Apr 9

Dear J.T. and Dale: Several years ago it seemed one could get a half-time job (once known as job-sharing). This would be very nice for someone in my position (55 years old) and also wanting to enjoy her grandkids, traveling, gardening, etc. My dilemma is this — the folks working at the temp agencies are so young that they’ve never heard of job-sharing. I’ve come to the conclusion that I’d like to work at a medical office, scheduling patients for their appointments. This is an entry-level-type job and would pose no problem in and of itself, but everyone seems to want full-time help. — Chris Read the rest of this entry »

Apr 1

Dear J.T. & Dale: I’ve been on interviews where the HR manager has been late up to 20 minutes. I’ve had HR managers have the wrong resume when interviewing me, and have had HR managers dressed worse than I was. I get very upset dealing with HR managers who sit behind their desks acting like they are doing me a favor by interviewing me and then say, “You’re not the fit we’re looking for.” How do I get a second interview? — Bruce Read the rest of this entry »

Apr 1

Dear J.T. and Dale: A couple of years ago I stumbled onto a job where I worked on my computer at home. A friend was already doing the same work and referred me to the company. It was only a temporary job, but I got hooked and wonder how I can find another work-from-home job. I have done searches on the Internet but only find jobs that want me to pay a fee first before I can start working for them, which doesn’t make sense. I am not interested in starting my own business. Any ideas? — Paul Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 27

BMW or Honda? Let me start by saying that BOTH are great car brands, however, no one will dispute that they each are respected for different reasons. Yet, here’s where they are exactly the same: the marketing strategies used to promote their brands’ value enable buyers of their cars to connect with them on a personal level. Why should you care? Because today, the same kind of strategy needs to be applied to our career development. Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 27

DALE: I’ve been writing about careers for over a decade now, and, in that time, the best summary of a job search came from Mike of Colorado.

JT: When Dale showed me this one, I knew we had to pass it along because Mike conducted the perfect job search – he laid out just what he wanted and how to get it, and then worked his plan. Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 25

Dear J.T. & Dale: I fell into an abusive relationship four years ago, and when I fought back, we both were arrested. I also received a DUI around the same time. I then met a wonderful man, and we married two years ago. However, we had to file bankruptcy this past year. Other than all that, my life is finally on the upswing — only NO ONE will hire me. How do I go about informing an employer about my past during the interview, because once they get my background check, I get denied. — Jodi Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 21

Today, I was contacted by a wonderful woman who’s had the rare misfortune of having to look for a job 3X in the last 2 years. ALL 3X, the companies went out of business. Talk about bad luck! Over the age of 50, she suggested that I offer some advice to those in her generation about job search in the year 2008. Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 17

legal-fork.jpgDear J.T. & Dale: I was fired for reasons I felt were inappropriate. I applied for unemployment, my former employer objected, I appealed, and won the appeal. I am suing for inappropriate dismissal (breach of contract). I also am applying for new jobs. Should I even apply for a position out of town until the lawsuit is over? — Kim Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 17

crossroads.jpgDear J.T. & Dale: What are your thoughts on part-time employment for older retirees? I’m in good health, and frankly, I’m bored. I have a BS in engineering, have taught automotive engineering, operated an automotive business, and am a certified auto technician. — Howard Read the rest of this entry »

Mar 14

answer-the-salary-question.jpgPenelope Trunk, who writes the blog Brazen Careerist, wrote a post today called: A Recession Probably Won’t Affect Your Job Market.

The ‘Your’ in the title refers to Gen Y and Gen X employees. Trunk says, “There is a lot of hoop-la over the recession. Or coming recession. Or statistical but maybe-not-really recession. But the truth is that the job market is just fine, especially for the post-Baby-Boomer set.”

So the question is: Do older workers suffer more in a recession? The comments posted on Trunk’s blog would indicate so.

I think that in spite of an impending recession, there will always be a ‘talent’ shortage. As many of the commenters suggest, I firmly believe those who keep their skills up-to-date and brand themselves properly will always be employable.

Whether you are a seasoned workplace veteran or a new professional, how do you plan to keep yourself employable during an economic downturn?

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