Managing Job Search Stress: Ways To Manage The Stress Of Finding a New Job

Author and psychotherapist Mary Jane Hurley Brant provides 6 suggestions on managing the stress of a job search:

1. Don't consider job loss as a personal failure. Many good, loyal, hard-working, intelligent people lost their jobs. Don't internalize it into your personal identity.

2. Concentrate on what you do well.

3. Properly grieve the lay-off as you would any loss.

4. Evaluate the old job--what you miss, what you don't want to undertake again.

5. Get through the anger and possible depression so it doesn't undermine for job search/interviews.

6. Stay healthy. Get some rest and relaxation.

Also, consider upgrading your skills and improving your resume.

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.

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.  

Facebook For Old Fogies

Is Facebook the exclusive domain for under-50 year olds?   I don't think so.

Lev Grossman has his own take of Facebook and why old fogies are taking part.  

Mr. Grossman's first reason, "Finding people you've lost track of" was obvious to me within the last week when a sister of an old friend looked me up.  We were able to catch up on 40 years.

I agree with reason #2, "No longer bitter about high school." Current alliances with the untouchables (the "popular group" or the dorks) is a common occurrence.  

Reason # 3 had to do with what younger people are doing that gets them into long-term regret. Thankfully, we grew up before Facebook even became a phenomenon so our worst indiscretions weren't recorded.  

Grossman says that boomers and seniors have jobs and don't need to network. On the contrary, older people are returning to the workplace in droves and need to network with family, friends, acquaintances, former co-workers and bosses to find job opportunities.  

"We're old enough that pictures from grade school or summer camp look nothing like us." We're coming to terms with the fact that person who looks back at us in the mirror looks more like our parent than the kid we still think we are. 

Reason #7, "We have children" has been replaced with "You have no choice but to ooh and ahh about my grandchildren."

"We're too old to remember email addresses."  So true.  As Dad used to say, "Don't try to remember anything you can write down."

Now I take issue with "We don't understand Twitter."  We do and are having fun with this brief connection to everyone in our address books.

The final reason, "We're not cool, and we don't care."  Grossman says that it's cooler not to be on Facebook.  How wrong you are!  Sometimes this is the only connection we have with some people (even our children or grandchildren!).  Sad but true.

Facebook is here to stay, Grossman.  Deal with it.

Oh yeah, check me out on Facebook.

Women At Work

The Mom Entrepreneur (TME) is a blog dedicated to helping women who are balancing motherhood and running a company. At first blush, her Lemons to Lemonade feature appears to be limited to the mothers who have said, "Enough!" to being bounced from job to job because of our crappy economy and moves on to explore how these women have aimed to create something of their own on their own terms.

Founder of Bisson Barcelona Traci Bisson Barrington knows from personal experience what it was like a few years back to have tried and failed at business (what good businessperson hasn't?). She also knows what desperate measures businesses need to take to stay afloat in these erratic times to keep co-workers from collecting unemployment.

Little did blog author and PR firm owner Barrington know that I, Susan Levine, 60, could relate. Even though I no longer have to juggle play dates, carpools, homework, and music recitals, I still have my own time constraints that involve grandparenting, caregiving for aging parents, and retirement planning. I feel the economic crunch the same as younger folks but I know that I have less time to reverse my financial faux pas. Finally, I, too, have hopes and dreams that include the lure of being my own boss, creating some income, and someday (not too soon, I hope!) "leaving this world a better place."

Kudos to Traci for using her smarts to do battle with the current economic trends. Rather than lay off her team, she chose to cut corners by bringing her kid home rather than go to daycare, canceling trade shows, and postponing meeting with consultants. Online social networking substituted for face-to-face contacts while her blog enabled her to "vent" her frustrations and get supports from others "in the same boat."

For anyone who wants to be a participant rather than a spectator in this generation's economic "New Deal," consider reading The Mom Entrepreneur, a blog by a young mother who combines the challenges of motherhood with innovation, creativity, and expertise of owning her own business.

Sue Rambles On About Great Boomer Websites

I admit it.  I'm only human.  But I get a real high when I hear that the sites I've recommended have helped people. 

 

Thus, I plan to continue to inundate you folks with the fruits of my research until you cry, "Uncle."

Here goes:

The U.S. Government supplies more information than you ever want to know.  Find out the top 10 ways to prepare for retirement or factors that may affect retirement benefits (and see the effect of retirement earnings on your Social Security benefits).

If you need help at home and want to know what to buy, check out one of my favorite internet "stores."  This site is not only easy to use,  it is clean and clear and is backed by the Better Business Bureau.  

I'm a fan of the Rodale Prevention Books.  Look no further than The Doctors Book of  Home Remedies and Disease Free at 60 Plus. 

Are you thinking about remodeling.  Don't make a move until you check out AARP home design.  By making your home accessible to people of all ages, you provide comfort for yourself throughout your lifetime and increase the value of your house for subsequent buyers.

Bankruptcy Filings Up For Seniors

One of our biggest fears is real.

Contrary to the downtrend of the under 55 age group, older Americans are increasingly facing bankruptcy.

These are the alarming statistics of bankruptcy rates released by the Associated Press:

55 - 64 years old--up 40%

65 - 74 years old--up 125%

75 - 84 years old--up 433%

According to the article, many of these people have fallen victim to escalating medical expenses and age discrimination in the marketplace.  

Maybe I can help a wee bit.

Fight age and employment discrimination.

Be aware of benefits for which you may qualify.

Know that there are employment options. 

Determine your potential financial emergencies and how much you need to set aside to cover them.  

Let's work towards cleaning up this mess, not contributing towards it.