Consider setting feasible goals every week, and do not forget to celebrate the small accomplishments.
LEARN HOW YOUR PLANNED GIFT CAN HELP THE AMERICAN LEGION
What advice do you have for finding employment opportunities?
Whether you are returning to work, changing careers or seeking new opportunities, having a clear strategy can make all the difference. Below are tips to help guide your job search.
Update Your Résumé You should tailor your résumé to the job you are applying for. If you are considering exploring multiple career fields, it may be a good idea to create more than one version of your résumé, each highlighting your experience and skills most relevant to that particular field. Be sure to leave out any positions from more than 10 to 15 years ago and omit graduation years, as that may lead to age-related assumptions. Also, use a professional email address, ideally something simple that includes your name. If you do not already have one, you can easily create one for free. For drafting a résumé, you can find plenty of free templates and generators available online to get you started.
Professional Online Profiles In addition to a résumé, a professional online profile can increase your visibility in the job market. You can use a reputable professional-networking platform to highlight your experience, skills, achievements and career interests in a more interactive way than the traditional résumé. Employers often already have online profiles that allow them to look you up before reaching out, so ensure your profile photo, headline and job history are up to date. An online professional presence will also allow for more networking opportunities since it connects you with other professionals in real time.
Prepare for Interviews While each interview may vary, there are some common interview questions that can be reviewed ahead of time to make your responses more polished and unique. Spend time thinking through what your personalized answers would be to these typical questions, and consider practicing with a friend. Also, prepare some questions to ask the employer. These could be about the job’s day-to-day activities and responsibilities, which will show interest and give you helpful insight on your desired role.
Local Resources Check with your local senior community centers or libraries to see if they have job boards or host workshops. State and county assistance programs may also have employment resources, some specifically for seniors.
Online Resources There are plenty of general job-search websites that offer flexible search options. Many online boards allow you to search by job title, keyword, company or location. These platforms can also filter results for full-time, part-time, remote work and compensation. In some platforms, you can also set up alerts to be notified of new openings based on your previous searches.
For retired job seekers, there are websites specifically designed to focus on relevant opportunities. These websites can also provide additional resources for training, help with résumés and interview preparation to assist with your search.
Stay Positive Job hunting can be challenging and emotionally draining when opportunities do not come as soon as expected. Consider setting feasible goals every week, and do not forget to celebrate the small accomplishments. Stay persistent and remind yourself that you are a valuable worker.
“Savvy Living” is written by Jim Miller, a regular contributor to NBC’s “Today Show.” The column, and others like it, is available to read via The American Legion’s Fund Development program, a way of establishing your legacy of support for the organization while providing for your current financial needs. Consider naming The American Legion in your will or trust as a part of your personal legacy. Learn more about the process, and the variety of charitable programs you can benefit, at legion.org/plannedgiving. Clicking on “Learn more” will bring up an “E-newsletter” button, where you can sign up for regular information.
- Planned Giving