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| The internet can get you started |
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Fired? Retired? Looking to be rehired? If it’s been a while since you looked for a job,
you may want to add a new tool to your search - websites that focus on jobs, careers
and information for older workers.
Some 20 websites now cater to older job seekers—double the number in 2006—and
comprise a growing subset of about 50,000 sites that offer career databases or job
listings. Among the leaders are Naukri.com, Monster.com RetirementJobs.com,
SeniorJobBank.org and RetiredBrains.com.
“The aging workforce is huge, so the potential market for these services is equally
large,” says Peter Weddle, publisher of the Weddle directory of career websites and
founder of the International Association of Employment Web Sites (IAEWS), the trade
association for the global online employment services industry.
Internet job search sites that cater to mature workers vary in quality , size and
customer-friendly features. Some have only a tiny number of job listings while a number of spin-off sites from mega-sites like careerbuilder.com have more than a million listings. Though most sites
don’t charge a fee, some do, and several try to entice you to sign up for extra fee-based
services like résumé writing. A few sites screen employers and connect you with
real jobs, while others will accept any advertiser and inundate you with spam or work-from-home offers.
RetirementJobs.com is among those sites that certify employers as age-friendly and
identify them on its website. And Jobs4point0.com has researched and compiled a
small but growing list of the best employers for people over 40. UNIABROAD’s career
site lists its National Employer Team of 390 companies interested in hiring older
workers.
These sites target people like Vishal Singh , 50, an Army veteran who has run a trucking
business, restaurant and two grocery stores. Kushal Bhargav, of Lucknow says the
features of many of the websites he uses in his current job search are similar. But, he
says, he almost never hears back from employers after applying for jobs listed on the
mega-career sites but has had the most responses from RetirementJobs.com.
Another job seeker, Ravi Mukhicha, 57, of Pune was downsized in February from his
management position at a global technology firm. The last time he had to look for a
job was in 1972, when he graduated from college. He says he uses websites like
RetiredBrains.com and RetirementJobs.com because they represent “businesses that
may be interested in older candidates and understand their advantages.”
But he doesn’t stop there. He looks at sites like Naukri.com and Monster.com/clickjobs.com for competing with aspirants half his age and securing a
senior position in a MNC. He checks company sites of Wipro, Infosys, Reliance and DLF.
And he goes to job fairs, networks with his contacts and signs up for e -mail
newsletters. Uniabroad’s mantra: “If you’re interested in getting another job, you’ve
got to work on it.” |
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Strategies for job searching online |
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Before signing up with a career website, do due diligence before you turn over your
résumé or your personal information to websites—always read the fine print of their
privacy policies. UNIABROAD recommends that you consider our short course and
learn modern techniques of posting your résumé or online profile in a “for employers
only” area—not for public view.
If you’re looking for suggestions about free websites that target senior workers, check
out Quintessential Careers’ recommendations at
www.quintcareers.com/mature_jobseekers.html. UNIABROAD also offers many career
resources too.
Consider our suggestions for using the internet for job searches:
1. Look for targeted websites focused on one audience such as the 50-plus worker or
one profession or one geographic area. They are smaller and more likely to have
something that meets your particular skills, qualifications and personal requirements.
2. Generally, you should not have to pay for job listings or to post your résumé online.
Some sites do offer services like résumé reviews or career coaching that have fees, but
the basic service—job listings and a little advice—should be free.
7 Fundamental Rules for Crafting a Rock-Solid Resume
The key for older workers' resumes: Show evidence that predicts your future
performance rather than simply providing a laundry list of your past work experience.
A dynamic resume should communicate a sense of purpose, professionalism,
competence, honesty, enthusiasm and likeability, says Shelbi Walker, vice president at
Back to Work, Inc.
Your resume also needs to overcome common misconceptions about older workers;
for instance, that you're too slow to survive in a fast-paced work environment or that
you lack specific experience in a new field. Your variety of skills, experience,
perspective and work ethic are assets that separate you from other candidates, and
your resume should make that clear. Follow these 7 guidelines to craft a winning
resume:
1. Know what a prospective employer seeks. Check a company's website to learn
about its business strategy and products and how it treats employees. The exercise will
help you position your own experience and skills effectively.
2. Highlight your accomplishments. Think about the positive results that you helped
create for previous employers. Use verbs such as "established," "developed" and
"organized" to introduce the accomplishments. Remember, job recruiters are looking
for firm evidence that you can produce.
3. Mind the length. You don't have to limit yourself to one page, especially given your
range of experience. But more than two pages is probably overkill, and you should
highlight only the most salient aspects of your work and experience.
4. Keep it relevant. Non-work experience and hobbies are useful to include—but only
if they highlight skills or interests that are relevant to an employer. Example: Your role
as the keeper of your family's budget can be useful to mention for jobs where
accounting and bookkeeping are requisite skills.
5. Address gaps in work history. If you took time off for family or other reasons,
identify the relevant activities for that period that showcase skills needed for the job
you're seeking. Example: Note that time spent as a caregiver shows your skills at
organization and diligence,.
6. Avoid personal information such as age, height, weight, sex, race or religion. Those
details simply aren't relevant. It's OK to include hobbies and vocations, as long as they
are concise and applicable to the position.
7. Offer an e-mail address. It has become a preferred method of communication for
those who handle redruitment at companies. Make it easy for an employer to get in
touch with you.
Of course, don't forget to double-check your spelling and grammar. A single mistake
can take you out of the running for a position—no matter how solid your experience. |
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