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Job loss isn’t easy, but it’s not the end of the world

On June 23, Debbie Knoebl’s position as supervisor of payroll operations for Alliant Energy was eliminated, along with about 200 other positions. “I was pretty upset, in spite of the fact I saw it coming,” she said. “Still, when it actually happens, it’s a bit of surprise. I was also a little angry, but mostly felt I wasn’t very important.”

She went home, did a 25-mile bike ride and thought.

“I realized it was a logical business decision on their part,” she said. “So I got Zen and decided to make the best of the situation since there wasn’t a whole lot I could do about it.”
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STLtoday - Business - Workplace

Nobody will say it to your face - but if you’re job-hunting and you’re over 50, beware.

Many employers could be biased against you because of your age. Make a concerted effort to battle their presumptions.

Their minds are filled with stereotypes - that “old” means you’ll have health problems, miss lots of work and be expensive to insure. That you’ll have to be paid much more than a younger person who could also fill the position. That you’re out of touch, a dinosaur - and who wants one of those clumping around the office?
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Tax Deductible Resumes..Getting Multiple Benefits From A Needed Job Seeking Tool!

For those of you who are still on the fence about getting a resume professionally crafted, here is some information that will talk you down to hit the ground running for the nearest resume consultant.

According to IRS Publication 529 (which deals with deductibility of job search expenses) a job seeker can deduct certain expenses incurred in looking for a new job in his or her present occupation whether or not she or he even gets a new job. These expenses can be listed as miscellaneous itemized deductions on Schedule A (Form 1040).
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Boomers may lead next start-up boom

Maybe it’s not such a bad thing seniors are rejoining the workforce in droves.

At least that’s the take on a new report out of outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas, which tracks layoff activity and hiring trends.

The country, it would seem, is standing at the precipice of another explosion in start-up activity, the likes of which haven’t been seen since the dot-com revolution of the early 1990s.

“This time around, however, the burst in entrepreneurial activity will not be led by 20-somethings,” the report suggested, “but by baby boomers and would-be retirees in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and even 70s, who are better educated, healthier and more tech-savvy than their predecessors.”
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Women Who Step Out of the Corporate World Find It Hard to Step Back In

Women executives who leave the corporate world when they hit a glass ceiling, want to raise a family fulltime or decide to focus on other interests, encounter frustrating roadblocks in their attempts to re-enter the workforce, according to new Wharton research.

To overcome the obstacles, women should confront the difficulties they face and prepare for their return to the labor force the moment they leave, says Monica McGrath, adjunct professor of management at Wharton, executive coach and co-author of the study entitled, “Back in the Game. Returning to Business after a Hiatus: Experiences and Recommendations for Women, Employers, and Universities.” “I was seeing many women who, when they reached 50 and their kids were heading off to college, said, ‘Now let me get back to work,’ and they couldn’t,” says McGrath. “These are talented professional women. Why was it so impossible?”
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As Entrepreneurs, Seniors Lead U.S. Start-ups

Once dominated by young, highly-driven, technology-oriented entrepreneurs, startup activity is quickly being taken over by individuals who, while still driven and tech-sawy, happen to be in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

As companies outsource more and more functions, they will wind up hiring senior entrepreneur firms, possibly including people they may not have hired because of their age.

For the last 20 years of entrepreneurism, youth has ruled the roost. Bill Gates, Michael Dell and Napster creator Shawn Fanning all started their ventures before the age of 21.

However, the latest government figures indicate that the tide is turning toward more experienced individuals, many of whom may have lost their jobs during the three-year wave of job cutting, which has yet to let up.
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Many jobs seldom advertised

Job searching and interviewing can be tricky business. Here are answers to some common questions.

Question: What should I wear to an interview?

Answer: The last thing you want to be remembered for is what you wore. You can ask the recruiter at the time of the interview for the company dress code, but it is still an interview, and when in doubt, be conservative. The impression you should make is that you are to be taken seriously and are ready to go to work. Traditional professions, for example, law and finance, stick to the standard suits and ties.

Note: Avoid using fragrances or wearing lots of jewelry. Nothing should distract from the information you have to offer.
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Job seekers over 50 shouldn’t despair of finding work

Nobody will say it to your face _ but if you’re job-hunting and you’re over 50, beware.

Many employers could be biased against you because of your age. Make a concerted effort to battle their presumptions.

Their minds are filled with stereotypes _ that “old” means you’ll have health problems, miss lots of work and be expensive to insure. That you’ll have to be paid much more than a younger person who could also fill the position. That you’re out of touch, a dinosaur _ and who wants one of those clumping around the office?
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Increase Your Chances of Surviving a Job Layoff

No matter what kind of job you have, you can sometimes increase your chance of keeping your job in tough times.

At the very least, three actions can help you recognize your own accomplishments and feel better about your work. They could even help you get a promotion. And they might keep you out of the layoff pool.

Take charge of your job performance evaluations. Be proactive. Find out what your employer needs done and learn the skills to do it. Follow the standard rules about work behavior. Check yourself on these. Your Performance Evaluations Your employer may already have a formal system of annual job reviews. If so, make that system work for you. If there is no formal system in place, schedule annual or quarterly meetings with your supervisor to go over what you’ve accomplished.
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How To Find A Job From Away

hile it is easier to find a job when you reside in the area, most people don%u2019t have the luxury of moving without a job. So, if you need the job to make the move, you will have to conduct your job search from a distance. Here are tips that I share with my phone clients who live in other states to help them make a successful transition:

1. Identify your career and personal goals.
- Clarify the type of job want. Are you interested in changing careers or just employers?
- Where do you want to live, including location as well as type of residence?
- What is your ideal time frame for moving?
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