Friday, September 28, 2007

Don't Miss the Latest Edition of Solutions


If you want to keep up with the latest resources for workforce development professionals...

Download this NEW SEPTEMBER 2007 EDITION today at http://www.workforcemarketing.com/Solutions.pdf. This edition includes the following articles, a vendor directory, important tips, upcoming conferences and events, and more!

Are We There Yet?
Collaborate t Advocate t Innovate - Helping America Work
Local Workforce Coalition - Strength in Numbers
Cost Allocation: Correcting Common Deficiencies
Strengthen Your One-Stop Career Centers - Resource Management is a Must!

Download Solutions free today at http://www.workforcemarketing.com/Solutions.pdf

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Bracing for the Future


Anna D. Banks, GCDF

As far as retirement is concerned, most baby boomers on the verge of retiring are now envisioning a self-sufficient, independent lifestyle. The term ‘retirement’ means different things for different people. Some people plan on pursuing new interests, while the others just want to relax. Whatever the future holds for you, one thing is for sure – a secure retirement is the only way you can brace yourself for the future.

Take some time out to envision how you would like to spend your time on retirement and once you have established certain retirement goals, you must determine how your financial resources can be invested. Retirement planning is the only way to ensure you enjoy a comfortable retired life.

Yes, financial security is the key element of any happy retirement. How you plan on spending your retirement time is also extremely important. If you have no fixed plans for your retirement, then you might as well start thinking of alternatives for your regular work schedule. By the year 2008, most of the senior workers and baby boomers will be getting ready for retirement. So, if you happen to be heading towards retirement, here are a few ways to help you get started with your retirement plans.

Planning for your Retirement

• Make New Choices – Now is the time for you to focus on what it is that you want to do. What activities are you planning on signing up for? From education to caring for animals to handiwork and even volunteering, retirement will provide you with enough time for all such activities. Once you join in the activities, you won’t have to sit idle anymore, making your retirement less boring.

• Travel – Travel is one of the most popular activities amongst retirees today. Most airlines, restaurants, tourist attractions, hotels and car rental companies offer discounts for seniors. This is a good way to enjoy your retirement time and to make up for all those long and dreary working years.

• Whether or Not you want to Work – If you’re one of those people who prefer working even after retirement – either because you enjoy working or you need the extra income, then you could probably continue working with your current employer as a consultant or even a part-time employee. With the valuable knowledge that you’ve gained over the years, getting a good job shouldn’t be a tough prospect.

When it comes to working after retirement, keep in mind that your retirement could actually give you the perfect opportunity to turn a hobby into a business. Whatever may be your plans, if you’re planning on working after retirement, remember that there are an increasing number of baby boomers who are also working in a variety of ways ranging from second careers to part time jobs.

The additional income that you may earn in this way will go a long way in replenishing your savings and the retirement benefits that you are provided with, like social security and pension fund. As far as savings are concerned, time can be one of the best resources in helping money grow. When saving for retirement, it is advisable to consider your retirement goals first, the number of years left for you to retire, the tax implications and your tolerance for risk.

© 2007 Anna D. Banks, GCDF
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Author's Note:
Do you have any questions about career development or lifestyle changes for Baby Boomers, which you think others, like you, would want to know the answers? Please email your questions to Anna@AnnaBanks.com or post a message on this blog?


Tapping the Hidden Job Market


Anna D. Banks, EzineArticles.com Platinum Author


By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

The Hidden job market includes all those jobs that aren’t publicly advertised. There are many brilliant career opportunities that come under this hidden job market category. However, today, along with most of the conventionally advertised jobs in the market that are moving onto online advertising, even the hidden job market has begun to go online. However, a major portion still remains hidden.

Why Tap into the Hidden Job Market?

• If you happen to be looking for a vacancy in an emerging industry or technology where the objectives and requirements are still to be clearly defined, perhaps the hidden job market is the best place for you to tap into in order to get that position that stands up to your qualifications. In this way, if you also have an exceptional set skills, which don’t really fit in with any of the common, traditional types of jobs, then you will have the opportunity to get that position that matches with your skills and qualifications by tapping into the hidden job market.

• If you are searching for an opening or a position where there are only a handful of openings, or an overabundance of qualified as well as overqualified candidates, then it is wise to refer to the hidden job market where there are fewer candidates and more job openings. This would include senior executives and managers as well as other technical and professional fields that have limited openings.

Effective Hidden Job Market Strategies

If you happen to be an outgoing person and are fine with mingling with people, then networking is the right way to go. Networking and targeted networking are two excellent methods to help tap into the hidden job market. Apart from traditional job-searching strategies and online hunts, quantitative marketing is another good way to tap into this hidden market.

• Traditional Networking – This strategy would involve creating a list of all your professional and personal contacts. You inform all of these people that you are looking out for a job and you would like their help in pointing you in the right direction, or if they know of others who could help you. Typically, you can start by sending them e-mail or a letter and explaining your situation. Then, you can follow-up meeting or a personal call. Networking can be the most effective strategy if you already have cultivated a whole network of career-related contacts. If you happen to be a member of a professional organization that concerns your field, then this is the best place to start off with networking. If you aren’t a member, then now is the best time to become a member. Always be tactful while networking and don’t expect help instantly. Another good way to network is to go online.

• Targeted Networking – Another hidden job market strategy is targeted networking, which helps replace or enhance the outdated Informational Interviewing or Referral Interviewing strategies. It is a straightforward strategy that helps contact major decision makers in targeted organizations and industries. Yes, it is quite difficult, but it is possible. The purpose behind this form of networking is to contact certain companies of interest and the major decision makers in the desired department. The aim is to represent a candidate for any impending openings, current openings, or to get a referral to other decision makers within the company or at other organizations.

© 2007 Anna D. Banks, GCDF
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Author's Note:
Do you have any questions about career development or lifestyle changes for Baby Boomers, which you think others, like you, would want to know the answers? Please email your questions to Anna@AnnaBanks.com or post a message on this blog?


Benefits of Hiring Older Workers


By Anna D. Banks, GCDF

Yes, we are now experiencing what is called ‘The Great Worker Shortage’. The first few baby boomers, whose very mass has dominated the labor force, will reach the age of 62 in the year 2008 and will start retiring. And to add to this already terrible nightmare, there aren’t many younger workers or ‘baby busters’ as they are called, to replace these senior workers in the workplace.

Reports have shown that there are as many as ten million workers that will be required at the end of the decade. This would pose as a potentially dire circumstance to all companies, wouldn’t it? However, there isn’t any need to panic. As a business owner, it is wise for you to examine your employment needs and requirements for the coming five years. Especially, think about hiring senior workers – those workers who are scheduled for retirement.

While the 50 plus workers are sometimes slated as being less productive, more costly and somewhat set in their ways, recent studies have capsized many age-old stereotypes. Yes, older workers have demonstrated that they can tackle any job well even today.

Fortunately, for most companies, there is a satisfactory solution, more senior workers are willing to continue working and more employers are in need of their talents. In many places, the skills of older workers are preferred over their younger counterparts.

The Benefits of Hiring Senior Workers

Yes, if baby boomers do intend on working during their retirement years, it will definitely come as good news to most employers. Incidentally, most senior workers are blessed with the assets and skills that companies are looking for. Here are a few benefits of working with senior workers:

•Experience – Older workers know the inside-outs of what it is to work for years on end. From weathering different bosses to business-cycle dips to management trends, their massive sphere of knowledge alone means that companies would not have to spend money and time in training them.

•Work Ethics – 50 plus workers are considered to be more dependable and determined and always remain task-focused. These traits are a good example for their younger workers.

•Customer Servicing – Most employers are hiring senior workers because they have proven to be more mature emotionally and can also relate to the customers better. Studies have shown that verbal communication along with a whole host of other skills always increases with age.

•Loyalty – Unlike their younger brethren, older workers are less likely to change jobs or job-hop. And, it is common knowledge that the lesser the turnover, the more money is saved.

•Motivation – Amongst all the employees in a workplace, older workers are considered to be the most motivated in most companies. 50 plus workers are found to be more motivated than their younger colleagues. And, such highly motivated employees are more likely to satisfy customers, control costs and affect product quality.

While older workers may be less capable of delivering out-of-the-box, groundbreaking new ideas, they are better than their younger partners at ‘experimental innovation’, which means they help develop new ideas from current practices. In order to balance the scales, companies require both sets of employees – the older workers as well as the younger ones.

© 2007 Anna D. Banks, GCDF
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Author's Note:
Do you have any questions about career development or lifestyle changes for Baby Boomers, which you think others, like you, would want to know the answers? Please email your questions to Anna@AnnaBanks.com or post a message on this blog?