The ominous cloud over the job market

We have been told since we were young that positive thinking is a major contributor of success in life. Don’t let those negative thoughts enter your mind, stay positive and look for the good things happen. Life’s trials and tribulations come and go and you survive. So how come this present economy and more specifically this job market is so scary. Positive thinking is hard when you are faced with the way things are today.

I remember the 70’s and they were pretty bad. The economy was really bad and there was a lot of bad things going on. But even as bad as it was we all thought that better days were ahead. At least that’s how I remember it. I was younger then and didn’t have a family to worry about so maybe that was the reason I didn’t worry about the future.

The present time is different because there is a sense that things have changed forever. Jobs are lost and never coming back and the hope that there will be new jobs to fill the void doesn’t seem realistic. Why do we feel that way? One thing is the technology is improving and making some jobs obsolete. Another is the global economy which means that companies can have workers all over the world not just in the United States.

So should we be pessimistic? No, be realistic and continue to learn as much as you can no matter how old you are. Flexibility should also be part of your new way of thinking. You have to keep going on and trying but at the same time understand what you are up against.

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What is the purpose of a cover letter?

When you send your resume to a company do you use a cover letter? The answer should be yes and most people do send one. You probably have a good idea why you send one, its an introduction, right? Or does the cover letter have a different purpose?

The main purposes of a cover letter are:

1. An introduction to your future employer, which will be the first bit of information that they have about you.  
2. It sums up why you want this particular job, cover letters shouldn’t be a form letter that you just change the names and mailing addresses. You need to personalize each and every one. 
3. You will tell the employer a little bit about yourself without repeating what is on the resume. 
4. You will also show the employer what you can provide the company if you are hired. 
5. Indirectly, and this is very important, your writing will show your communication skills and your ability to convey your personal story in a one page letter. Make sure that your spelling and grammar is perfect!

Self esteem and the job search

You were surprised when you were laid off. You knew that the economy was bad but you felt secure in your position. Like so many people that lost their job, especially those unemployed and over fifty, you took it personal even though you are one of millions that have been affected by this recent economic downturn. Your spirit is down and your self-esteem is at an all time low but you have to go on a job search.


Before you start sending out resumes or looking on the job sites, you need to take a moment and reconcile your feelings about being unemployed. Are you a different person now that you don’t have a job? Of course the answer is no, you may tell yourself that but believing it is another story. You must understand that millions of workers across the country are also losing their jobs through no fault of their own. Circumstances beyond their and your control have put you in this position. Being unemployed is no shame especially now.

A job search is difficult enough but when you have low self-esteem the task becomes monumental. Why would anyone hire you if you don’t project a positive self image? Look back over your working career and think about all the things that you have done all the good things that got accomplished while you were working. You are a good person who has been dealt a bad hand in life; don’t let that stop you from finding another job.

What is the unemployment extension?

The employment picture doesn’t seem to be getting better, even though we hear reports about the economy turning around. If you are still unemployed or you just lost your job the idea that the economy is turning around rings hollow. Unemployment benefits, the government’s safety net, are supposed to last only 26 weeks. But since this recession is particularly severe unemployment benefits has been extended. 

How does the unemployment extension work?

In 2008 the Congress passed a bill to extend benefits to workers who have exhausted their unemployment insurance benefits. On April 15, 2010 the President signed legislation to extend the eligibility period for the following programs:

• Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC) 
• State Extended Benefits (SEB) 
• Federal Additional Compensation (FAC)

 The emergency unemployment Compensation (EUC) is broken into tiers.  

1. The first tier extends unemployment for 20 weeks, the last week to apply for first tier is May 23 through May 29, 2010. 
2. The second tier extends unemployment for up to 14 weeks for people who have exhausted tier one. You must apply by the qualifying week of May 23 - 29, 2010 
3. The third tier extends unemployment for up to 13 weeks for people who have exhausted their second tier extensions. You must apply by the qualifying week of May 23 - 29, 2010 
4. The fourth tier extends unemployment for 6 weeks for people who have exhausted their third tier extensions.

Go to filing unemployment online for state by state information on filing.

Use Twitter for job search

In the past I have written about how important it is to use social media sites. One of the newest and most widely used is Twitter. If you don’t belong to Twitter and you are looking for a job you really should consider it.


Twitter is a free service that allows you to connect with other people with similar interests. Unlike Facebook, your twitter messages, tweets, are limited to 140 characters. That may seem like a disadvantage but it isn’t. When you sign up with twitter, you fill in a profile on what you are interested in, such as finding a job. There are many, many employment companies and websites that belong to Twitter. Craigslist, Careerbuilder, Monster.com are just a few of employment sites that have a twitter presence.

Another great thing about twitter is all the applications that you can use. As for finding employment sites the easiest way is to go to your home page and click on find people at the top. Do a search on jobs or employment or career or anything pertaining to work. You will find lots of job sites.

Do you need a career coach?

Do you feel that your current job search isn’t what it should be? Do you believe that you need direction or help mapping out a strategy? Then maybe you should consider a career coach.


What is a career coach?

A career coach is someone who will not only help you find a job but they can also help you succeed at your present job. Usually a career coach is someone who has a lot of experience in business from many perspectives. They will give you the direction and advice that you need to pursue that career that you are looking for.

A career coach will begin by asking you question about yourself and what you are ultimately looking for in a career. The answers that you give will help them better understand and evaluate what you need to do find the job that you want. After analyzing your answers the career coach will set out goals and advice for you to follow.

Where to find career coaches?

There are many companies that train career coaches doing a search on the web will give you many choices.

Worker shortages in the future due to older workers, really?

In the past I have written about how there will be a worker shortage due to the pending retirement of baby boomers. Jobs will go begging, and companies will be pleading with older workers to stay on the job.


Do you believe this?

In a recent article in U.S. News and World Report online they make the case for a worker shortage due to the vast number of baby boomers who will be leaving the work force. They recognize that most people won’t be retiring at 65 anymore which makes sense when you consider the current economic crisis.

Their argument is that the number of Americans retiring will be far greater than the number of people looking for work. In other words Americans will be getting older as a whole causing this great gap in the number of jobs and the number of applicants. I don’t know that I believe that because it seems that what they call the labor force participation rate, the number of people looking for work will be less than the number of people retiring from work.

But it seems that a lot of the jobs that are lost today will be permanently gone and when someone retires their position will be eliminated. So I just don’t know about a worker shortage in the future.

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Things not to do while job hunting

If you are unemployed and over fifty or under fifty, there are certain things that you should do when looking for a job, such as do have a well thought out plan on how you are going to go about looking for work. With all the things that you should do, there are also many things that you shouldn’t do.

• Don’t get impatient. In this time of economic uncertainty patience is a must. If you keep working and stay motivated things will work out. by being impatient you are harming the process. 
• Don’t be a loner; build a support system around you. Relatives, friends, professional acquaintances, anyone who can help you find a job. 
• Don’t have a narrow focus on what kind of job that you want. Getting your foot in the door of a company that you want to work for is important. The job that is offered to you may lead to something better down the road. 
• Don’t forget to keep contact with people you know in the business. Keep your networking active.

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What is a Life long learner account?

It never pays to stop learning. At any age and whether you are unemployed and over fifty or not you should always continue to learn. With training there is always a better chance of career advancement. The Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) is a national non-profit organization that helps older workers by having partnerships with the government, private employers and higher education.

 

 

The CAEL has developed the Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLAs) where employees can use the fund to further their education. The source of the accounts can come from the employer, the employees and third parties.

 

  The LILA model is

• every worker is eligible for an account  
• The funds can be used for anything pertaining to education and training 
• The account stays with the employee even if they move from job to job 
• every thing is voluntary 
• contributions are matched by employers and third parties 
• career counselors help employees map out their education plan

 The CAEL and the LILA are definitely something you should look in to.

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Career trends, education and finding a job

It seems that there are some people who are under the impression that if someone is at a certain age, let’s say over fifty, those people can’t keep up with the latest technology. If they can’t learn new skills then they certainly can’t keep up with the latest career trends, which always involve a skills upgrade and training. Unfortunately, the hottest career trends are usually where the jobs are.

Of course that is nonsense, and if you are an older worker you probably aren’t afraid of a challenge and you certainly shouldn’t worry about what others think. Learning is a lifetime activity, at least it should be. If you are looking for a career in something requires new skills, learn them. Take course online or at a community school, or anywhere you can find it.

Just remember that is wasn’t too long ago that the internet and the web seemed awfully strange and you might have had doubts whether you would ever get the hang of it, but you did!
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Government programs for the unemployed

As I have written in the past the government has quite a few programs and websites on finding a job, for those unemployed and over fifty and for those under fifty. There is a lot of information, take advantage of it. It is certainly worth taking a look.

  

• Check out Government programs for the unemployed for many links on areas where the government is giving assistance and information.
• The Department of labor site is a great place start. You can find labor laws, government forms, latest employments news, and just about anything else pertaining to labor
• Individual states also have employment websites 
• Unemployment insurance websites show you where to apply for unemployment 
• Employment and Training Administration is another valuable site  
• Career One Stop 
• If you have ever considered working for the Federal Government click here  
• The government benefits website has information on not only employment but other things that the government can do to help you out.

What jobs are safe from outsourcing?

In today’s economy the key to survival is cutting cost, whether it is material or labor something has to give. Usually it is labor because the overall cost is higher than anything else. And if companies feel that they can’t get by with fewer employees they could always consider outsourcing, cheap labor that helps the bottom line. Indeed there are many jobs today that can be outsourced due to connectivity of the internet and the phone service. But luckily there are still some jobs that have to stay right here.

• Plumber – as long as there are issues with plumbing there will be plumbers. Someone on the other side of the world can not walk you through your plumbing problems. 
• Dental assistant – This is a very hands-on type of job. It is certainly safe from any outsourcing. 
• Pharmacist – this may become a candidate for outsourcing if the government allows the shipping of prescription drugs for overseas. Right now it is pretty safe. 
• Doctors and Lawyers – Doctors and lawyers are needed in this country as they are needed in any country. 
• Health care employees – There are so many people that are needed to make a hospital and any health care facility run. The people need to be right there. 
• Teachers and teacher’s aides – It would be difficult to teach children from the internet. 

There is a general theme running through this list and that is that many jobs need an actual person to be physically there and not just on a phone.

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