services.

Perhaps if you are unemployed, the last thing that you need is another expense.  I suggest that you take advantage of church and civic organizations that offer free networking and counseling advice.  The Texas Workforce Commission conducts job search seminars.  I volunteer at North Dallas Share Ministries in Dallas, that provides free job counseling Monday through Friday for its clients.

Google, Yahoo, and Bing search engines identify many sites that provide free job counseling information.   Please share with readers of this blog your experience in obtaining professional career help.

Thanks!    Glyn    

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Networking and Associations

On July 10, 2010, I participated in the University of Phoenix (UOP) graduation exercises for the Dallas Campus at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. In attendance were approximately 1,400 graduates, 75 faculty, and 4,000 friends and family.


The keynote speaker, Dr. Jeff Kaplan of the Greenlight Research Group, discussed the importance of networking for the graduates. He indicated that there were a million or more UOP graduates and that this group of previous graduates is a great source of career opportunities for all UOP graduates.


Based on Dr. Kaplan’s remarks, I am thinking that all job seekers have associations with friends, family, and previous business employees who can provide assistance in finding employment and business opportunities. I suggest that you make a list of possible contacts from your previous life that may provide you jobs leads and business opportunities. In addition, this group may also become your personal references which employers will request of all job applicants.


The time you spend in networking will pay dividends!


Please share your networking tips with readers of this blog.


Thanks! Glyn






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Tips for New and Experienced Workers!

An article in The Dallas Morning News in the Sunday, July 4, 2010, edition, “Tips for College Grads Entering the Real World” by Amy Winter of Creators Syndicate, provides some tips for new workers. However, I think these tips are good advice to all workers. Below, I have summarized the tips:


1. Don’t trust everyone – Be careful of sharing intimate details with co-workers.


2. Avoid Office Gossip – Steer clear of being the busybody, comedian or matchmaker.


3. Prove Your Ability – Walk the walk instead of talking the talk – demonstrate your value and worth.


4. Remember, Time is Money – Avoid writing word e-mails and spending too much time chatting.


5. Maintain Job Safety – Become independent and dependable.


6. Show Respect – Treat everyone with respect, courtesy, and dignity.


7. Keep Bad Attitudes at Bay – maintain a positive attitude at all times.


8. Go Above and Beyond – Perform your job faster and better that your peers.


I believe if you follow these tips, your career will progress, and you will be rewarded.


Please share your opinions about these tips with readers of this blog.


Thanks! Glyn






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