Labrador Retriever Forum
Can't put this out there on FB....but with Lay Offs coming for my husband & myself I need some advice. How can I get my foot in the door when #1 I have a job for now and #2 my age? I feel like being over a certain age, most people won't even look at you...I am basically clerical...done this kind of work for 30+ years. Work will not give salary notice, security just shows up at your office & escorts you off the premises & salary has no seniority. I have been here 14 years. My husband will either be laid off in June or Oct. I have been told to sell myself, put it out there that yes I am older but I don't party at night, I don't have to call in to take care of sick kids, I am settled in my ways, been married for 34 years...I doubt I honestly bring up kids but that is some of the advice I have been given. I just need to get an interview to get my voice heard! Tests scare the crap out of me, I lock up & forget how to type and I am taking the afternoon off to do 2 hours worth of test for ths city! And I haven't been on an interview in years.....So how do those of you that have been here sell yourselfs?? What do I need to put on my resume to make it stand out above everyone elses?
Deb,
Check into your local schools to see if they need any help in their offices - colleges, too. Stop in and see the principals and/or superintendents. Chances are you won't be able to see them, but hand your resume and cover letter to the secretary in the office. Always be nice to the secretaries! Try not to leave it with the receptionist.
In your letter, just say you are anticipating being available for part- or full- time permanent or substitute employment. Review your experience. Indicate your willingness to help out in any way.
I work in a school district (in an office!) and this is how you get in the door here. We are ALWAYS interested in qualified people to cover an office, short or long term, and then when a position does open up, you are known to the administration.
And, make certain your letter and resume are grammatically correct. Check, check, and check again, and then have someone else look at it. Letters and resumes with grammatical errors don't even make it farther than a cursory review.
Good luck.
Mary
You are in a much better position than you think you are. Your skills are not narrowly focused. You will be competing with younger people who do not have the work ethic you possess. Go in with a "can do" attitude and you will have no problem whatsoever finding a job.
Keep your chin up. I am in a similar situation - I am probably older than you, but still care to work for 5-7 more years. I will tell you it is hard to keep your attitude good, but work hard at it.
I market myself as an adjunct to the top position - there to bounce off ideas as to what worked and what did not and why, based upon my years of experience, and subtly make comment that I am not trying to break that class ceiling any longer. Practice on stifling your hurt and anger when at an interview and are probed as to why you lost your job.
Network network network. If you are not on LinkedIn, set yourself up there.
Try for a State Job... good benefits & reasonable salary.
Usually, you get more holiday timeoff than a corporate job.
They also do not care about age and look for "seasoned assistants."
I have to say, my docs like being "taken care of" & love the "old school secretary"
Be positive!!!
Good Luck!
Stress your best skills - focus on those
rewrite your resume and don't mention dates, again stress your skills
also use key words the employer wants to hear - usually they use these words in their add for the job, do research on the company or position. Most important try to get to know someone in the company and have people write a reference.
call back after the interview, write a letter thanking the interviewer (hand written and sent by post)
be prepared to get turned down, do lots of follow up calls.
find a website that teaches interview techniques, and resumes for people in your situation.
Good luck - You will find the perfect job for you -
This is a new beginning and an opportunity for you do that one thing you have always wanted to do! Go for it :)
My husband is a CPA, they recently hired a secretary that sounds a lot like you. He always tells my teens attitude is everything. Bring in your resume by hand with a smile on your face and confidence in your step. You have a lot to offer.
Be sure all your friends and acquaintances know you are looking so they can put a good word in for you if they know someone/something.
Once your laid off, be open minded about taking a temporary position or working in a temp to perm position. Remember, prospective employeers would rather see you working now so even if it's only a temp position, your still "out there" throwin fishies in the boat and someone else is seeing value in you.
There are a lot of companies, expecially larger ones with good benefit packages, that use temp workers thru various agencies initially to get an idea of how well an individual will work out before they hire them for a permanant position.
Those temporary employers can also be a good resource for references when you need them too.
Find out what employement agencies in your area do temporary assignment placements for clerical works and don't forget to sign up for some adult ed classes to enhance your computer software skills. At the very least try to be functional at Word and Excel if you want to be in an office environment.
Deb, I'm older than you and was recently laid off so know what you're going through. You've been given some great advice here and if there's local job fairs, GO and see what's out there & get yourself out. I've found it quite interesting how quick they are to call me for an interview when they review my Resume but once interviewed, there's sometimes been that underlying thread of "how much longer will she be working", etc. Chin up - there is a work out there but it's not as easy to find as it once was. Join/network with groups with similar interests and try to stay as positive as you can.
Cheers!!
Find 5 people you know who could be family, friends, former colleagues or managers who you consider to be your friend. Pick those who have success in SOME field where they know other people and have a "built in" network.
Ask each individually to lunch of coffee. Tell them you appreciate their success and friendship and would like them to be on your "board of directors" of be a center of influence. They become your initial network. Pick their brains at this first session, even if they decline your offer. Who do they know who is growing a business? Who is retiring where them might be a position opening up?
None of these folks need to be in your field. I assure, you, they know people in the area who know supervisors and manager and business owners.
Ask if you can reach out to them in the coming months to get their advice and counsel. Ask them to make calls on your bahalf or at least send a "heads up" email that you will be contacting someone they have recommended.
For example;" Ann, you and I have been friends for years and I have admired they way your manage to be successful in the healthcare industry while also raising a great family. I am in the beginning process of looking for a new opportunity and want to ask if you would help me? I am creating my own "web" of centers of influence, Who might you know that might have opportunities in the future?....Something like this over coffee and a real conversation about life and work will be worth it.
The approach worked for me 9 years ago when I moved from the insurance industry to the investment industry. You DO know people, seek them out. ASK for their advice as they have the contacts you want to be introduced to. I had one attorney sit me down and go through her rolodex and make calls asking her contacts to meet with me WHILE I was there.
You can be open with your COIs, be strong and be organized to diary your calendar to contact them via phone or e-mail monthly initially and maybe quarterly later when you are up and running again. You will need them again and someday they will also need you. Good luck, it's not easy. This way works because you aren't in the traditional job search process. Outside the lines, paint outside the line!
