Seniors4Hire.org's Blog Spot

Top 5 Reasons Why Retailers Love Hiring Older Workers This Holiday Season

2011-11-29T10:00:00.000-08:00

1. You are mature.
2. You are responsible.
3. You are flexible in the hours you'll work (including Friday and Saturday night).
4. You show up on time.
5. You understand "work ethic" and apply it on the job everyday!

If you're looking for some extra cash this holiday season, check out the "Now Hiring" signs at your local retailer.

Older Job Seeker? Heed This Advice: Landing a Job Today is About Ability Not Seniority

2011-07-01T00:23:00.000-07:00

Too many older job seekers think seniority is the key to landing a job. You're wrong, says Renée Ward, founder of Seniors4Hire.org and you should invest in services that help you showcase your vast knowledge, good judgment, wisdom, abilities and skills to prove your superior candidacy.

Seniority, that is, length of service and experience no longer matters in most companies and is even less of a factor in consideration for open positions. However, older job seekers still think seniority should give them precedence over others. This is an outdated mindset that should be abandoned. Studies have shown that differences in job performance between someone with 20 years experience and someone with just five years are often negligible.

This is a harsh reality and some will probably want to shoot the messenger. But older job seekers should know that companies seek people that can contribute to their bottom line. Older job seekers need to invest in services like resume writing that push their present qualifications to the forefront to land a job, says Ward.

"I'm very concerned about the older job seeker who does not put forth a rigorous professional job hunt, says Ward. "I've read way too many poorly written resumes. I've gotten lots of feedback from hiring managers to know many older job seekers do not present themselves well in an interview. You can no longer assume that just because you have length of service that that's synonymous with qualified in today's labor market."

Millions of older job seekers including baby-boomers--are competing with younger folks for a limited number of jobs. If you've been job hunting lately you also know that the person doing the hiring is oftentimes younger than the job seeker. It is also said, people hire people who look like them, or who are like them. Wide-spread recruiting via social networking surely bears this out.

But older workers need not be intimidated. "Companies want to know, what you can do for them today not your past", says Ward. "Resting on your past laurels will not help but your vast knowledge, good judgment and wisdom surely will. They want assurance that you can and will do the job you are vying for. You need to demonstrate how the company (and the hiring manager) will benefit by hiring you and address how your vast knowledge, good judgment, wisdom (that can only come from experience), abilities and skills make you a superior candidate.

No matter what age or experience level--each of us must avail ourselves of services that help us to secure a job. Seniors4Hire.org culls and partners with some of the best to offer these services older job seekers can secure to improve your odds of landing a job.

Check them out to stand out. http://www.seniors4hire.org/about/resources.asp
There's help for an older job seeker who doesn't know what kind of a job to pursue, your best qualities, how to write a resume, how to interview or how to make a great impression.

It's about your ability not seniority.

Is working late in life good for your health? Yes, says Seniors4Hire.org

2011-01-01T13:00:00.000-08:00

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., --Working late in life can be good for your health which is great news for the increasing numbers of seniors that are opting to remain in or re-enter the workforce. And, this is healthy news for the business community.

Renée Ward, founder of http://www.seniors4hire.org/ says studies show that depression after a job loss whether voluntary or not is a common problem. Older workers who have invested a lot in their careers and identify strongly with their work are at greatest risk. Working can help keep an older person’s mind alert and their self-esteem up while providing a sense of purpose, income and autonomy.

“Rather than being isolated at home, being engaged with the public or a project helps ward off boredom and depression”, says Dr. Vonda Pelto, a clinical psychologist in Long Beach, CA. “Having a place to go and people to see is very important to the well-being of many people. Ultimately, work you enjoy reduces stress and prolongs life.”

Ward says, “There’s the misperception that older workers just want to be greeters at some mall store. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have a great pool of talent among the Seniors4Hire.org membership looking for meaningful opportunities and not just a little something extra to do. Small businesses in particular may want to take a look at our membership to fill key positions. Many members are looking to port their skills in new areas.”

Seniors4Hire.org members are 50 and older and self-categorize their skills and job hunt needs. The 15 most heavily populated categories are:
Accounting & Auditing
Administrative and Support Services
Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations
Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
Computer-related Services
Education, Training & Library
Engineering
Executive Management
Human Resources & Recruiting
Insurance
Legal
Operations Management
Sales
Telecommunications
Transportation & Warehousing

“These are folks who want to be gainfully employed and contribute to the bottom line of the business. Work, is sometimes what we live for”, says Ward.

For more information visit http://www.seniors4hire.org/