Experience Always Tops Youth — Job Search Seminar

Brad Coffey, M.Ed., MBA
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor and Consultant

Points we’ll cover

Behind job change after 50

• Economic downturns —"downsizing"
• Increased life expectancy
• Increased entrepreneurial interests
• Changing values — the opportunity to do something more meaningful
• Renewed challenge — coming out of retirement

Workforce in the New Century

• Since 2001, biggest job growth has been among 55+ age group
• In 2002, Fortune Magazine says that 69% of people 45-76 expect never to retire.
• Of those 34% who want to work, 19% need income, 10% want to own a biz, and 6% want to enter a new field

Myths vs. Facts

Self Assessment

• Guides your job targeting, planning & employer approaches
• Guides networking, writing your resumé, interviewing & deciding about job offers

1. Functional Skills: Can be used in many different types of jobs — Check the skills that you *want* to use in your next job
2. Personal Traits
3. Interests
4. Values
5. Needs & Wants
6. The Balance Wheel

Pgs 13-20 in Boomer book

10 "Hot" Transferable Skills

Market Analysis & Decision Making (after the self assessment)

Additional Options (after the self assessment)

Set up the marketing plan — you’re the product

Weekly Objectives

1. Decide on hours you'll spend each day in job search — no more than 5: Activities that don't involve directly contacting, such as internet searching, should be done outside of business hours.
2. List of new informational contacts to make: Calls to make, letters/emails to send. Who do you need to contact for leads or information?
3. Meetings or organizations to attend to (1) make new acquaintances or (2) become better informed
4. Record jobs, resumés / applications submitted with dates & follow-ups — during off hours
5. Following up with past contacts: Checking on an application or resumé submitted to see if you can clarify any information
6. Thank you notes to write

Resume Primer

• Interviewers normally spend no more than 30 seconds looking at resumés, therefore you must capture & hold their attention immediately
• Highlight related skills & accomplishments at the beginning
• Remove anything that emphasizes age
• Order of topics depends on what you've identified as goal
  
  www.damngood.com for hands-on resumé guides & templates

3 Steps to Writing a Resumé

1. Organize your Information
2. Select a format — Functional, Chronological or Hybrid / Combination
3. Write a rough draft

Pages 43-63 in Boomer book

Organize Information for Resume

• Heading
• Objective
• Summary
• Experience that supports the objective/summary (body)
• Education that supports the objective/summary
• Additional: Volunteer work, affiliations, military, publications/presentations

Heading, Objective, Summary

Jane Doe
1234 Any St.
San Antonio, TX 77777
(210) 123-4567

Objective: Part-time Medical Administrative Assistant

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Over 8 years overall patient services experience, including nurse assisting
• Certified Medical Administrative Assistant through San Antonio College
• Courteous, responsible, positive team player

Create accomplishment statements

These do not have to be world class: something you did that you were proud of and someone else took note of — something that made a significant difference or even a small difference.

Use the SAR method: tell about a (1) Situation you faced, (2) Action(s) you took, and (3) Results you achieved

SAR Method Examples

"Replaced outdated paper system (situation) saving the company both time and money (result)"

"Increased lagging sales (situation) by over 20% (result) through planning, outstanding customer service initiatives and sales incentives (actions)"

"Received industry award (result) for best corporate newsletter (action)"

See “Action Words” pg. 51

Relevant Experience & Accomplishments

PATIENT SERVICES as a certified medical administrative assistant extern and as a certified nursing assistant

• Accurately verified insurance, scheduled patients, collected co-pays and totaled day sheets
• Properly communicated with patients and effectively used medical terminology
• Advocated for patients’ rights and needs through appropriate instruction and resource awareness
• Established and handled medical records using appropriate confidentiality under HIPAA guidelines
• Carefully executed data management using electronic healthcare records, such as EMR
• As a nurse assistant, worked well with nurses, doctors and therapists on rehabilitation team

Relevant Experience & Accomplishments (cont’d)

CHILD EDUCATION AND CLIENT SERVICES as a child care provider

• Scheduled and facilitated meetings with families of children
• Worked as part of medical and therapeutic team with special-needs children
• Lead teacher functions including class set up, lesson-plan development, and safety
• Handled payroll and staff scheduling

Employment History

Education & Training

Certified Medical Administrative Assistant, San Antonio College Certificate: Early Childhood Education, San Antonio College

Key courses: Medical Office Administrative Practicum, Administrative Procedures, Medical Insurance, Computer Applications and Medical Terminology

Resume Reminders

Notes:

1. A resume is a brief sales document and is only as good as the verbal presentation to follow in the interview.
2. Private-industry resumes are 1-2 pages.
3. The summary is the attention-grabbing info that you want the interviewer to most know about you: industries, strengths, certifications, diversified jobs, languages, technical expertise, personal qualities, selected accomplishments.
4. Identify key words that are based on job postings, that will be scanned or noticed by interviewer.
5. In the experience section, you are providing relevant accomplishments and skills. Begin statements with action verbs (past tense) or their modifying adjectives: "Clearly communicated" or "Communicated."
6. Use examples to illustrate your abilities, especially in teamwork on in mentorship.
7. "References upon request" are no longer added at the bottom. They are furnished on a separate sheet.
8. Contact references to obtain their permission & give them a copy of resume to assist them in talking about you.
9. Let them know who might call & what job about so reference can discuss.
10. A personalized cover letter must be added to any resume mailed or emailed.

Exercise

1. Go through assessment portion of handout.
2. Try to revise an existing resume or write a rough draft resume.
3. Based on an objective, write up answers to the Interview Questions & Frequently-Asked Questions.

Image

Consider: physical appearance, grooming & hygiene, clothing style, attitude & body language

Attitude is the most important part of image:

1. Don't apologize for age — it's an advantage — you bring many experiences to the table
2. Be positive, willing to learn & ready to attack new things. A CAN-DO attitude
3. When posture is good, presentation is positive
4. Show that you have the energy to take on new things & work with people of all ages
5. Be ready with examples of teamwork, mentoring & accomplishments that reflect positive attitude & self image

Before going to an interview:

• Know the workplace by researching the corporate culture.
• Who will do the interviews?
• What is the company dress policy?

Plan to dress one step above the dress code.

Interview Primer

• Your appearance determines the initial impression the interviewer has of you.
• An interview should be viewed as a conversation, not an interrogation.
• Premise: The organization has problems that you can solve.
• Never refer to the "good old days" — shift your perspective from old to new.
• Research shows many mature workers are very focused on their age & the age of others. Age is less of a factor if you keep an emphasis on a "can do" attitude & come across as a producer, exhibiting high energy & an eagerness to take on new responsibilities.
• Dwell on the opportunities this job offers to use your skills.
• Show a commitment to continuous learning & an ability to work with technology.

Traits that mature workers are selling during interview

• Care about customers, more patient
• Responsible
• Better problem solvers
• Communicators
• Will take initiative
• Will coach & mentor others & be an example
• Reliable & dependable
• Higher capacity to work with mature clientele
• Strong work ethic
• Punctual
• Commitment to quality
• Less demanding
• No small children to distract
• Wider skills & broader experience
• Greater perspective & financial confidence
• Willing to move around & try different things

Overcoming “Overqualified”

• If you suspect it will be an issue, address it before the hiring manager does,
• Make your case first to be on the offense instead of on the defense.
• Express the point that you are looking for job where *you can make a contribution*.
• Refer to your experience (using SAR) to solve problems & take on challenges.
• Emphasize needing less time to be trained & cost company less.
• Always include in cover letter &/or resume specifically why you are seeking the position.
• Review that your skills, abilities and enthusiasm make you the ideal candidate for the job.
• "Let me show you how I can get the job done."

More for "overqualified": http://quintcareers.com

The Salary Question in General

• Don't want to rule yourself out by quoting a salary too early — deflect the issue & have them present the issue first.
• If you quote too high, you're too expensive, too low & you're unqualified.
• Always do research to determine reasonable salary ranges:

Careerjournal.com (keywords: careers, salary)
salaryexpert.com
salary.com
acinet.org
monster.com
careerbuilder.com
vault.com

Also ask: Professional organizations, recruiters, people in your field, internet & other ads.

Negotiating

1. Do your homework before the interview to decide what salary you want for doing the job
2. Wait to discuss the salary & the compensation package until the organization wants you & an offer is on the table
3. Confirm that they are making you an offer (it's important that they give their salary range first) — if it is low then: "According to my research, the salary range for my experience & skills is $ XX"
4. When the offer is made & the salary is decided, then discuss other negotiable compensation issues
5. Your best place to negotiate is in person with the hiring manager who needs you

Do not answer without taking time to consider the offer and think/talk it over at home. *Companies should respect your need to make a good decision.*

Negotiating Points

• Top-notch proven communication skills
• Leadership & management expertise
• Diverse background — able to wear many hats
• Fewer home / family issues
• Stability & loyalty are values of mature workers
• Careful decision-making with fewer errors in judgment
• Accident record is better than younger workers (studies show less than half)
• Reliability — excellent attendance record
• Reduced need for training

3 Basic Principles of Communications

1. First create a link between you & them.
2. Explain why you are writing or calling.
3. Take responsibility for planning next steps.

Letters

1. Letter of introduction for an informational meeting
2. Cover letter for answering an ad (with resumé)
3. Thank you for the informational meeting
4. Thank you for the interview
5. Letter to a recruiter or agency

Contact

R. Brad Coffey
Re-Employment Resources, L.C.

1100 NW Loop 410, Ste. 700
San Antonio, TX 78213

www.re-employ.com

210-366-8780