ADVICE - Job Searching

The New World of Job Searching -
An 8 Part Series on Finding a Job at 50+

By Robert Skladany, RetirementJobs.com Chief Career Coach

The New World of Job Searching - An Introduction
If you're 50 or older and haven't had the experience of searching for a job in recent years, you're in for a real surprise - and it may not be all that pleasant.

You don't need a pencil, pen, typewriter, fax machine, envelopes or stamps much anymore. That's the good news. The bad news is that you will need to know how to use a computer to prepare a resume, research job openings, research possible employers, submit applications and keep track of your application. It's becoming more common that companies will only accept applications over the internet or at a computer kiosk in their facility.

You'll also need your own email address and cell phone if you want to appear "tech savvy" - and you do want to appear "tech savvy."

The new world of job searching can be impersonal, frustrating, even infuriating. Sorry. Unless you find a plant, store or office where you can walk in and fill out an application (and there are a few great companies where you can), you are now in the computer age of looking for a job.

Job Search Series
If you are searching for a job, you need to understand how job searching is done today. This introduction is the first in a series of eight articles to appear in the coming weeks. This material is taken from RetirementJobs.com's "Over 50 and Looking for a Job? A Workshop for Job Seekers." I'll describe the subject of each article and provide a few useful guidelines if you need to get started and find a job.

Do You Really Want Paid Work
This may sound pretty basic, but first you have to decide if and why you need or want to work. You may be age 50 to 60+, recently laid off, and eager to resume your primary occupation. We refer to your situation as "involuntarily retired." You may be 50 or older and seeking to try a new or "encore" occupation because you've been laid off, retired or just decided you need a change from the same old. We call this situation being "rewired" or career changer - your work encore if you will.

You also may have been out of the workforce for sometime, because of care giving duties, illness, or you actually thought you should or could retire! Well, welcome back!

Increasingly people contemplating retirement are questioning if they can afford to stop working and confront possibly run out of money. And then there's the question of health benefits until you reach age 65 and qualify for Medicare.

We are living longer, are generally in better health, and many people still have major debts and mortgages as they approach age 60 to 63 - the "traditional" retirement age. If you're not sure if you can afford to retire, talk to a financial advisor and check out the retirement calculators available on the internet.

If you need to work, there's no sense in analyzing things any further. Prepare to continue your current occupation or start thinking about what kind of other work you would prefer and are qualified for..

Now here's a real puzzler. Many older workers who don't need to continue working, choose to continue - and it seems like a smart decision. Maybe not 50 to 60 hours per week, but keep working. Working is (generally) good for your health. It keeps you socially active. Your savings continue to grow a little longer. Social security retirement payments will increase if you delay onset of payments beyond age 62. Many believe it's a chance to "give back" by transferring their knowledge and life's lessons. It may be volunteer work for the sheer joy of contributing. Finally, many older workers just don't want to stop working!

So, What Do I Need to Know?
In the coming weeks there will be a total of eight articles (including today's introduction) loaded with what you need to know to perform a successful job search. Each article will give you an assignment to prepare for the next subject. Keep a three-ring binder with the articles and your worksheets.

1. Today's introduction

2. What Do You Want to Do? - How to decide what you want to do and what you're qualified to do. It's surprising how often I get the question - "I don't know what I want to do or even how to start thinking about it." Well, to prepare for this column, start making a list of the different jobs that would be of interest to you and put it in your binder.

3. Preparing Your Resume and Cover Letters - This is a pretty important article. Don't miss it. There will be information on preparing a resume and cover letter and examples of resumes and letters suited for older workers. Keep copies of your resume in your binder.

4. Resources and Information - This article will provide a list of the resources and information you'll need to gather to perform your job search including a list of the best books available. This might be a good time to schedule a thorough medical exam because some of the information you'll want to gather is the state of your health and fitness. The main part of this article will be about identifying employers eager to hire, train and retain older workers. There will be plenty of information here for your job search binder.

5. Researching Jobs and Employers - Remember when a job search meant sitting with the local newspaper or the Wall Street Journal and red-circling the openings you had an interest in? Or you could go to the library and check reference books that listed employers by industry or geographic area? Welcome to the brave new world of searching for a job. It’s quite a bit more complicated and reliant on computers and communication tools. Sure, the old methods still work on rare occasions, but otherwise, here’s how you research job opportunities today. We'll also be listing employers who are hiring now.

6. Job Openings and How to Apply - Now the real work begins. We'll cover the numerous places to learn about available jobs and how to apply for the jobs you want. This would be a good time to get your own computer and high speed internet access. You may not want to keep the computer for ever, but you'll need it for your job search - and I'll bet you keep it. You should also keep all the information about specific jobs in your binder.

7. Interviewing, Screening and Selection - It's all about getting an interview! This article will cover the best practices likely to land you an interview. Remember, no interview, usually no job offer. Start exercising and get into the best shape of your life - or something close to it. Practice how you will answer some of the tougher questions you might get.

8. The Job Offer - Well, with good fortune and hard work, you'll receive a job offer, perhaps even several. This article will help you approach this delicate stage and help you get the best deal you can.

Robert Skladany is a Human Resources consultant, executive, educator and author. He has focused his career on the issues of mature and retired workers and the particular value they bring to the workplace and to employers in search of stable, productive and positive employees.