Today I sat in on a networking session at the Workforce Development Center -- I am finding that I'm more focused and refreshed after going out there. Perhaps it's because everyone I meet is on the same mission as I am -- to become gainfully employed. Anyway, I was joined by about 30 other like boomers at this workshop. We spent an hour going around the room and introducing ourselves, discussing where we're at in our job search and what our strategies we're using to stay positive and focused. I'm one of the newbies; some have been at this since the beginning of the year! Yes, now I AM getting a bit scared. But, even so, the veterans are involved in continuous learning to enhance their job skills and are confident that this awful economy will turn around. It surprised me to meet so many displaced workers that were in manufacturing -- or maybe I shouldn't have been so surprised. Is manufacturing dead? Or will it come back with gusto to support the GREEN tech boom?
We learned about creating a JIST card -- it's like a business card with our top accomplishments to hand out informally. The workshop moderator suggested that we paste it on grocery bulletin boards, car windshields, the library, etc. I'm not quite that desparate -- YET. One woman in our mini group suggested that this would be perfect to give to 'warm' groups such as your circle of friends, people you know at church, relatives, etc. That way if they hear of anything they can give the potential employer your JIST card as an introduction. I'm not too sure about this yet but will give it some thought.
We also talked about what IS working in our job search -- I'm feeling pretty good because some of the suggestions I'm already following:
- Keep a To Do list and mark off your accomplishments
- Schedule something significant to do each day
- Continue to meet and network with people on a regular basis
- Follow up on your applications (this one I need to work on)
- Laugh, take time for yourself
So, this has indeed been a learning experience. The process for getting a new job is so different now than when I last searched for a job. When was that again? 1987?? Geez am I really that old?
Luna and I are back on the road and kids still ask the darnedest questions!
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I’ve been AWOL from the blog for a long while now. That’s owed to a number
of things, including some health issues (which have largely resolved). I
have ...
1 year ago
1 comment:
Sadly, HR departments have changed too. We get a lot of rollover calls for ours & they honestly do NOT want people to follow up. They don't want to hear from people in general. They want people with specific skills to apply online for specific jobs that are listed online. They don't want questions, they don't want callbacks, they CERTAINLY don't want to actually speak to an applicant unless they (HR) are doing the calling. They don't want to hear that you could do a variety of jobs & that you can learn to do anything; they want to hear that you have years of experience in exactly the job they have open, plus a degree, & that you already know the op systems.
It gets depressing- we get all these hopeful callers, all wanting to impress our HR with their people skills & convinced that they will get the job if they can just TALK to somebody, & HR doesn't want to talk to them.
Don't mean to be a downer, but I swear I see this every day.
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