People experiencing long-term employment can land jobs by exercising persistence and a willingness to be creative, says Good Morning America contributor Tory Johnson. She tells success stories of people who took some nontraditional steps toward re-employment, highlighting Encore Fellow Mark Judge, whose fellowship (for which he receives a stipend) is helping prepare him for work in the nonprofit field.
Written by M. Eileen Williams, who is known for her "Feisty Side of 50" blog and radio show, Land the Job You Love! 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50 focuses on getting in the door to a prospective employer and landing a job offer. It is, she notes, an "inside job" to find a new career, and age can be an advantage because of all the contacts you've made over the years.
Even in these tough economic times, many boomers are exploring ways to earn a living while serving their communities. Many are willing to give up some financial benefits for the psychic benefits of meaningful work.
These intrepid explorers need not be martyrs for the common good. The financial hit they take when moving into the nonprofit lane can be softened considerably by some smart negotiating. Lane changers who now enjoy nonprofit careers shared some surprising pointers about negotiating their new compensation packages.
The Sloan Center on Aging & Work Website offers research on aging and work with insights from workplace experiences to inform innovative organizational decision-making. The website allows you to access publications and aging and work literature references. You can also sign up for virtual seminars and workshops.
In The Year I Saved My (Downsized) Soul: A Boomer Woman’s Search for Meaning and a Job, Carol Orsborn describes in graphic detail her one-year search for a job with meaning and purpose.
In Working Identity: Unconventional Strategies for Reinventing Your Career author Herminia Abarra argues that the way to discover the right job is the reverse of the expected: "doing comes first, knowing second," she says. Ibarra shares the stories of 23 people who navigated mid-career shifts, and provides a 10-point plan for figuring it all out.
By Catherine Clifford and Millie Froeb with Hendy Dayton and Carol Wilson. YOR Media, 2008
Frustrated by the lack of resources available for women re-entering the workforce, YourOnRamp.com founders Catherine Clifford and Millie Froeb stepped up and filled in the gaps themselves. Similar to their Web site, Your Career OnRamp guides readers through discovering their career calling to landing the ideal job. The book’s 10 Step Plan empowers job hunters with practical resume writing skills and networking tactics, giving women the confidence and energy to seek out their second career.
Monster.com is the largest job site on the Web. Provides access to thousands of job listings nationwide, along with extensive advice on networking, resumes, job hunting, career advancement, interviewing and more. Specific resume advice geared toward older workers and/or more experienced job seekers is also offered.
Yahoo Hotjobs serves job seekers of all ages. We found postings for more than 1,000 nonprofit jobs, 1,300 teaching jobs and an avalanche of health care jobs nationwide. The site lists thousands of other job openings in dozens of fields.
Careerbuilder.com features a large offering of job listings (many in the nonprofit, health care and teaching fields) along with helpful career advice and resources.
