Five Steps to employment for the over-50 Job-search: Why you need a career coach.

I landed my first job out of college by responding to a classified ad posted in the local newspaper.  After that, I did not need to look for another job for 11 years.  The next job I landed was through an executive recruiter and the one following that was through an ad placed in a trade magazine.  My last job-search was conducted under direction of an outplacement firm which focused on the power of networking.  Interestingly, my networking with an executive recruiter led to my final job in the corporate world.  It was in that last situation, working with an outplacement counselor, where I had my first experience with a career coach.  Although he was not familiar with my industry segment he was very good at helping me improve my networking skills, especially the quality of my communications.  He kept me focused and motivated, resulting in a fairly short time between jobs.  That was, wow, over 20 years ago.  Email and the Internet were in their infancy.  Snail mail and the telephone were still our primary modes of communication.  It was still Prime Time for Baby-boomers.


Throughout my corporate career, interrupted by a few short-lived recessions, the economy was growing steadily, fueled by the demand created by baby-boomers and supported by deregulation and the Regan Era fiscal policies.  Jobs were a lot easier to come by.  It was easier to find a new

situation.  And then the world changed.  The job market is a very different today.  In many respects it is a lot more difficult.  It is also much easier if you have the key.  I left the corporate world in 1999 to begin my own executive search business.

One of the most upsetting situations I encounter in my work is talking with displaced Boomers who have had solid careers only to be derailed by a merger or a restructuring which cost them their job.  They focused so much on their day to day responsibilities that they did not kept pace with the changing job market.  To say that their job-search skills are rusty would be an understatement.  Even worse, they have neglected their network.  It is no longer effective and must be rebuilt.  Their single-minded focus is to find another job, just like the last job.  No other options are on the table.  Many have the cushion of a severance package but few have outplacement benefits.  They find it difficult to grasp the fact that the jobs they left are gone or have been filled by younger, lesser compensated employees.  The absolute worst situation is to talk to someone who has burned through their severance and is working down their savings;  true desperation.  If you find yourself in this situation, you probably need professional help: an intervention.  This is when a career coach can be very important.


When you hire a career coach you are entering into a personal relationship.  A good coach will learn about your personality and how you approach a challenge, or adversity.  She will use that understanding to help you craft a strategy and set goals to achieve your job search objectives.  She will stay with you, offering encouragement and support as you execute your plan.  A good coach will help you break through roadblocks, especially those you create for yourself.  She knows the job market and can help you evaluate options for a meaningful next chapter.  The bottom-line is that you need to feel comfortable with your coach as she may have a major impact on your career.  For the relationship to work, both you and your coach need a connection, a bond.

It is a brave new world out there.  We all need help from time to time.  Your career is too important to neglect, so it is a wise move to engage a career coach to help you through you job search.



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Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com

5 Steps to Employment for the over-50: Part 4 Your On-line Presence:

As a professional, you represent a brand; your personal brand.  Okay, I know, this might sound trite, nevertheless, it is a fact that you should think of yourself as a brand.  You have a reputation that must be managed.  As with any brand, the message you are sending must be clear and consistent.  Your resume, cover-letter, and bio must reinforce your message.  Thank you letters should reinforce the key points you want the hiring manager to remember.  Likewise, your on-line message must resonate with the same message.  Your brand must be clear and consistent.

It is not uncommon to learn of job-seekers who have been successful putting their total job-search efforts into a LinkedIn campaign.  If you are not on LinkedIn, you should be.   Ensure that your profile is complete.  Otherwise, you are hurting yourself.  Employers are looking for you, but they cannot find you or if they do, your profile may not be impressive enough to be of interest.  Now is a good time to join and become active in those groups that parallel your interests.  Position yourself as a thought-leader.  Consider a paid subscription to LinkedIn to gain access to more of its capabilities.  It is not yet the most effective way of landing a job, but you must factor LinkedIn into your job-search.  Take LinkedIn very seriously!

Like your resume, your LinkedIn profile must be interesting to read.  Large paragraphs tend to make the reader's eyes glaze over.  Your message may never be read, or get through.  White space is very useful to keep the reader's attention.  Mixing up short paragraphs with bullet points will keep the reader interested.  Your LinkedIn profile must mirror your resume and other biographical information.  Since more and more employers and recruiters are using LinkedIn to source candidates your resume must be available on LinkedIn and it must be consistent with the one you are sending to prospective employers.

Ensure that your contact information is up to date.  If prospective employers are looking for you, then make it easy to find you.  It reinforces your status as a professional and will ensure that you are contacted about interesting situations.

On the issue of contact information your email needs to have a complete signature section.  Telephone numbers, email addresses, and the link to your LinkedIn page should be available.  Remember, today much of our interaction is via cell phone, so make it easy for cell phone users to contact you.

I have not heard of anyone landing a job through Face Book but I suppose that is possible.  If you are active on Face Book it is probably a good way to keep your network up to date on your progress.  It is probably safe to say that if you are over 50, your Facebook page is more about your children and grandchildren than more esoteric pursuits.  That is good news.  Prospective employers will take a look at your Facebook page to get more insight into you as a person.  I have checked out candidates in the past, and some have sent me friend requests.  I can say that I have learned things about some candidates that I wish I had never known, which raised questions about their suitability to work for my clients.  Make sure your Facebook page is interesting, but neutral. 

Google+ is becoming more important, so it is a venue that you should consider.  When setting up your Google+ homepage, ensure that it is complete and also mirrors your resume and your LinkedIn profile.  You may also consider starting a blog and developing your own website to further your on-line presence.  Send notice of your blog posts to your network.  It is good marketing.

Remember, employers are looking for you.  You need to help them find you.  On-line tools can be very useful to your job-search campaign, but only if there is consistency between them and if your message is the same across each venue.

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Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.


Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com

Five Steps to employment for the over-50 Job-search. Part 3: Your Image Matters!

A few years ago I let my image deteriorate.   I put on a lot of weight that slowed me down and affected my self-worth.  I had outgrown my wardrobe so I decided to take action.  For me, that is a big deal as my suits and trousers are organized by "thin," "normal," and "big-boy."   When I began to move beyond "big-boy" status, I knew that I was in serious trouble.  Okay, to be honest my golf group had a bet to see who could lose the most weight before our annual Spring Trip, six months out.  So, now in my mid-50s, I knew that weight loss would be a bit more challenging.  In the past, when I went on a weight-loss program, I counted and logged my calorie intake and had a solid exercise routine.  This time, I followed the same formula, but signed up for Weight-watchers’ on-line program.  Their app is loaded with useful tools and convenient to use when added to your iPhone.  My exercise routine was a little less aggressive, substituting a brisk 30-minute  walk five days a week for my former jogging routine.  Hey, I don't want to stop playing golf because I ruined my knees.


Additionally, I did some dietary research to learn the latest in healthy eating.  From that research I learned two things.  First, I needed to get more protein in my diet, approximately 90 grams a day.   Also, white starchy carbohydrates, especially salty snacks, had to go.   I am happy to say that within 6 months, I had reached my ideal weight, and won the bet.  Of the 12 people in the who started, only two of us stayed with our goal.  Both of us were using the Weight Watchers program, otherwise we were not that different from rest of the group.  The fact that we are Fraternity Brothers probably did not make much difference either.  My biggest take-away form this effort is that a proper diet becomes more important to weight loss as we age because the ability to power through via exercise becomes more difficult.

Your image makes a difference!  It is important to the prospective hiring manager, and to you!  The hiring manager is making an evaluation of your health and stamina, reflecting your ability to keep up with the demands of the job.  She is also considering how the company will be judged if you are its representative.  Your confidence and self-worth is likely impacted by your approval of your image.  If your self-confidence is negatively affected by your image, you will not perform well at interviews or at networking.  The self-confidence that comes from having a good physical image will result in a more successful job-search campaign.


I am by no means an image consultant so the wisdom I am passing along is based on my personal
history.   My intention is to reinforce some obvious points and pique your interest.  In doing a bit of research on The Web, I found quite a bit of information on the subject.  If you are interested in exploring this topic further, you are only a click away from a wealth of information.  Now, to be fair, when I think speak of image, I am thinking "age-appropriate."  I do not recommend trying to craft an image better fitting a twenty, or thirty-something.  Believe me, you will not be taken seriously if you go in that direction.  The benefit of age is experience and wisdom.  Personally, that is exactly what I want my image to reflect, plus a healthy dose of energy and zest for life.  I hope you agree.

While you are between jobs, work on your image.  Do something for yourself.  An appropriate physical activity will help you look and feel better.  It will also burn off a lot of the stress that comes from the ups and downs of job-search.

Thank you for visiting my blog.
Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.
 
 
Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
www.newcenturydynamics.com

Five Steps to employment for the over-50 Job-search. Part 2. Networking: Your Job-search Engine

If self-assessment is the foundation, networking is the engine for job-search.  Most jobs are still landed through networking so this is where you need to spend  your time.   Your network is probably your most powerful asset, especially in job search, and a competitive advantage for the more mature job candidate.  With time, job moves, and geographical moves it is likely that your network is larger and more powerful than younger competitors.  There is a vast library of articles devoted to building your network.  My point today is about helping you become more effective using your network to land that next job.  Your success in job search will depend on the vitality of your networking.
So, let's assume that you have alerted your network that you are in the market and they have helped you shape a positioning strategy to find that next, great opportunity.  You have researched the opportunity you seek; you understand the industry segment and you know the job you want to pursue.  You have identified key people familiar with that opportunity who are hiring managers or linked to hiring managers.  You have made a good start, but now what? Well, now you must keep your network energized and active on your behalf.
Effective Communication is the key to managing your network.  These folks want to help you!  You must make it easy for them to do so.  You need to stay top-of-mind  without being intrusive or obnoxious.   Your Facebook and LinkedIn networks are easy enough to update, but how do you manage the bulk of your network who may not be connected to you on these venues?

How to communicate:

• Avoid long, drawn-out telephone calls.  My preference is to use email.
• Put your network into Groups or Circles so that you can efficiently communicate your updates and status.
• I would urge you to use a merge-mail function, a feature in Outlook, to personalize your emails.
• Save phone calls for important, targeted communication.

What to communicate:

• Routine updates as to your progress every few weeks.
• Any change in direction or dead ends encountered.
• Successes/problems you are having executing your plan.
• Keep it short and to the point.  No tomes!
• A note about a personal interest is always a welcomed addition.

For new contacts, make it easy for me to know how to help you:

• Be crystal-clear as to what you are trying to accomplish.
• Help me understand how I can help you.
• Your elevator speech must be compelling, so I will remember you.
• Do your homework. Be prepared for our conversation.

• Don’t make me guess at what might be a good connection for you.

Make it easy for me to introduce you to my network:

• Give me a handful of your business cards.
• Connect with me on LinkedIn, Twitter, Google+
• Send me updates on your progress and what you are trying to accomplish.

Make it easy for me to contact you:  Don't waste my time looking for your contact information.

• Your email correspondence must include a complete signature section.
• I rely heavily on my IPhone so having the ability to tap your phone number, email address, or website is a critical time saving function.
• Understand your networking contact’s preferred method of communication and comply.

Networking must be a way of life for professionals, especially if you are over 50. It is all too common for people to neglect their network while they are working, and then hustle to reconnect when not working.  Failure to nurture your network while you are working increases your time to reconnect when you are between jobs.  You have a lot of simple tools at your disposal to stay in touch easily and effectively.   Use them!
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New Century Dynamics Executive Search
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Five Steps to employment for the over-50 Job-search: Step 1. First Things First: Assess your Skills and Capabilities

Forget Job Titles:  What is it you do, really?  What is your skill-set?  What do you bring to the party?   Are you a problem-solver; a business developer; a great leader; or maybe a process re-engineering expert?   Your first task is to assess that which makes you unique, has led to your career successes and will be important to employers.  Think of challenges you have faced.  How did you work through those situations?  What strengths and skills did you rely on?  What problems have you encountered?  What did you do to find solutions?  Maybe you have managed through a crisis.  What did that reveal about your abilities?  The important point of this exercise is to get to your essence.  The exercise should reveal your fundamental talents which can be packaged into a marketable profile.  Think big picture, especially if you are over 50.  By this time you should be thinking "big picture," not small potatoes, tactical skills.

Corporations are still comprised of people.  People need direction, inspiration, and motivation.  They need leaders.  If you are skilled at building teams, inspiring workers, and achieving results, you have a particular skill that will always be in demand.  Team Building is a key component of leadership, and is vital to attract top talent to work with you.

Employers need people who can find solutions to vexing situations.  Process re-engineering, problem solving writ large, can be of great benefit if it is directed across a large swath of the business.  If you are good at simplifying and stream-lining processes and procedures, this talent is in demand.  Companies continue to look for people who can help them become more productive, leaner, and less bureaucratic. 

Brands are in a fierce battle for market share.  The old adage that nothing happens until a sale is made still rings true.   My clients are adding to their Business Development Departments.  They are looking for closers who have strong networks of prospective customers.  If your electronic roll-a-dex is large and current, growing companies are looking for you!

It is natural to feel a bit embarrassed to tell people that you are unemployed and looking for work.  It is not natural, however, to allow that embarrassment to prevent you from doing the work necessary to find a new job.  Get over it!  You are not unique, and you do not have a contagious disease!   Reach out to your network.  Use them to help you take stock of your capabilities and focus on new opportunities.  This effort will provide great benefit.  You will likely learn of capabilities you had not considered.  You may be reminded of problems you faced, but had forgotten.  Other people may see strengths you possess that you had not considered.   Or they may help refine your thinking around strengths you think you possess.  Individually and collectively they will have a perspective that will sharpen your focus and reveal opportunities to employ your skills.  Listen to them, don't debate!  Ask questions to seek clarification and understanding. 

Employers are in a market-share-profitability-battle for survival.  If you can help them bring in new customers and put more dollars on the bottom line, you are needed!   The strengths and skills you bring to bear for an employer are your key selling points.  They should be prominent on your resume, above the fold.  You must build in examples of these strengths in your work history and in your bio.  All of your communication should reinforce these skills.  Use them in your elevator speech.  It is not as important to discuss the type of company your want to work for, or the industry segment you prefer; as it is to imprint the skills you bring to the party and the contributions you can deliver.  Take stock, understand yourself!

 

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read.  Your input is very important to me so please leave a comment.

Also, I have a one question survey that will help me determine the best topics to cover.  Please click on the link below provide  your feedback.

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Jim Weber, President

New Century Dynamics Executive Search

www.newcenturydynamics.com