MANAGING YOUR CAREER: The Older Worker Strikes Back

Managing Your Career
with Estelle Rauch, LSCW, CGP

Recently out-of-work professionals over forty-five have found themselves under exceptional stress. They have typically been high performers and spent accordingly. They have families to support, and often high mortgages and other financial commitments eating into savings. The latest AARP magazine reports this group, finding jobs very hard to get, are increasingly venturing into the self-employment world, which we all know poses its own hazards.

What skills and resources are required to make this shift? Even the highly motivated must face his need for upgrading skills, for making some financial investment, for tolerating a significant period in which he is not likely to see income. He must be realistic about his skills, but also be able to read the market: is there a real need for his product or service? Does he know anything about merchandising? About using the internet to expand contacts? Psychologically used to being in charge of others, he now is faced with needing to ask for help himself, and often from younger people. What is his capacity to emotionally cope with this new reality?

During this venture, what emotional and financial support can this person count on from his family? Their response to the family crisis is high up on the factors impinging on outcome of any new venture.

But with all these caveats, self-employment can be freeing, creative, energizing.

For more information, please visit Estelle's TNNW Bio.





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MANAGING YOUR CAREER: The Older Worker Strikes Back

Online Job Resources from the Princeton Public Library

TNNW Readers, I attended a great presentation by Cynthia on Friday during the Trenton Professional Services Group's meeting. As a librarian at the Princeton Public Library, Cynthia is constantly looking for valuable resources to pass along. Since job hunting and career management are brought up in just about every conversation these days, I asked her if it was okay to repost her wealth of knowledge on this subject. Something that Cynthia impressed upon me was that every public library is full of resources to help with your career -- so many that you shouldn't be afraid to ask your friendly librarian. - Regards, Wendy Kovitz, V.P. Research & Development

From Cynthia M. Lambert

Princeton Public Library
Princeton, NJ

Online Job Resources:

SELF ASSESSMENT RESOURCES:

These tools can help you to recognize your goals, write a better resume, focus your job search, and identify search terms:

http://www.rileyguide.com/assess.html

http://careerplanning.about.com/od/selfassessment/Self_Assessment.htm

http://www.jobhuntersbible.com/counseling/

http://www.job-hunt.org/career-change/self-assessment.shtml

http://www.quintcareers.com/career_assessment.html

http://resources.monster.com/tools/

SAlary / Industry / Company Assessment:

http://www.salary.com/

http://salary.money.cnn.com/

http://www.bls.gov/emp/

Don’t forget:

Company web pages

Industry & Professional Assoc.

College Career Centers

RESUME RESOURCES:

These tools can help you to write a better resume, refine the resume you have, and learn about a variety of resume styles. Most of these sites also provide information on cover letters. Remember—try to match your resume terms to the terms being used in the job posting (example, trainer vs. instructor).

http://www.resume-help.org/ (this is a terrific resource—it covers everything about resumes and cover letters—be sure to check out the articles section where you can get tips for choosing references, advice for new grads or older job seekers, etc.)

http://www.resume-help.org/resume_action_words.htm (this section is specifically for action words on the resume—it is good for finding search terms too!)

http://www.bestsampleresume.com/

http://www.freeresumesamples.org/

RESUME RESOURCES (continued):

http://susanireland.com/

http://www.rockportinstitute.com

http://careerbuilder.com/JobSeeker/Resumes/SR_Start.aspx?cblid=scpruhpt004

http://msn.careerbuilder.com/MSN/Category.aspx?categoryid=CL

http://jobsearchtech.about.com/od/resumesandletters/tp/Resumes---Tips-and-Samples.htm

http://www.technical-resumes.com/examples.html (this is an industry specific resume site—for the technology industry. If you want a similar resource for your industry, search for XYZ resume help).

NETWORKING RESOURCES:

http://jobsearch.about.com/cs/networking/a/networking.htm

http://www.quintcareers.com/networking_guide.html

http://www.linkedin.com/

http://www.facebook.com/

http://www.friendster.com/

http://newjerseyjobnetwork.com/

http://www.trinityprinceton.org/jobseekers.cfm

http://www.bpwnj.org/ (woman specific)

Don’t forget to check with industry specific professional associations, alumni associations, churches, and community centers.

JOB BOARDS:

http://www.monster.com/

http://www.careerbuilder.com/

http://www.vault.com/jobs/jobboard/searchform.jsp

http://www.internetinc.com/top-100-job-board-niches (This is a list of the 100 best job boards for specific niche areas—very helpful)

http://www.dice.com/ (technology specific—to look for similar niche sites in your area simply Google search XYZ job postings)

http://www.indeed.com/

http://www.simplyhired.com/

http://www.workforce50.com/ (specifically for older workers)

http://www.usajobs.gov/ (Federal Government Postions)

http://lwd.dol.state.nj.us/labor/wnjpin/wnjpin_index.html (NJ specific information)

http://www.state.nj.us/personnel/jobs/index.htm (NJ State Jobs)

INTERVIEW RESOURCES:

http://www.collegegrad.com/intv/

http://www.rileyguide.com/interview.html

http://www.career.vt.edu/JOBSEARC/interview/questions.htm (Nice overview of interviewing from Virginia Tech)

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/interviewquest.htm

http://www.jobinterviewquestions.org/

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewsnetworking/a/dressforsuccess.htm

http://www.careerbuilder.com/Article/CB-462-Getting-Hired-What-Not-to-Wear-to-an-Interview/

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

Privacy Information

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122695845250534813.html (A Wall Street Journal Article on Protecting Your Privacy while job searching.)

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs25-JobSeekerPriv.htm

http://www.job-hunt.org/privacy.shtml

General Research Sources:

Librarian’s Internet Index: http://lii.org/

Delicious: http://delicious.com/ (use to keep track of your favorite links for easy access away from home)

Ta-Da Lists: http://tadalist.com/ (electronic lists that you can access from anywhere—use to keep organized)

Website Evaluation:

http://www.library.cornell.edu/olinuris/ref/research/webcrit.html

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html

http://lib.nmsu.edu/instruction/evalcrit.html

* Posted with permission from Cynthia M. Lambert, Princeton Public Library, Copyright 2009

___________________________________________________________

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Online Job Resources from the Princeton Public Library

CAREER MANAGEMENT: The Silicon Valley Consultant

Career Management with Jason Alba

Last year I was in Silicon Valley on a book tour. I was scared to death for two reasons: First, I had never been on a book tour. Seriously, what if no one came? What if someone hated my book and threw it at me during a presentation?? Second, I found it awkward to go to the heart of technology and teach them the basics of online networking. Didn't the Silicon Valley people eat, breath and sleep this stuff? What could I possibly teach them? No need to fear, the trip was excellent and I'm scheduled to head out in February, which I'm really excited about!

Anyway, while in Silicon Valley I met with a lot of professionals in transition, many of which had a job title of "consultant." I had never seen so many consultants in one place, and was amazed, until someone told me that a consultant in Silicon Valley means someone who is in transition.

Interesting!

Perhaps in Silicon Valley "consultant" carries a weird connotation, but elsewhere it doesn't (as much). If I call from out of state and find our you are a consultant I'm impressed. If you are consulting to Silicon Valley companies (think Google, Yahoo, Salesforce.com, etc.) I'm super-impressed. You aren't out of work, unemployed, or in transition, you are consulting with some of the top tech companies in the world!

Here's what I learned about this tactic of being a "consultant:"

1. It's easier to network when you are a consultant. Too often job seekers come across as, well, job seekers. They somehow miss the value of networking and focus to much on asking for stuff (like, a job, which is the wrong thing to ask for). As a consultant you are a professional who has something to offer, not someone who is needy.
2. It's good for your pride to be a consultant. When I lost my job I went from Jason the General Manager to Jason the unemployed guy. It was humiliating and hard to understand at times. I questioned past relationships that I think were in place because of my title, which seemed to slowly go away. Going from something to nothing is not fun. Funny thing is, I was still a professional, just like you are - I have come to realize that my stature didn't change, but my employment status did.
   
3. You can make money as a consultant. If you declare your expertise, and can back it up, people might just pay you for it! I've seen this with my friends in transition as well as with myself. I double-dog-dare you to write down one thing that you have expertise in, and think about what you could offer in a 1/3/8 hour consultation session!
   
4. Being a consultant can open new doors, or introduce you to new opportunities. This is probably the reason there are so many consultants there, so they can get their foot in the doors of target companies. Would it be easier to go to Yahoo and get paid $500 to consult for a couple of hours, or would it be easier to try and network your way in as a job seeker? Maybe you try both tactics (I only use Yahoo because they are a huge company).
   
5. Consultants can be hired and put a hold on their consulting business. When you become a consultant you are not necessarily committing to a long-term gig - if you get a job you can put your consultancy on hold and take the job. Which is exactly what happens.
   

One of the worst things you can do in your job search is to lose your identity (point #2). It's demoralizing and confusing, and it usually shows when you give your thirty second pitch. Perhaps it's time to be a consultant?

--

Jason Alba created JibberJobber.com to replace the job search spreadsheet. If you need help organizing a job search, or your professional contacts, sign up on JibberJobber.com. Jason also authored I'm on LinkedIn -- Now What??? and coauthored I'm on Facebook -- Now What???, both of which are designed to help professionals get more value out of these social networking tools. Learn more about Jason at http://twitter.com/jasonalba.

Purchase your copies of Jason's books by clicking the images below:

___________________________________________________________

Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. To subscribe for your free newsletter, go to www.TheNationalNetworker.com. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free, continuous RSS feed (available either by traditional RSS or by direct email), go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com. You are also invited to click our buttons:


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CAREER MANAGEMENT: Managing Your Career in Turbulent Times

Career Management with Jason Alba

Wow, what a year! According to speculation we're headed into a rough and bumpy 2009. Not great news for those in a long job search, not to mention those in wounded industries (banks, mortgage, etc.).

Ouch.

With all that is happening around us I can safely predict two things:

1. We'll make it through this just fine.

2. We will learn from this, and events leading up to this point, and be more serious than ever about our personal career management.

Why will we make it through this just fine? Because we have pulled through bad times before, at a world, national or personal level. Think about life and morale during The Great Depression... I'm guessing it was worse than it is now. Now people are worried about cutting back on splurges, while then people where literally worried about how they were going to get the basics to survive day-by-day. I cannot fathom the depths of despair that so many experienced during The Great Depression.

When I got laid off I had a number of safety nets to rely on, including family, church and neighbors. My family was the recipient of giving and goodness from each of those safety nets, because when I got laid off the recession/depression was personal, and others had the means and the hearts to help sustain us.

I realize there are people who are homeless, or who are looking for that morsel of bread, but I do think there are so many programs in place between churches and the government that we aren't going to see mass starvation and poverty like we did almost a hundred years ago.

We have to make it through this. And we will.

And when we do, we have to be ready for the next one. We need to be prepared. Because hundreds of thousands of professionals with degrees and credentials got kicked out on the street, even though they were high performers, even though they made or saved their companies money, and even though they were so very close to retirement.

Why do we think our boss will protect us from layoffs when he or she has as much "job security" as we do??

I must come out more independent, and be more career management minded. We must do things "between job searches" so that when we are in a job search it is not as long and/or painful. Here are a few ideas of what we can do in 2009, whether we are in a job search or not:

1. Grow our network. It's not all about numbers, but having a network of 500 is more powerful than having a network of 5. Go to networking functions... get out of the house or office!

2. Nurture relationships. Get beyond superficial and develop, as Keith Ferrazzi would say, "intimate relationships." If you don't know what that is, go get Never Eat Alone from your local library.

3. Have $1,000 ready for lunches. Okay, maybe not easy to accumulate $1k while in a job search, but I was thinking when I was in transition again I'd love to have $1,000 earmarked just for lunches, breakfasts, coffees, etc. I want to get a contact in a place where they can't leave, so we can develop a deeper relationship... usually a meal helps with this :)

4. Keep my eyes open for target companies. Always consider where you might be working next, or what problems you might help solve next. It's better if you start working those target companies now, and continue to work them no matter what your employment status is.

These are career management tactics. Job search is another thing, but my point is I think we need to have much more of a long-term, career management focus than a short-term job search focus.

What do you think?

________________________________________________________

Jason Alba developed JibberJobber.com to replace the job search spreadsheet. If you need help organizing a job search, or your professional contacts, check out JibberJobber.com. He also authored I'm on LinkedIn -- Now What??? and coauthored I'm on Facebook -- Now What???, both of which are designed to help professionals get more value out of these social networking tools. Learn more about Jason at http://twitter.com/jasonalba.

Purchase your copies of Jason's books by clicking the images below:

________________________________________________________

Posted to THE NATIONAL NETWORKER. To subscribe for your free newsletter, go to www.TheNationalNetworker.com. For the complete National Networker Relationship Capital Toolkit and a free RSS feed, go to: http://thenationalnetworkerweblog.blogspot.com.
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CAREER MANAGEMENT: Managing Your Career in Turbulent Times