Career Resources and Advice for Experienced Workers

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 16 percent of today’s workforce is age 55 and older, and that number is expected to reach 21 percent by 2014 — an increase of more than 11 million workers. As the American population ages, companies are realizing older Americans are a vital part of their workforce, and are starting to put programs into place to attract and retain these workers.

Companies are increasingly focusing on this segment of the American workforce and are offering older workers more flexible work options and helping them better balance work and family issues, says Deborah Russell, director of economic security for the AARP, a nonprofit organization for people over 50.

And in the face of impending labor shortages, many companies are turning to their own retirees to fill open spots. Bringing a former employee back on board provides a wide range of benefits to the company, as retired workers need less training and are already familiar with company policies and standards as well as business protocol.

Every year, the AARP releases its list of the “Best Employers for Workers Over 50.” They look at companies in a variety of industries and evaluate businesses in the areas of recruitment practices, continuing opportunities for advancement, flexible work schedules and benefits. The AARP found that while many companies still have a long way to go when it comes to attracting and retaining older workers, there are a number of businesses that have put innovative programs in place that benefit workers over 50.

If you are an older professional and want to find an employer who is open to workers of all ages, Russell offers the following tips for evaluating a company.

1. Examine the company’s recruitment practices.
Russell notes you can learn a lot about a company by how and where it recruits employees, as well as what its recruitment materials look like. Is the company recruiting at a variety of job fairs? Is it open to applications from all workers? Does it have a formal program to offer positions to retired workers? Can you see a variety of ages represented in company brochures and other branded materials?

2. Ask about advancement opportunities and training.
The AARP found that many of the best companies for older workers have special programs in place to provide employees with advanced and ongoing training, help employees move positions within the company and offer career counseling. These programs help older workers keep important skills up-to-date. Some companies even offer online courses for employees, which enable older workers to take courses at their own pace.

3. Research the company’s benefits.
While you might not be able to find out everything about a company’s benefits in the early interview process, you can research the company’s Web site and other materials to find out what benefits it offers. Many of the companies on the AARP’s list have benefits that are particularly attractive to older workers, such as allowing 401(k) “catch-up” contributions and time off to care for dependents beyond what is required by law. Some also offer phased retirement programs, and several hospitals on the list offer healthcare services either at a discount or at no cost to employees covered under company health plans.

4. Examine the overall company image.
Take a look at all company collateral and its Web site. What is the image the company is portraying? Also, look around the company when you are interviewing. Do you see other older workers? Ask about the company’s mission and goals. Russell says it is important to determine if the company “values its workforce, or just its bottom line.”

For more information about the AARP and its list of the “Best Employers for Workers Over 50,” visit the organization’s Web site at www.aarp.org/bestemployers.

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues. Other writers contributed to this article.

In today’s ever changing job market, not only have the types of jobs offered changed, but so have the individuals who make up the current workforce. Many older workers are opting to continue working instead of retiring.

If you’re one of these seasoned professionals, how do you keep your edge and stay fresh and vibrant in today’s fast paced employment atmosphere?

1. Be trendy
Follow job market trends. Older workers must keep their finger on the pulse of the labor force by asking themselves, ‘What jobs are in demand today?’ and by keeping up with today’s technology, particularly computer technology says Deborah Russell, director of the issues agenda for economic security for AARP, a non-profit organization for people age 50 and over.

2. Get wired
Know your computer. Russell stresses that updating general office skills, especially computer skills, is crucial, “particularly since many employers assume that mature workers lack skills in this area. Having the basic computer skills that allow you to function in the workplace is essential.” That means being comfortable with:

3. Go back to school
Fill in the gaps with education. If you lack in any area of demand, especially computer skills, remember it’s never too late for more education. Many instructional courses are offered at your local community college, library or neighborhood association. “Lifelong learning is an important aspect of professional growth. Assessing your skills and determining whether there are any gaps will help identify potential areas for additional education,” Russell says.

4. Opportunity knocks
Take advantage of chances to learn all around you. Besides attending classes, a good way to gain new skills is to be on the lookout for learning opportunities right at work. Is someone going on vacation whose job is outside your normal realm of responsibilities? Perhaps you can volunteer to cover for them and learn a little about what they do. Or volunteer for temporary assignments that you wouldn’t normally handle.

5. Update your résumé
If you are looking to make a change to a new position, you need to get current on the latest résumé trends. Like anything else, résumé styles change over time. The résumé is a vital tool in helping any worker articulate the qualifications and experience they can bring to a potential position. Russell says often “employers are more interested in the skills you bring to a job versus how many years you worked for a particular employer. It gives them a snapshot of your capabilities and if you in fact possess the skills they’re looking for.” So make your résumé skill-driven and results-oriented, showcasing your management skills and sales accomplishments, instead of merely providing a litany of dates, titles and responsibilities from past positions.

6. Bond
Talk to others in your same situation. Don’t despair; there are organizations that offer support groups for older workers to discuss the challenges they’ve faced and learn new strategies to overcome them. The Operation ABLE Network is composed of agencies across the United States that focus on meeting the needs of mid-career workers and job seekers. Check your local phone book for the Operation ABLE chapter in your area.

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

“Early retirees still wanting to work, career changers, people who can’t retire yet,” if these words describe your situation, the future opportunities are greater than you might expect.

The good news is that the employee market for potential employers is shrinking due to the significantly smaller size of Generation X. Authors and experts are predicting a mid-level worker shortfall of up to 10 million workers by 2010. In addition, many senior level managers are less than excited about the perceived lack of loyalty and aloof attitude of Gen Xers. Dust off your resumes and get ready.

Interview Tips – Accentuate the Positive

1. Gen Xers are changing jobs at a rate of every 24 – 36 months. The cost to corporations is enormous and growing every day. Stress your willingness to find the right “fit” with an organization and demonstrate your loyalty.

2. Today’s managers are constantly finding their authority questioned by Gen X employees. Discuss your desire to find an organization with strong management vision and to be a team player with real-life examples from your past work history.

3. In order to gain an edge against a Gen X candidate, you need to offer to work a little overtime, or even be available on weekends. Gen Xers place paramount importance on family time over work commitments. Since presumably your days of “Little League” and “Dance Recitals” have since gone by, this may be a major advantage for you.

4. Discuss your lack of concern with Job Titles and lack of need for “notches” on your resume. Instead, discuss your strong willingness to help in any appropriate area of need, even to the point of being a “floater” to help the organization.

Above all else, interview with a smile and attentiveness to the needs of the organization. Ask, “How can someone with my skills help this organization to be successful?” Then respond to the identified needs with a humble passion. Your chances of landing a new job and contributing to the company will be better than you might expect.

Michael Muetzel is President, Mx Marketing, Management Solutions and author They’re Not Aloof…Just Generation X, Unlock the Mysteries to Today’s Human Capital Management. E-mail him at mxmm@bellsouth.net

Are you high maintenance? Do your friends tease you about being a “diva”? Is one of your favorite phrases “enough about you, let’s talk about me”?

If you answered “no,” check out the following behaviors, compiled from bad moves of dozens of real-life job seekers, for ways guaranteed to make a negative impression on employers. Behave like this and you won’t be getting a job offer anytime soon.

Turn Off No. 1: Get More Information Before Applying

Before you apply for a job, make sure you’re not wasting your time going after a position that’s beneath you.

When you see an ad for a job that looks interesting, phone the employer and demand to speak with the person in charge of hiring. Once you have that person on the phone (if necessary, keep phoning until they agree to take your call), grill them about the job.

Get answers to questions such as:

• How much does it pay?
• How much vacation time will I get?

• to find out more about the job
• to ask for help filling out the online application form
• to ask if they received your application
• to ask what to wear to the interview
• to ask for feedback after the interview
• to find out if they received the thank you notes you sent
• to find out when they’ll be making a decision
• to demand an explanation for why they didn’t hire you, etc.

If you don’t get the first job you apply for, apply for every other job that opens up in the company that might be remotely related to anything you have ever had an interest in.

In all your communications with the employer, talk at length about yourself and how you feel.

In short, these tactics will make an impression on an employer, but probably not the kind you want to make! Check out the other articles at this website for advice on how to make a positive impression on employers.

Tag and Catherine Goulet, the Dream Career Experts, are co-CEOs of FabJob.com, a leading publisher of career guides offering step-by-step advice for breaking into a variety of dream careers. Visit www.FabJob.com.

So, you’re experienced? Before you advertise this in your résumé, be sure you can prove it.

Often, when job seekers try to sell themselves to potential employers, they load their résumés with vague claims that are transparent to hiring managers, according to Scott Bennett, author of “The Elements of Résumé Style” (AMACOM). By contrast, the most successful job seekers avoid these vague phrases on their résumés in favor of accomplishments.

Instead of making empty claims to demonstrate your work ethic, use brief, specific examples to demonstrate your skills. In other words, show, don’t tell.

Bennett offers these examples:

Instead of… “Experience working in fast-paced environment”
Try… “Registered 120+ third-shift emergency patients per night”

Instead of… “Excellent written communication skills”
Try… “Wrote jargon-free User Guide for 11,000 users”

Instead of… “Team player with cross-functional awareness”
Try… “Collaborated with clients, A/R and Sales to increase speed of receivables and prevent interruption of service to clients.”

Instead of… “Demonstrated success in analyzing client needs”
Try… “Created and implemented comprehensive needs assessment mechanism to help forecast demand for services and staffing.”

The worst offenders
It’s good to be hard-working and ambitious, right? The hiring manager won’t be convinced if you can’t provide solid examples to back up your claims. Bennett suggests being extra-careful before putting these nice-sounding but empty words in your résumé.

Laura Morsch is a writer for CareerBuilder.com. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Rare is the job seeker who doesn’t have at least one gap in his or her work history. From being laid off because of a merger to taking time off for travel to caring for a newborn child, there are many reasons professionals may spend time out of the workforce. Still, job candidates often fear that prospective employers will view a gap as a scarlet letter. You can allay the concerns a hiring manager may have if you address the issue appropriately in your résumé and cover letter. Following are tips for minding a gap:

Avoid the nitty-gritty details.
Be truthful about why you’ve been out of work, but don’t go on ad nauseam about your trials and tribulations. For example, if you vacated a position to tend to personal matters, consider offering a brief sentence or two in your cover letter explaining the circumstances. This job seeker efficiently and succinctly addressed a résumé gap: “I have served as an in-home caretaker for my ailing mother for the last year. Fortunately, she has recovered and is once again self-sufficient, and I now am ready, willing and able to re-enter the workforce.”

Anyone who has ever looked for a job has certainly seen countless ads that simply sound too good to be true. What do these ads look like? They probably included phrases such as:

Make $4,000 a Week from Home — No Sales!

No experience necessary!

Earn $35,000 – $50,000 a year working part-time!

Sounds great, right? Well, like most things in life, if it seems too good to be true, it usually is.

From envelope-stuffing schemes to mystery shopper promotions, the world of scam ads is wide and complex. The problem with many work-at-home schemes is that they require the worker to spend their own money to get started, and once they do, there’s often no return on investment. In many cases, you will have to foot the bill for supplies, starter kits, training and more. Other situations that claim to be “easy money with no sales” often do involve a great deal of sales work in challenging environments.

Sheila Adkins, spokesperson for the Council of Better Business Bureaus, says that while there are some credible work-at-home opportunities out there, many of these ads are not the real thing. “It’s very hard to find a legitimate work-at-home opportunity through an ad like these.”

Adkins says there are clues that can help you figure out if an ad is a great opportunity or a dangerous scam.

1. Be Alert for Red Flags.
“One sure red flag is when you review the ad and it does not say specifically what the work will be,” she says. Another, is the phrase “no experience necessary,” especially when coupled with the promise of big money. Promises like these should tell you right away that the opportunity is not legitimate. Be cautious, too, of any companies that operate outside the country.

2. Do Your Research.
If you are trying to sort the good from the bad, Adkins says you have to do a little investigative work. She suggests checking with the Better Business Bureau, your state’s Attorney General, and other state business offices to see if the company is licensed and registered to do business in your state. Most fraudulent companies will not go through the work of filling out the paperwork and registering with the appropriate organizations.

3. Insist on a Face-to-Face Meeting.
If the company representative wants to conduct all business with you via e-mail, phone and fax, look out. Adkins says you should always ask for a face-to-face meeting before taking on a business opportunity.

4. Don’t Give out Personal Information.
Many con artists use business opportunity schemes to gather personal information for identity theft. You should never give out information like your Social Security number or bank account number, especially over the phone or online.

5. Look Out For “Pay to Play” Opportunities.
“Beware of any company that requires money to be sent or involves large startup costs,” Adkins says. Yes, there are some work-at-home opportunities that are legitimate and require an initial investment, such as selling Mary Kay cosmetics or Avon products. But Adkins points out that these are established companies that have been around for years and have positive reputations.

6. Ask lots of questions.
If you have found a possible opportunity and have scheduled a face-to-face meeting, Adkins says you need to be prepared to ask many questions, including:

If you are not satisfied with answers to any of these questions, then simply walk away. Even if you are, take time to verify what they told you.

Yes, many people do earn a living working from home. But it is important to understand that most of these individuals are working in a field in which they already have experience. Establishing a home-based business takes a lot of work, dedication, contacts and time. If a company tells you that you can make it to the top immediately, you are probably better off moving on to the next opportunity.

Kate Lorenz is the article and advice editor for CareerBuilder.com. She’s an expert in job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.

Have you ever submitted a fabulous résumé and cover letter for a job you felt perfectly suited for… then heard nothing from the employer?

There are the usual reasons your phone may not ring or your e-mail may not chirp — the company was restructured, the current job-holder decided to stay, the boss’s nephew got the job. But if you find yourself not making it to the interview on a regular basis, you may be making some common mistakes that relegate résumés to the trash.

If you’re applying for jobs online you’ll find an abundance of articles about how to format a résumé, so we’ll focus on some don’ts. To begin here’s a scenario similar to what HR departments see every day:

“Hey, we’ve got a great candidate for customer service here. The only problem is her e-mail address.” You check it out and see she has sent her application from gothicbikerwitch@hotmail.com. It certainly conjures up an image, but not one usually associated with friendly, efficient customer service. This illustrates the first thing applicants can do wrong when applying online:

1. Using an unprofessional e-mail address.
Whether it’s the candidate for a management position who lists his e-mail address as cuddlybuns@msn.com or the applicant who writes from worksucks@mail.com, an e-mail address can and will be held against you if it conveys an image contrary to what a company is looking for.

2. Submitting your résumé as an e-mail attachment.
E-mail attachments from strangers (or friends who haven’t kept their computer systems up-to-date) are more likely to contain viruses than the résumés, love letters or photos of Paris Hilton promised in the subject line. Instead, send your résumé in the body of an e-mail, unless the employer specifically asks you to send an attachment.

3. Leaving the subject line blank.
The subject line helps get your e-mail through to the right person so you can be considered for the right job. If the job listing doesn’t say what to put in the subject line, use the job title with “Experienced” in front of it (e.g. Experienced Brain Surgeon).

4. Using obscure software.
If the employer asks you to send an attachment, don’t create it in some little-known program they’ll need a Ph.D. in computer systems to figure out. Instead, attach a Word document or an RTF file that can be read on all types of computer systems.

5. Ignoring instructions.
For example, if the employer asks you to fill out an online form … actually fill it out. Don’t paste your entire résumé into the first box on the form then say “see above” in the boxes that follow. The employer may be looking for specific things in each part of the form.

6. Trusting the spell check to catch typos.
One applicant who applied to FabJob said “As I would very much like to develop a relationship with Fabio, I am willing to be flexible…” To avoid potential embarrassment, make sure you read twice before hitting send.

Next time you apply online we hope you make such a great impression you end up with that corner office the boss’s nephew wanted.

Tag and Catherine Goulet, “The Breaking In Experts,” are co-CEOs of FabJob.com, a leading publisher of career guides offering step-by-step advice for breaking into a variety of dream careers. Visit www.FabJob.com.

No matter how strong your skills or experience are, you won’t land a new job without first securing an interview with a prospective employer. Job seekers often consider this step of the hiring process the most difficult — and perplexing. After all, how many times have you considered your qualifications ideal for an open position only to never hear from the hiring manager about the résumé and cover letter you submitted?

If you’re looking for an edge, make sure you’re not falling into these common traps:

1. You only focus on the Googles of the world.
Companies that continually grab headlines and are highly recognizable can be exciting places to work. But so are many companies you’ve never heard of. Keep in mind that organizations that are household names often receive thousands of résumés for each opening. Consider exploring opportunities with small and midsize companies. They make up the vast majority of businesses in the United States and sometimes have trouble locating qualified candidates. If Google is your dream employer, don’t give up the good fight, but also keep your eyes and ears open to other opportunities.

2. You don’t follow directions.
Each company has a different procedure it asks applicants to follow for submitting employment applications. Some ask that you use a form on their Web sites while others prefer traditional phone calls or faxes. Make sure you understand what the prospective employer seeks by carefully reading the job listing. Then, follow the directions to the letter. If you don’t, your application may never reach the hiring manager.

3. You need to revamp your résumé.
Sending out the same cover letter and résumé to all companies isn’t likely to capture the attention of prospective employers. Hiring managers want to know why you’re a good match for their specific business needs. So take the time to research employers and customize your job search materials by explaining why you’re interested in a particular position and how you could make a contribution to the company.

4. Your cover letter isn’t enticing.
Think of your cover letter as an appetizer that convinces the hiring manager your résumé, the main course, is worth sampling. The best cover letters take select details from the résumé and expand upon them, explaining in depth how your talents and experience can benefit the prospective employer.

5. You don’t reference keywords.
Companies that receive a high volume of résumés often use scanning software that looks for certain keywords to determine which candidates to call for interviews. More often than not, keywords come directly from the job description. Terms such as “Microsoft Office,” “accounts payable and receivable” and “Cisco Certified Network Administrator” are examples. As much as possible, ensure your résumé and cover letter contain keywords.

6. Your application materials aren’t perfect.
Submitting an application that contains typos and grammatical goofs is perhaps the quickest way to foil your chances of securing an interview. In fact, 84 percent of executives polled in a recent survey by our company said it takes just one or two errors to remove a candidate from consideration. The reason: These types of mistakes show a lack of professionalism and attention to detail. Make sure to carefully proofread your résumé prior to submitting it and ask a friend or family member to do the same.

7. You don’t know who to send your résumé to.
Though it’s fine to start your cover letter with the generic salutation “To Whom It May Concern,” hiring managers pay special attention to applications that are addressed directly to them. If the job advertisement doesn’t include the hiring manager’s name, call the company and speak to the receptionist or a member of the person’s department. More often than not, you can obtain the information fairly easily if you’re candid about your reason for wanting it.

8. You don’t have an ‘in’ with the company.
Using the name of a common contact to make the connection between you and the hiring manager is by far the best way to ensure your cover letter and résumé get optimal attention. So, keep in touch with members of your professional network; you never know who has a contact at the company you hope to work for.

9. You don’t follow up.
One way to improve the odds a hiring manager gives consideration to your résumé is to follow up with him or her. According to a survey by our company, 86 percent of executives said job seekers should contact a hiring manager within two weeks of sending a résumé and cover letter. Often a brief phone call or e-mail reasserting your interest in the position and strong qualifications is enough.

10. You’re not as qualified as you think.
The bottom line may be that you’re simply not as perfect for the job as you think. Before submitting your résumé, take a close look at the job description and compare your skills and experience with those required for the position. If a job calls for five years of retail management experience, and you have only two, you might not be as qualified as other applicants. While sometimes it’s possible to make up for skills gaps if you excel in other areas, hiring managers frequently have specific criteria in mind, and they use it to determine whom they call for interviews.

By avoiding common pitfalls, you can improve your chances of landing a job interview. Often something small — fixing a typo, for example — makes all the difference.

Robert Half International Inc. is the world’s first and largest specialized staffing firm with a global network of more than 350 offices throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Australia and New Zealand. For more information about our professional services, please visit www.rhi.com.

Scenario: Imagine searching online for jobs one day, applying to a handful of them and hearing back from one of the employers. After an e-mail interview process, you are told that your new job as a finance manager requires you to transfer money deposits made to your personal bank account to a new account. You sign the contract and send it off via e-mail.

You receive your first assignment: Transfer money overseas. Upon going to the bank to make the transfer, you are arrested on the spot and charged with grand felony theft because the money you were about to forward was stolen. You are indicted by a grand jury for the theft and now, you’re awaiting trial and facing prison time if convicted.

While the above situation is true, according to a report by the World Privacy Forum, it’s also the worst case scenario to result from a job scam. Enticed by advertisements to work from home or make quick cash, more and more job seekers are falling prey to Internet employment hoaxes.

“Job scams target job seekers searching for high-paying, convenient opportunities,” says Rosemary Haefner, Vice President of Human Resources for CareerBuilder.com. “They con workers into divulging personal information such as bank account or Social Security numbers. Instead of getting paid, the victim ends up losing their money, their identity or worse, they can end up in jail.”

Read on to get a crash course in (almost) everything you need to know about job scams, according to the World Privacy Forum, a California-based public interest research group and the Better Business Bureau.

Types of scams

The most common type of employment swindle is a payment-forwarding or payment-transfer scam, of which there are many variations. All of these stings involve forwarding or wiring money from a personal bank account, a PayPal account or from Western Union to another account, which is typically overseas. Usually, the con artist pretends to be an employer and, after he wins the job seeker’s trust, he tricks job seeker into giving up his or her bank account number. For compensation, the job seeker is told to keep a small percentage of the money. While the amount of the transfer varies, almost always the money is stolen.

Another typical ruse is reshipping. These scams begin with an employment offer, usually via e-mail, for a job forwarding packages. Victims receive packages at their homes and are instructed to repackage and reship the parcels to another location, usually abroad. Frequently, the packages are stolen property.

A third set-up to be aware of is work-from-home opportunities, which generally promise quick cash and a lot of it. Victims have to pay a “registration fee” or a fee for training and/or equipment; often, the paid for materials aren’t sent to the job seeker and refunds aren’t available. Keep in mind that not all work-from-home opportunities are crooked, but take caution when applying for them.

Warning signs

Here are a few known “red flags” of phony job listings:

• A request for bank account numbers.
• A request for Social Security number.
• A request to “scan the ID” of a job seeker, like a drivers’ license. Scammers will say they need to “verify identity” — this isn’t a legitimate request.
• A contact e-mail address that is not a primary domain. For example, an employer calling itself “Legacy Inc,” will have a MSN hotmail e-mail address.
• Misspellings and grammatical mistakes in the job ad.
• A lack of interest in meeting the employee.

Tips to avoid scams
The following tips can help job seekers protect themselves from fraudulent job opportunities:

• Never give personal bank account, PayPal or credit card numbers to an employer.
• Do not transfer money and retain a portion of the payment.
• Never forward, transfer or “wire” money to an employer.
• Don’t divulge private information such as a copy of your driver’s license, passport or Social Security number.
• Do not re-ship products.
• Don’t partake in cross-border action.
• Research the prospective company.

If you have questions about the legitimacy of a job listing, contact your Better Business Bureau, your state or local consumer agency or the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

If you feel you have been a victim, file a complaint about fraudulent jobs posted on an online job search Web site by calling the FTC complaint line at 877.382.4357. If you ever receive a suspicious request that mentions CareerBuilder.com, please do not respond and immediately contact CareerBuilder.com customer service at (866) 438-1485 or report the suspected fraud using our feedback form.

To find a consumer agency near you, visit www.consumeraction.gov/state.shtml.