Confidence is an essential component in so many facets of life. You may be involved in a hobby or a sport and need to have confidence in your abilities to compete, learn, play or perform. You may be launching your new job search and need to have confidence in the skills and competencies that you can bring to a new employer. Confidence is an amazing force in your day to day life. It drives the way that you face challenges, meet new people, communicate, and, in short, behave in most situations. Confidence for many of us can also be a fragile force that can be influenced by so many outside and unrelated factors. It is essential to hold on to and it must be managed by anyone who is less than a complete egotist. That means that most of us need to manage our confidence as we approach any activity, and that goes specifically for job search activities.
Past Accomplishments as a Source of Confidence
By Nancy J. Peterson January 19th, 2011Employers should not hire older workers!
By Gene Burnard March 2nd, 2010Heresy you say? As the publisher of the career site for the older workforce how can I make such a statement? Promoting the idea that “the older workforce is the most underutilized talent pool in the nation” does not correlate with this statement. Have I gone bonkers in this advanced age? Perhaps, but it is true.
Let me continue this distorted thought process. Employers should not hire younger or new grad workers. Ok, now that we’ve eliminated nearly two thirds of the country’s workforce just who should employers hire?
As my memory serves me (sometimes it doesn’t) two or three years ago BusinessWeek published an issue that focused on individuals working past the typical retirement age. Note, this was before the current economic/employment crisis, not the times we are in today with retirement a fading option for many. But I digress. The article presented a very positive view of those who choose to work beyond the typical (whatever that is) retirement age. A sub story in the publication presented a 92 year old woman that still worked a full day every day (isn’t this a good work ethic). Her boss was at loss for words when asked what he would do when this valuable employee retired.
Beware of Fraudulent Job Postings
By Gene Burnard October 5th, 2009The use of job boards to perpetrate fraud on unsuspecting job seekers is growing at an alarming rate. There are many domestic and international predators looking to relieve you of your money or personal information.
Most are out of reach of law enforcement. Many, if not most, are international. Even if the US law enforcement would get involved the likelihood of convictions is very small. Read the rest of this entry »
Healthy Finances - What Gives?
By Gene Burnard September 30th, 2009Am I not worthy of financial analysis after 60? I saw this on CNN Money and thought, what the heck, let’s give it a try and see what they say (income inserted for testing).
This is their response. Apparently I’m too old to matter.
Job Search Burnout
By Gene Burnard September 8th, 2009We all get job search burnout. Some get it more than once. Let’s take a look at some of the things that push us there:
- “Not interested in older workers.”
- Don’t even get a chance to interview.
- Interviews don’t go well.
- and many more
Yes, they are all valid for some situations. But what are we going to do? I’ll tell you what most normal people do. They:
- Practice the art of inaction,
- Are not aggressive,
- Act defeated in their presentation to a prospective employer,
- Are not interested in suggestions from others (If this is you then stop reading now),
- Keep doing what hasn’t worked yet, or they
- Come to the point in a job search that they’ll take anything.
Do you see yourself in there? Can you add more to the list? Let’s relate all of these to the word “If” and test yourself to see if you have these of any other If”s.