DISCOVER WORK :

DWN is not a job placement service. However, as part of Discover Work we hope to provide you with access to important resources and information that can help you discover work if you decide that is what you are seeking at this stage of life.

DWN will periodically offer events that focus on different aspects of work after age 50.

DISCOVER WORK NEWS:

Are you in the midst of a career transition?  Or just looking for another job? Maybe you're searching for something meaningful to do. Or a way to make money doing what you like to do. Whether it's about the job search process or your resume, how to tap into a professional network, or the wider blue sky of new career exploration, it's great to get direction from a pro.

Ask The Career Experts.  This complimentary service, in cooperation with the career counselors and employment coaches at JVS CareerMoves, is offered at the DWN Hub on the last Thursday of each month by appointment only. Contact info@discoveringwhatsnext.com or call the Hub at 617-796-1419.

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The U.S. Department of Labor released its “Report of the Taskforce on the Aging of the American Workforce.” The taskforce was created as part of an effort to expand opportunities for older Americans choosing to remain in the workforce and to develop proposals to address the challenges and opportunities of an aging workforce.

Visit:  http://agingsociety.org/agingsociety/publications/public_policy/taskforce.pdf to read the report.

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Internet Website Publisher Talked With DWN Job Seekers

Workforce50.com Publisher is speaker at DWN Meeting Up…

Gene Burnard, publisher of the website Workforce50.com, spoke at a recent Meeting Up about his perspective on the keys to success in finding work after 50. The older job seeker must

• clearly and realistically identify what he or she can and wants to do;
• convey ideas in a positive and enthusiastic way; and
• keep moving, constantly generating and researching new prospects.

Tips on internet job searching…

While Burnard acknowledged the majority of jobs are found by conventional networking, he provided useful tips on using the web as part of a job search. Given a job seeker’s overall comfort level with the computer and an ability to focus on specific interests and ideas, the internet offers great opportunities to research employers and to tap into the experience and opinions of fellow job seekers as well as career advisors.

There are over 3,000 job listing sites on the web. Burnard highlighted a few of these sites including:  www.job-hunt.org, www.rileyguide.com, www.dol.gov, www.indeed.com, www.monster.com, www.hotjobs.com, and www.careerbuilder.com.

Naturally, he encouraged participants to check out www.workforce50.com. The difference between Workforce50.com and other job listing websites is the commitment to identifying employers who are truly interested in older applicants. Workforce50.com is interested in quality not quantity. Burnard cautioned participants that many sites list huge numbers of jobs that may represent a preponderance of temporary or employment agency listings, for example through Manpower.  He also warned about the possibility of information posted on line (e.g. in resume) being misused or the down-side of recruiters finding different resumes from the same person posted on-line. Whenever feasible, job seekers should find a way to submit a resume directly to a potential employer, preferably the hiring manager. Connections to professional associations and alumni associations via virtual or in-person contact can be very helpful.

While the web is an increasingly indispensable tool in the job search, job seekers still need to get in the door for an interview. Participants mentioned feeling that "the shade goes down" when an older applicant, even one with the proper credentials, submits a resume or arrives for an interview. Burnard readily admits that age discrimination is  alive and well. But he says effective packaging, a positive attitude and a sense of humor are essential to the process. Above all, he advocates finding companies that recognize the value of people with confidence and experience. His mission is to foster matches between older job seekers and employers who want them.