Thanks, Kim Komando: Best Article For Earning Income

Kim Komando's Labor Day, 2011, newsletter suggests ways to get a job in a harsh job market. That's why she "scoured the Web for resources that can help."

America's Digital Goddess has done her homework once again. She divides the best links into 2 categories:

Getting and keeping a job

Starting your own business

She briefly explains each admission in language even my 7 year old granddaughter could understand. Use the Web to find a job, make money from home or build and market a website for a new business to generate primary or supplemental income.

You need little more to get you going.

For jobs specifically for the older population, check out 50somethinginfo.com

Encore Careers For Boomers and Seniors: Over 50 Find New Job Satisfaction

According to Kerry Hannon's article in What's Next, "moving into a new field later in life can be fulfilling." Just ask the banker turned chef, the corporate exec turned minister and others.

8.4 million Americans ages 44 through 70 have embraced encore careers. Some need the money but others need purpose in their lives.

Ms. Hannon suggests 6 steps to making the transition easier:

1. Appraise your skills, interests and personality. And plan the change well before you leave your current job.

2. Do your homework: Look for field with strong growth potential. Check out the Department of Labor's Occupational Outlook Handbook.

3. Network by finding a group of like-minded people who have already made the career change. Learn from their experience. Also, connect with people in the fields you are considering.

4. Upgrade your skills.

5. Evaluate your financial picture.

6. Don't let your age get in the way.

Best of luck and let me know!

For more on jobs and second careers, visit 50somethinginfo.com.

Boomer and Senior Jobseekers

Combined with age discrimination the recession has made finding a new job a daunting task for older workers many of whom have been laid off or are driven back into the job market.

The assumption by many employers is that older workers either would not accept less than their customary salary or would be unhappy for doing so. And often the human resource staff feels that boomers are less familiar with the latest technology and social networking skills than their younger counterparts.

In response boomers have taken to deleting dates on a resume in order to land a job. They ignore ads that suggest that the position would be perfect for a recent college graduate. And they are taking steps to appear younger—even using cosmetic treatments such as botox.

Boomers are bracing and preparing themselves for the frequent question, “Aren’t you overqualified?” and are encouraged by experts to emphasize skills and achievements over the number of years of experience.

According to Associated Press Christopher Rugaber, jobseekers should be enthusiastic about the job without sounding desperate. They should also brush up on their skills and not give anyone sufficient reason to discriminate against them in any way.

Get Help During These Troubled Times: Self-Help Books Inspire

Associated Press writer Megan K. Scott gave her take on new books that aim to help those looking for a better job or trying to stay calm in light of our financial crisis or thinking of ways to reinvent themselves.  

One author lists the keys to emotional resiliency when you're dealt a cruel hand--like losing a child. 

Get help if you are stressed out, discouraged or overwhelmed in order to change your outlook to easier face life's challenges.  

Or if you have "money" issues, find out how to make your life exciting with whatever amount of money you have.

Worrying seems to be a natural by-product of our uncertain times.  Take M.J. Ryan's suggestion to set aside 15 minutes a day only to worry.  Then devote the rest of your day looking for new opportunities for your talents.  

A financial journalist even offers practical steps for people transitioning from paycheck to paycheck to comfortable earnings (how they are renewing ties to community and family).

Start a new chapter in your life suggests author B.J. Gallagher by finding true love, going back to school or starting a new career (Car-Man is written up in latest book, It's Never Too Late To Be what You Might Have Been).  

A recurrent theme:  Taking full responsibility for your life and quit blaming others.  Only then can you take the focus off the negativity and put your energy towards solving problems.  

The Federal Government is Hiring

The numbers of unemployed boomers and seniors is hemorrhaging.  One place where people are finding success, according to the Washington Post, is on the federal government level. Somewhere between tens to hundreds of thousands of new federal jobs will need to be filled throughout the U.S. 

Many job-seekers bypass this opportunity because they assume that federal employers won't hire people in their profession.  Big mistake.  Virtually every type of professional from blue-collar to seasoned executives is needed in some federal position.  And should you be hired temporarily or by contract, your chances of getting a permanent job are significantly increased.  

Check out USAJOBS.gov for thousands of openings daily nationwide.  Go even to the sites of specific agencies which don't advertise on USAJOBS.gov.   Attend federal job fairs.  Network in person or online.  

And let me know about your success (I promise to let my readers know, too).

Finding Work: Boomers, Seniors and Retirees Search For Jobs by Networking

I was moments away from writing a fabulous article about boomers and seniors conducting their job search.  Then I visited BoomerLifestyle.com where author Anne Holmes presented such clear, easy-to-follow instructions on how to search for jobs that I threw in the towel.  

For instance, Ms. Holmes recited a story about a financially prudent (obsessive was more like it) man who penny-pinched his way to quite a nest egg only to have it disappear with the economic recession.  Yup, Ron invested only in stocks and we all know too well what happened to that once-lucrative arena.  

We learn on Holmes' blog which areas are likely to need workers.  

She comments on generational conflict (younger workers wanting positions older workers leave behind + older workers needing to stay in their positions longer).

However, according to this boomer mentor/coach, networking appears to be the principal key to success.  Not only traditional networking like we do at parties, work, or in conference rooms.  Social media networking (like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn) need to be tapped as well.  

Follow Ms. Holmes simple instructions and find my own job search info --to begin your search for the job that you've always wanted.  

Boomers And Seniors Looking For Work

The author of the upcoming book told me that Car-man took a bigger leap than I.  He catapulted backwards by choice from founder and president of a professional corporation to a car salesman. I merely hopped from being a librarian to creating a website.  I see her point.  I've just switched locales but Car-man not only moved into a completely different field, he also had to adjust from:

1. Generous compensation and time-off to commission only and one week "paid" vacation 

2. Giving orders to taking orders

3. Status and prestige to, well, you know...

4. Large, corner office to desk by the window

More and more of our friends and acquaintances are finding themselves thrown back into the job pool.   The blows to ego and personal finance are depressing and frightening especially if you're over 50.   

Check out Workforce50 where employers who are committed to hiring baby boomers and older workers advertise their jobs.  RetiredBrains welcomes those looking for jobs, volunteer opportunities, educational resources and retirement information.  Search for a part-time job, a temporary job or project assignment or a full-time job.  Since I don't have personal experience with either site, let me know what you think.

Car-man, thanks for making the trade-off so that we can live in a nicer place and be closer to our grandkids.  You're my hero.

Man At Work

Brent was 12 years old. His 6 year old sister's friends' parents knew that he made extra cash by hand washing and waxing cars (and paid him royally). Many of the cars were dark colors (black, mostly) so it was especially difficult wiping off any remaining wax/getting them spotless. He worked for hours and even his meticulous dad rarely found smudges.

One Saturday Maury R. called to ask if Brent could clean his car. I answered the phone and relayed the proposition to Brent to which he replied, "Tell him to call me at 2. I'll try to fit him in."

Actually Brent didn't have any clients that day but he wanted his customers to think he was incredibly busy!

Check out career centers and opportunities for employment. Retired Brains is a job search engine for older boomers, seniors, retirees, and those about to retire.