Showing posts with label after. Show all posts
Showing posts with label after. Show all posts

Sunday, September 2, 2012

Tips For Career Changes After 50


The idea of people doing career changes after 50 may sound frightening. But for the individual who has suddenly found herself unemployed the option may be necessary but intimidating nonetheless.

And for those considering career changes after 50 simply because they want to try something different, the idea may be seen by family and friends as not only risky but also foolish.

Yet old age doesn't have to be a block in the road for an individual's career. In fact, career changes at this time in life may be easier through a change in professions that not only offers new opportunities for employment but also for someone to pursue a passion.

An employee may have grown old in their office because of the emphasis management places on youth. But there is also the realization that they no longer love what they do and it may be impacting their job performance.

Someone who has career experience in management may be just the right choice for a newspaper seeking a talented publisher. Such an individual may still have to learn the newspaper industry, but would possess the maturity and leadership that established journalists still lack.

Many church members who have become burned out in their jobs attend seminary and in some cases become staff members without returning to school based on their involvement in the church. In doing so they make a move toward a new career while pursuing a passion they love, in this case their church.

A career change at his stage in life may also involve approaching a job in a different fashion. A writer may choose to work freelance rather than for a publication. The career would remain the same, but the change would offer opportunities for setting their own schedule, working from home, being their own boss, and so on. Such a change would also reinvigorate their career and also allow them to continue in a profession they may still have a passion for.

Factors to consider in making a career change at this stage of life include:

* Will the new career pay enough to support their current lifestyle?

* Will the change cause problems to their family's lifestyle in addition to financial considerations?

* Will relocation be necessary?

* Is the career change something they really have a passion for or is this a passing fancy that will leave them unsatisfied again in a few years?

* Will the career change require returning to school and is this something the individual both wants to do and can afford?

Another important consideration is why a career change at all? In some cases a change may be dictated through unforeseen circumstances -- termination, business closing, downsizing, etc. But simply changing a career on a whim is not prudent and, as noted above, may lead to more unhappiness a few years later. The key is in education about the new career, along with speaking with individuals in the profession, and seeking advice of friends and loved ones.

Young people are known for a willingness to take risks. People become settled in their ways as they become older, but they don't have to. Whether it involves recreation, lifestyle or a career, it's never too late to try something different.

And, when it comes to careers, a career change after 50 may be the best and most rewarding decision someone may ever make in their professional life.




Whether changing jobs because of family commitments, health, advancement or interest, career change advice is vital to finding a better, well suited field of employment. For more free tips, reports, and career changes after 50 [http://www.advance-career.com] advice visit [http://www.advance-career.com]




Saturday, September 1, 2012

Career Planning After 50 - Find the Right Career!


You've reached the point in your life where you're over 50; you've worked in several careers perhaps some by choice some just by circumstance and you're looking for a change. The problem is where do you start?

Recently, a fellow who lived near an airport at the end of a busy runway went into the airline HR department and asked to fill out an application for a job as a pilot. When asked his qualifications he said, "Well, I've watched thousands of planes land and take off and I'm sure I can do the job."

If this sounds like you looking to change careers after 50, it's time to go back to the drawing board and do some serious career planning.

Every career, except the most basic jobs, has threshold qualifications and requirements. Some are easy to qualify for, others like airline pilots take years of training and flying experience. If you're 55 and could pass the physical requirements, and it would take you five years to qualify for the entry level pilot's position, and the airlines have a mandatory age 60 retirement, you probably wouldn't take this route.

On the other hand if you are 55 and your desire is to be an attorney, and it requires three years of additional schooling and passing the bar exam, go for it. But it requires along with the career planning after 50, the necessary financial planning carrying it off.

How then do you find the right career? First, do a self-assessment of you interests, skills, what you enjoy and what you do not want to do.

If a particular career does not jump off the page don't worry as you do your career research the right career will come into focus.

Now we find individuals working in the proposed career field or fields. Find the individuals in local associations, Linkedin.com, alumni associations, and networking with friends and associates. Develop a short 10-15 minute interview, with questions that will provide you with the following: career educational requirements, necessary experience, employers that employ individuals in this career, where the employers are located and referrals to others to talk to regarding the proposed career.

Since you're over 50 and thinking about making a career change you'll be looking to short cut some job requirements. Like education, for example, you may through self-study and online learning speed up the education qualification requirements.

Also, through volunteer work with organizations and non-profits many times you can gain valuable work experience that translates well to meeting job experience requirements.

Additionally your research will provide you with salary ranges, promotional opportunities and if the needs for the career are growing.

All of this will now be reflected in your rewritten resume and cover letter. You'll have a good start on preparation on good answers to tough job interview questions.

Career planning after 50 can be a time for reflection, to reassess your financial future and find the right job in the right career. Hopefully, this short article will get you started in the right direction in your career planning.




To find out more detailed information on all aspects of career planning after 50, go to http://careersafter50.com. Further, discover the stories of others over age 50 who found their dream careers through a variety of Career Planning Ideas.




Friday, August 31, 2012

Career Change after 50!


Career and job change after age 50: some tips to consider.

Changing a career at any age has its own challenges. Making a career change after age 50 presents a series of tests, which if done right, could bring significant rewards.

Throughout your working career, and by age 50, you may have changed careers several times so this time you want to do it right. There are a number of questions you have to ask yourself in order to get on the right track.

Are you looking to change careers because of physical problems? Maybe the stress of the current career and job are getting you down. Looking for something that is closer to your area of interest or in a more relaxed atmosphere?

First, list your interests and skills. What situations or challenges were you faced with? What actions did you take? What sort of results did you achieve? Be as specific as possible in writing out your achievements. Now what skills were required to achieve these results? Working with a team, managing and supervising others, setting and managing a budget, completing a project are all activities that could be on your list.

In any career change after age 50 you will be bringing a variety of skills to your new career. After researching the new career you will find overlap in a number of areas when you compare both careers. Be sure to highlight this overlap in drafting your resume.

If at first look you do not think you have the required skills for the new career, it would be productive to find someone currently working in the new career field and call them for a short interview. Either on the phone or in person you can inquire about the necessary skills to do the new job, challenges presented or how your work experience fits the new career.

You may find that some training is required to qualify for the new career. Training can take many forms. Starting with self-study, to formal classroom to the internet all are valuable sources of training to help you jump-start your entry into this new career area.

Many employers view maturity in an applicant as a positive factor in hiring. An applicant over 50 can provide them with a dependable worker with a lifetime of practical experience. Work experience that can be a valuable asset to a likely employer.

Even in a new career field, bringing many transferable skills, a high degree of motivation and enthusiasm all translate into a successful career change after age 50. The key is to demonstrate that even after age 50 that you have the skills and abilities to be productive for many years to come.




For a more detailed discussion of career change after 50 go to http://careersafter50.com. For interesting stories about 7 people after 50 who developed career plans and successfully changed careers after 50 you'll find worthwhile information to help you in your career planning.




Sunday, July 29, 2012

Career Change After 40 - How to Market Your Experience


Making a career change over 40 isn't any easier than it was in your 20s or 30s. Whether your decision is based on your desire to finally pursue your dreams or a need to find a new career path due to an ever-shrinking market or faltering industry, making a career change in mid-life can leave even the most confident job seekers asking themselves, "How do I find a new career?"

Before you start sending out resumes, you must first take the time to make a plan for your next career - assessing your skills (including those that may be transferable in your new field) and really plotting a new trajectory for yourself.

Do a Little Job Research

Just the idea of starting over can be both scary and exciting. But don't let the fear be paralyzing, or keep you from making a change. It can also be rather easy to get carried away by the dazzle and romance of new possibilities. The best way to keep your wits about you during this time of uncertainty is by arming yourself with information. A career change can often mean, not only a new position or role but, most times, a whole new industry. Before making a move you need to investigate the realities of both the role and the industry you hope to start your new career in.

* Employ the help of a Career or Life Coach to guide you in making and executing your plan for a new career path.

* Start by exploring your career possibilities, picking those that interest you most and researching them online or through your local library.

* Next speak with people in your intended industry or those who hold the position you desire. Ask them if you could informally interview them about their career to discuss the realities of what it takes to work in their field and what it's like.

* Attend professional meetings and industry or trade association conferences. The goal of these organizations is to support the development and advancement of people in that particular field or industry, they would likely be able to give you invaluable information or point you towards a mentor.

* Once you've narrowed down your job possibilities, assess your current skill set to see what experience you already have that could serve you well for that position and what skills you would need to develop. Is there a sizeable gap in your knowledge and skills? If so, you'll need to ask yourself, "would the time and money you'd need to invest be worth the investment to bridge these gaps?"

Using these multiple methods to assess your career potential will help you minimize risk and remain realistic about what it will take to make a smooth transition to your new career.

Take your New Career for a Test Drive

You've done your research and assessed your skills but how will you know for sure that your new career will be a good fit for you or not? The only way to know for sure is to actually do the job, which means it's time to put your new career choice to the test.

Look for part-time opportunities, job shadowing with a mentor, open internships or apprenticeships, or work as a contractor. These no-strings-attached jobs can provide the perfect opportunity to explore your target career, learning the industry standards and expectations, meeting people and trying out your specific skills and experience, without making a long term commitment. These experiments can be done before you've given up your current position. Once you found something that feels like a good fit, you can begin to move forward with your transition, with the peace of mind that you are making a choice that will serve you well. As you begin your transition, here are some things you can do to ensure your future success:

Lastly Re-brand yourself - Ageless

Part of your new career transition is reinventing yourself and consequently, who you are and what you do as a brand. To create a new professional identify or re-brand yourself and develop your reputation in a new industry or field you'll need to define what your new brand stands for and communicate these effectively through resumes, social networks like LinkedIn and business cards. Then develop a plan to market yourself. Taking the time to think this through before creating a resume or portfolio tailored for your new career will allow you to build credibility quickly in your new field.

Branding, Resume and Interview Tips

* Skip language that points to your age like "energetic," "youthful," "seasoned" or "veteran" and instead focus on your knowledge of current trends and state of the art developments in your industry.

* Limit your resume to one page or the last 15 years of applicable experience

* Focus on your results instead of the number of years of experience

* Skip graduation dates - they're irrelevant and show your age

* Highlight recent certifications, trainings or newly developed skills

* Downplay titles, especially those that showcase a senior management position and may end up disqualifying you for an entry level position in your new career.

* Be specific about your experience not in years but rather by using concrete numbers to speak about your accomplishments in company efficiency, growth or revenue.

* Highlight your flexibility and ability to adapt to changes and industry breakthroughs.

By using these strategies, you can ensure that your transition to a new career will be a successful one.

Copyright, Cecile Peterkin. All Rights Reserved.




Cecile Peterkin is a Certified Career Coach, Corporate Mentor! Claim your FR-EE Assessment and career guidance coaching session at her: career guidance website. Cecile also helps businesses leverage the mind-share of retiring Baby Boomers and senior managers, and transfer it to the next generation of leaders. Visit Cecile's site for FREE articles on workplace mentoring at http://www.ProMentoringinc.com or call 1-866-486-4112.




Monday, July 16, 2012

Career Planning After 50: Making Career Planning Work For You!


Almost everything we do starts with planning. Can you imagine a wedding, or building a house or going on an overseas vacation without planning? To achieve a high level of benefit and overall satisfaction all these and many other life events require a high level of meticulous planning.

It's clear to get the most out of an event a level of planning must be undertaken. The effect and risk of failure is what really drives the importance of planning.

Career planning is commonly thought of as working hard in your career and good things will happen: you'll get the promotion and the accompanying increase in earnings. This idea is only part of what a good career plan really is.

Moving ahead in your career also requires planning. It goes beyond a road map. Planning will highlight important mile posts along your career journey. And, importantly your plan will keep you on the right road without getting sidetracked from your overall career objectives.

The heart of a good plan is the method to oversee your career progress. A well designed plan for your career helps you understand you progress or lack of progress. It guides you in building your strengths, expanding your skills, monitors your abilities and watches over your unique talents.

Designing a well thought out plan will show you what career opportunities, both internal and external, are available. It will spotlight your chances of taking advantage of new jobs and new careers.

The keys to successful career planning are your proactive actions in building your skills and knowledge. If you have a gap in your skills or a new opportunity shows on the horizon your plan will give you the tools to build your skill set. In addition, your plan will point you toward added opportunities to systematically build your strengths and skills.

Any good plan has built-in methods to assess your progress toward your overall career goals. For example, if you find you need to add to your skills to update your abilities to work with new software or systems your career plan will have signposts to gauge your progress in completing the required training and experience. Of course as you observe new skill building opportunities, you must remain flexible and adjust your interim goals as appropriate.

Once you build your overall career goals into your career plan you can gauge your activities and training in a more objective and productive manner. Decisions regarding your career or a proposed career change will now be made based on a full range of objective evidence and not at some whim or snap decision.




For information and background in building a career plan to better prepare you for moving up in your current career or for a planned career change go to http://careersafter50.com. Learn the stories of others who build robust career plans changed careers and found the right job.




Plan a Successful Career Change After 50 - Key Questions to Ask!


There are as many reasons to consider a career change after 50 as there are careers. If you're over 50 now might be the right time to take a good look at your current career and your life situation.

Your working life and beyond is the longest personal project you'll be involved in. And no matter how hard we try the amount of time we have available in not infinite.

If you take the time after age 50 to review your accomplishments to date, whether your career plan is working for you and what you'll be doing in the future all are important first steps in a career change after 50.

Regardless of how you reached this point in your life; you lost your job, you were forced to change careers or you're thinking about doing making a career change voluntarily here are some questions to ask yourself.

Overall, are you personally pleased or displeased with things? Your career? Your employer? Your relationships? Your financial situation?

Additional questions to ask yourself: Are you doing things that please you and you get satisfaction on doing? Generally, are you in a place in your life that you wanted? What in your life would you change if you had a chance? (Please don't mention finding oil in your back yard. It's unlikely the government would let you pump it out.) What do you see for the rest of your life and career?

For many in considering the last question about viewing their future life and career they base their answer on what they've done in the past. If you only consider your past skills and abilities and create a future based on these experiences it's no wonder that many are mystified why their life and career does not change or seem much different.

Basically, to make meaningful change in your future career and life you have to consider another way. Your thinking has to move forward. If you start from where are you right now and go to "what would I like to be doing?" you've made the first step into the future.

Now in building your career and life plan you take your future dreams and use them to design and build your planned future. You now have created the life and career you want to be living. Don't you thing as you work the plan that you will be happier and more satisfied? You bet you will.

Unless you do this exercise, and go back to it frequently, any change in your career after 50, will just be more of the same. You'll be staring at the same results and it's no secret why nothing has changed even though you've changed careers.

Many spend much of their life waiting: waiting for the next promotion, waiting for things to get better, waiting for a relationship to improve, waiting for the working climate to get better but they never seem to get to the point where they can say things are better. Now may be the ideal time to do something about it.

You can't get where you want to be simply doing the same things over and over and even a bit differently. Even a career change after 50 may just be a career change-other things in your life may not change.

For example, if you are in a financial bind in your current career, you change careers with a greater salary and if you're still in financial trouble with the same stresses-what have you accomplished? Not much. The key is to overhaul and reexamine all aspects of your life. Do this and a career change after 50 will be more meaningful and closer to your overall life goals.

Bottom line: you need to re-examine how and what you think about yourself. The result will be you will live your life differently and combined with a career change to your dream career; your waiting will be over because things important to you have gotten better.




For more detailed information about career change after 50 go to http://careersafter50.com. Also, discover the stories of mid-life career changes that resulted in individuals finding their dream careers.




Sunday, July 15, 2012

Careers After 50: The Value of a Temp Job!


Careers after 50: developing appropriate experience to qualify for a planned career.

You've researched and studied a variety of proposed new careers. After speaking to others working in the field you've narrowed your list down to one or two possible new careers. However, you've found both require specific experience that you need to acquire.

Other qualifications for a new career after 50, for example, can be learned through self-study, distance learning, formal education and working with mentors. However, now you have the dilemma of getting the necessary experience to qualify for new career.

Let's suggest a way to put you in a position to successfully compete for job in the new changed career. You might want to consider working for a temp agency, to get some desired experience or to discover if the suggested career is right for you.

Ask around for referrals to the right temp agency. Some temp agencies are specialists only working with specific careers and industries.

Re-draft your resume to put your best foot forward depending on the career and job. For each career you might want to restrict only signing up with two or three temp agencies. As you progress and learn more about specific temp agencies you can adjust your focus so you are only working with the best agency relative to the planned career.

Make it a point to see the temp agency recruiter, have a face-to-face interview and learn all you can about their services. Don't forget this is a job interview and you want to show the recruiter how you would present yourself to a prospective employer.

Find out in advance if you are required to show specific technical skills at the temp interview and spend some time brushing up on the required skills prior to the interview.

Do some research regarding prospective wages you might expect. You'll probably be asked what wage range you would accept. Also, you should learn what possible benefits might be available.

Many times temp assignments can last six months or longer. Be sure to tell the temp agency the length of assignment you would accept.

If the temp job is in a career you wish to qualify for, you may leverage yourself into being offered a full- time position. Or you gain enough relevant experience to qualify for a full-time career with another employer.

Don't expect that you'll be immediately moved into a desired temp position. Continue to contact the temp agency, at least once a week, to let them know you're available for placement.

So the value to you using a temp agency in qualifying for a new career after 50 is: (1) Gaining required work experience, (2) Possibly being offered a job in the desired new career, (3) Bringing in some income while you prepare to change careers, or (4) Finding out the new career is not for you so you can research additional opportunities.




For information and background in building a career plan to better prepare you to making a career change or for moving up in your current career or finding the right job go to http://careersafter50.com. Learn the stories of others who build robust career plans changed careers after 50 and found the right job.




Career Change Ideas For Teachers After 50


Change careers on your own terms using outside the box career planning.

Career change at any age is scary. And after 50 changing careers can feel like walking a tight rope without a net.

Teachers, more and more, are looking at changing careers. School budgets are being cut, school administrators are failing to support the class room teacher, and parents that take the position their child is always right. All are negative factors that add a level of unnecessary stress to an already stressful job.

As a teacher you do not have to have an entrepreneurial outlook to make the career change after 50 but you need to put your research and planning skills to work to make the right move at the right time. The time to plan on changing careers after 50 is not when things have reached the breaking point but now when you can begin taking action exploring new ideas and new careers. Teachers have a variety of skill sets that give them a head start in many challenging and well paid careers.

First you need to analyze your strengths and interests and how they relate to a particular career. Use informational interviews to get a clearer picture on the experience requirements of the career, future prospects and where they are employed.

Let's say that after you do the required research you believe you would enjoy the challenges of working as a Human Resource (HR) Manager. (These ideas will work for almost any career including starting a business.)

In building your career plan for a career change you need to address several key points.

First, take a look at education required. You life experiences will translate well for many of the requirements. Look at local junior colleges for additional formal education. Also, the internet has many on line courses that will fill additional gaps. Self-study is a viable option. Finding a mentor that will guild you through the overall educational requirements can help you smooth over the rough spots.

Next is to study the work experience requirements. If the job you are shooting for requires five years of relevant experience, how do you demonstrate that you have the required experience?

There are several avenues you can take in building your career plan. Consider projects within the school district that relate to HR. Volunteer HR work done for a non-profit or your church or alumni and state teacher associations. HR work done during your summer vacation can also be credited toward the work experience requirements. Finally, all HR Manager positions require training and platform skills which you have in abundance.

Now comes the time to think outside to box. What can you do which will make your resume and experience stand out from others competing for the open HR position?

Start a Word Press blog. If you need help setting it up ask around you'll find someone to help you.

Use Google and find a number of blogs and forums that relate to various HR functions. Keep a record of the questions asked and subjects commented on. They will fall into several general groups.

Go to Google Keyword Tool and take HR related keywords and find those with the most monthly inquiries. Look at those keyword that get from 3000 to 10000 inquiries per month. Group the keywords by subject matter. Now you're ready to write some 400 or so word articles on the general subject. Naturally include the grouped keywords in your article.

Post the article on several article directories including the number one directory ezinearticles.com. In the resource box refer back to your blog and include a relevant anchor text link back to your blog. Post a summary of your article on your blog.

As you get more comfortable with the HR field, make comments on HR blogs with links back to your blog. Write and issue a press release when you open the blog. Try to find some way to write and issue a press release after you've written a number of articles on a particular HR related subject.

As you gain experience is there one subject that has wide appeal. For sake of discussion let's say it, "Focused employee training and the bottom line." Do you thing your local Chamber of Commerce at their next monthly meeting would be interested in you giving a 20 minute or so presentation on this subject? You bet they would. And after every speech, write a press release.

Do you see where we are going with this? You become an expert on the subject. You may appear on local TV and radio. All this will be reflected in your resume and cover letter. Your continued learning, writing and speaking will put you in contact with prospective employers.

This activity will more than substitute for years of HR required experience, and don't you think that's what the prospective employer wants? You bet it is and you've now made the career change after 50 on your own terms.




To learn more about career planning and career development go to http://careersafter50.com. Discover how eight after age 50 career changers build their career plans, worked the plan and found their planned career after 50.




Saturday, July 14, 2012

Career Planning After 50 - Spring Cleaning Ideas for Your Career Plan


Spring cleaning for your career plan here are 15 tips to get you started.

Career planning after 50 should not be a one time transaction, but rather career planning at any age, should be a lifelong process.

If you need to jumpstart you after 50 career planning, now is the time to start on spring cleaning out your career closet. Spend you time and effort now in building your career future-it will be time well spent.

Here are some actions you can start right now-get a head start on your spring cleaning:

1. Update your network. Make contact with everyone you haven't talked to in a while. If they have some career or job hunting issues offer to help.

2. Build an "atta-boy," file. Go back over the past year or more and start a file on performance reviews, thank-you letters, seminars and workshops attended, samples of work, projects managed, accomplishments and memo's outlining results. For the future keep the file up to date.

3. Draft a personal training and educational plan. What are your training needs? Books you need to read? Plan on reading at least two books a month-one about your career and another to stretch your knowledge. Other gaps in you skills that need to be filled?

4. Discover 10 or more people working in your career, or working in a proposed new career. Make arrangements to meet with them and share ideas. Add them to your career network and keep in touch.

5. Find 6 or more blogs or forums related to your career and industry. Visit them on a regular basis to stay up to date. Share the list with others in your career and ask for their favorites.

6. Review your overall systems and computer competencies with someone knowledgeable in IT. Make arrangements to add to your learning in this area. Get one related problem solved that has been vexing you.

7. Become more active in you local professional association. Add contacts to your network.

8. Volunteer you time in a cause or organization you admire. You'll realize a variety of rewards along with the chance to meet new people. Add contacts to your network.

9. Search for additional ways to add value to your job and department. Find ways to become more efficient and more responsive to both your internal and external customers.

10. Carefully analyze you own performance. Did you meet the goals you set for yourself last year? What went right and what went wrong? Plan to do better in the coming year.

11. Whenever possible look for opportunities to use a skill or interest working temporarily in another function or in a task that will give you the opportunity to work with another department or different group of people.

12. It's spring so give your wardrobe an updating. Look for sales and donate everything you haven't worn for-awhile.

13. Schedule a physical check-up. Get approval to start an exercise and diet program. Set your goals in short chunks and celebrate achieving each goal.

14. Build your coaching skills. Help a subordinate or co-worker advance their skills.

15. Draft your resume in a functional, chronological and targeted format. The exercise will help you respond to possible opportunities.

Now after your spring cleaning you've got your career planning after 50 back on track. With any plan it should not be ignored and put back in the closet. Put each action item in writing and work on your career plan every day.

You'll now be prepared for any and all after 50 career opportunities.




For information and background in building a career plan to better prepare you for moving up in your current career or for a planned career change go to http://careersafter50.com. Learn the stories of others who build robust career plans changed careers and found the right job.




Sunday, February 26, 2012

You Are Not Alone In Your After 50 Career Change!


You are not alone in your after 50 career change.

After 50 is becoming more the norm as more people this age are planning to change or changing careers. It wasn't too long age that it was more common for people to stay in the same career and perhaps the same job for close to their entire working life.

Moreover, there is the financial component to consider in the career changes. With Social Security becoming more unstable every day, with employers eliminating defined-benefit pension plans there is an increasing financial need to continued working. And with working longer there is added motivation to be doing something where there is increased satisfaction from the job and career.

Career change in the over 50 group is increasing. Some of the main reasons are the large numbers in the group, increased career opportunities, more careers being designed and created every day and the extended working careers as people are living longer.

With all this potential career change activity after age 50 there are a growing number of good career opportunities that, with the right career planning and positioning can lead to a more satisfying career. In a large number of situations the career changer after 50 can also get a long-term boost in income.

So as interests, skills, abilities and financial requirements evolve as people get older it is not difficult to understand why there is a growing number of over 50 career changers. In addition, many current retirees find that retirement is not all they thought so they plan on re-entering the workforce.

With less and less jobs requiring physical effort career opportunities for those over 50 is steadily increasing. Also, the explosion of the means and the vehicles of added learning is keeping pace with many of the career skill requirements.

Also, since learning is not longer limited to formal classroom type training the over 50 job changer has almost unlimited sources of adding to their skills and knowledge. Distance learning, self-study, seminars and workshops, tele-conferences, and career related conferences are just a few of the ways the older career changer can acquire the necessary skills and experience to qualify for a new career.

There is plethora of current job hunting resources that a few years age were not available, were too costly or were out of date shortly after they were printed. The internet has opened up career research, job sources, job hunting techniques and the important opportunities to network with like-minded career changers.

Further, many employers recognize the value of the over 50 worker and actively recruit them. The career changer after 50 has to be creative in how to communicate their transferable skills to the new career and demonstrate how they will bring value to the employer.

So even after 50, it's really never too late to learn new skills and go after a dream job in a new career. If not financially rewarding the personal rewards are too great to pass up.




For information and background in building career plan after 50 to better prepare you for moving up in your current career or for a planned career change go to http://careersafter50.com. Learn the stories of others who build robust career plans and made a career change after 50, and found the right job.




Thursday, February 23, 2012

Career Change After 50 - Risks and Rewards!


There have been literally dozens of surveys that report more that 50% or more of professionals over 50 are not completely satisfied with their current job or career.

If you are dreaming of a career change now may be the time to assess the overall risks of a career change after 50.

If you have lost your job or find that your career is a dead end a career change may be a matter of survival. For others a career change after 50 may be a ticket to realizing dreams, finding challenges and achieving long held ambitions. Whatever your reason to consider a career change, without the proper planning and analysis it can be a scary journey.

Everywhere you read the first step is to determine your reason for changing careers. This is not as easy as it sounds. If you are bored with work, what if anything, have you done to find new challenges, and new ways of doing things, it's far less risky taking this route than to jump to a new career.

If a bad boss is the cause of your dissatisfaction perhaps a new employer or a transfer within your current employer will resolve the problem.

After you've analyzed all the aspects of your current position you make the decision to make the career change. Now the risk/reward analysis is very important. Planning the career move is the key to overall success.

The use of informational interviews can be a help assisting you in exploring the proposed new career. Through alumni groups, relevant career associations and LinkedIn you can find a dozen or so individuals working in the proposed career. In a short 10-15 telephone interview with most of those on your list you can find out a great deal about the career: qualifications, education, future prospects, possible employers and industries, salaries, and referrals to others who can help you

While in your current position, you can acquire needed education (formal, self-study and internet learning) to qualify for your new career. The risk is that you leave your current position before qualifying for the new career.

Starting your own business is also an option. Here an in-depth risk reward analysis is vital. Don't do what one individual did, when buying a carpet cleaning franchise, to later learn even though there were plenty of homes in his franchise area, it was a vacation retirement area, most floors were tile, many of the homeowners were older and recently two carpet stores went out of business. Needless to say, after two years of great effort he went out of business.

Central to your career change planning is to first make a list of the risks associated with your proposed career change plan. Now in looking at the risks rank them according to them happening. Then you plan how you can avoid each risk and a Plan B in case the risk materializes.

For example, if there is a risk that it will take a longer period of time to find the desired career, do you have the financial resources to pull you through and would perhaps a part-time job be warranted.

In the event you are still exploring the possibility of a new career and have not set on one particular career, you should continue to work your career plan. Join associations, ask questions, go to workshops and seminars, visit prospective industry trade shows, read relevant career and industry periodicals and research the internet.

All of this effort will pay off. As you acquire more knowledge and information on the new career you will ultimately make a better decision and reduce the overall risks of changing careers.




Career planning after 50 is a step-by-step process. Learn more on how you can put together a winning career plan, go to http://careersafter50.com. Discover how others have moved from a long held career to a new exciting career after 50.




Career Change After 50 - Temp Jobs May Be the Answer!


Career change after 50; temp jobs may be the answer to learn more about the proposed career, get valuable job related experience and perhaps get a job offer. If you are over 50 and thinking about changing careers one viable strategy is to start with a temp job in the desired career field.

There are a number of reasons why this approach may be a valuable addition to your career change planning. You get to quickly learn inside information about the career and the industry. You earn some money while completing other qualifications for the new career. And most important it allows you to test drive the career prior to making the final commitment.

So if you are planning a career change after 50 here are some ideas to get you started taking a giant step toward your proposed new career.

The first step is to source a temp firm that will allow you to break into your new career. A temp firm that specializes in applicable placements should be your first step. Further they will usually concentrate in one industry. A general temp agency will place workers in a variety of industries, while the specialist firm will only focus on one industry.

Each type of temp firm has its advantages but the specialist in either industry or type of position will usually get you started closer to your desired career.

As you go through the hiring process with a temp agency, remember the temp agency works for the employer. They need to keep their customer happy. They have their reputation to protect; they are looking for more clients through referrals and generating placement fees if you are hired by the client employer. To stay in business and to grow the temp agency's goal is to consistently place the best candidates with the client employer.

In your research concerning the desired career analyze where your transferable skills will be needed and valuable in the temp job. This is what to emphasize with the temp firm and your placement officer. If some educational requirements are desired in the new career, get to work on self-study, mentoring from your network, and possible take applicable formal training through workshops and seminars.

Learn as much as possible about the potential temp job. Now work hard to position your skills and experience to make you the best candidate as possible.

When you get your temp job and placed with an employer remember why you are there. You are being placed in a particular position to do a specific job. Do this job every day to the best of your ability. Have a positive attitude; keep your eyes and ears open. You are not there to be promoted or to boast about past accomplishments but to learn.

To get the most of the experience you need to learn about the job and career. Study the industry and the inner workings of the employer. Ask what you need to do to become better in the job and career.

If there are specific events, like trade shows or seminars and workshops that will expand you career experience now is the time to learn about them.

Add your co-workers and your boss to you network for future potential help in finding the right job in your new career. They can answer questions, provide recommendations and introduce you to others in the industry. All will assist you in changing careers after 50.




Changing careers after 50, and really any age, can be a struggle. However by following a series of steps you can smooth out some to the rough spots and get closer to your desired new career. Go to http://careersafter50.com for help to get you started in your career discovery. Read how others just like you found their new careers after 50 through effective career planning.




Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Careers After 50 - Jump Start Your Career Plan!


Get ahead of the competition and prepare yourself for your career change opportunity.

In you career after 50 career plan how is your plan doing? Has the slowdown in the economy put your career plan on hold? Have things changed in your career that doors to opportunities have closed?

Now may be the time to jump-start your after 50 career plan. If you get to the point that you change careers you'll be ready to make the move on your terms and not have to accept second best because you lack some critical training or experience.

Here are four key ideas to jump-start your current career plan or keep your current career plan on track:

1. Get and Stay Current on Cutting Edge Skills: Education and learning can take many forms. From listening to the latest book of leadership on your commute to attending seminars and workshops-all are important to stay on the cutting edge.

Perhaps it is learning a new software application from a skilled IT friend or co-worker or attending a program sponsored by a career related group. Sometimes it's taking an evening or weekend class at a local college. It's all important to building your career plan and working toward your career change goals.

2. Achievements Count: Are you keeping a record of your achievements? Perhaps a letter of thanks from a customer or the head of another department or a written thank you from the chairman on the results of project you headed; all are important.

This file will be the bones of any resume you may write. Accomplishments count in any career move. This is what the prospective employer is looking for. Be prepared to be up the challenge.

3. Networking is the Juice to Jump Starting Your Career Plan: Don't overlook the value of networking. Whenever possible help others in their job searches.

Join a career related group or association. Help out on committees and other assignments. Keep a record of who you meet, and keep in touch. Join Linkedin and other social networking sites. They can be valuable in hooking up with like-minded individuals and in your ongoing career research.

4. Build Career Related Experience: In any career change work related experience can be a qualifying factor. However, if you have a full-time job in another career how do you build up this required experience?

First, it could be related work you do as a volunteer for a non-profit or career related association. Perhaps, it could be part-time work or work you contract for through contacts in your network. Or maybe you transition to an entry-level position in your chosen new career with an accelerated career path.

Another method others have used for good effect is to add to their education, as mentioned previously, to beef up their resume and qualify for the new position.

Use these four ideas to move ahead of your competition. While they keep their heads down and hope the roof won't fall in on them, you'll be looking to the future. Your skills will be increasing, your network of possible help will be expanding, your accomplishments will be listed and growing and you'll be moving to building the required levels of newly related experience-overall a winning combination.




Career planning after 50 can be a productive positive effort. Discover more about getting started or updating your current career plan at http://careersafter50.com. Additional gems on the site are the stories of others just like you who acted on their dreams and built after 50 career plans that resulted in them finding their dream careers.




Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Careers After 50 - Valuable Tips to Manage Your Career Now!


Four valuable tips to manage your career now to make you more valuable to your current employer, prepare you for another job or build you career foundation for a planned career change.

Careers after 50: it's never too late to maximize your career opportunities. With cutbacks all around us, outsourcing and tight budgets, even layoffs, it's vital you get the most out of your job and maximize your career while you're still employed.

Take a close look at your current benefits. Are you maxing out your 401k? If not, get it done. How about the medical plan? If you have elective surgery planned, now is the time to get the knee fixed. Have a dental plan? Get to the dentist. Have tuition reimbursement? Build up your career related skills. Is there a valuable seminar or workshop you should be attending? Get it on your schedule.

Beyond the company benefits the real advantages to your career are not found in the employer benefit programs. By building on your training and experience you can better manage your career by acquire new training and skills that will add to your abilities in your current career and could qualify you to additional career opportunities.

Here are four tips to improve your current value to your company and boost your worth for an internal promotion or add to your attractiveness by managing your career and if you are in the market for a different position or a career change after 50.

Build Your Achievement File: Go back over your time with your current employer and list all your responsibilities and achievements. Quantify every accomplishment. List any promotions and how your achievements led to the move up the ladder.

List the time, content and what you learned in all training completed. It can be an in house training on a new system or software program up to a credit course at a local college to distance learning on the internet.

Here's where many career builders drop the ball. Keep a record of all thank-you comments both internal and external, handwritten complimentary notes from the CEO or your boss on a project or exceptional action that you did, positive notes from employees and other department heads all should be in your "atta-boy" file.

This means you can look back over your career development and management and if necessary draft a current resume without missing something important.

Look For Chances to Grow and Shine: Look for ways to do things better. Initiate actions to solve a problem, reduce costs, improve customer service or increase sales. Volunteer to work on projects, improve your team work building skills to be the go to person when your boss needs something done.

Build your career skills in areas you may be weak, like public speaking. Maybe a toastmaster's membership will help. Don't miss an opportunity to represent your employer to outside groups and customers.

Add to Your Education: Career education is not restricted to formal education or something that only directly relates to your career. It could range from in-house training on functions outside of your career, systems and software, seminars and workshops, self-study and a career planning reading program.

In building your career; as you learn new skills and more about other functions of your employer you spotlight you teamwork skills and highlight your professional career development. All are valuable in maximizing your position within the company.

Network Building is an Under-Used Career Benefit: Building and managing your career skills that many do not take advantage of is working with your network of contacts. Working with coworkers in your career field, mentoring as appropriate, coaching, and learning are but a few of the advantages to you as you make use of your network contacts.

Your network should include friends and previous coworkers, college contacts and customers of your employer. Making and fostering new contacts should be an integral part of your career building program.

Also, don't overlook networking opportunities to work with individuals in other departments on company charities and other company related activities. It will just be added chances to assist others and build your network.

These four tips on building your current career will not only improve your position with your current employer but will develop other skills that could be valuable if you elect to change careers or need to move to another employer. Taking advantage of the opportunities all around you is just good for your personal development and good for managing your career.




For information and background in building a career plan to better prepare you for moving up in your current career or for a planned career change go to http://careersafter50.com. Learn the stories of others who build robust career plans and found better ways to achieve career management after 50, and found the right job.




Monday, January 2, 2012

ArabicNews.com resumes operation after more than one year of silence

background blue line Wednesday 28th December, 2011

ArabicNews.com resumes operation after more than one year of silence   
     Tuesday 27th December, 2011  Source: Arabic News

ArabicNews.com resumes operation after more than one year of silence Regional, Notice to readers, 8/23/2011 After a news publishing stoppage lasting more than one year, ArabicNews.com is making an effort to resume publishing.
We hope this will be beneficial to us and the public good. During this short stoppage period, a lot of events have ta...
UK foreign policy in 2012 is likely to see an extension of that of the last decade, the most capastrophic since the 1930s. Britian is eyeing Burma, Syria, Somalia, and Iran.

Breaking News
Wednesday 28th December, 2011

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Friday, December 30, 2011

How To Make a Career Change After Age 50!


Make your career change after age 50 happen with the right career change strategies.

Every day individuals over age 50 are making successful career changes. So what you thought might be impossible, could be a relatively easy transition. The critical factor to get right is a well thought out and researched career plan. This will make the career change, quicker and as smooth as possible. We are all living longer so a midlife career change could result in working in a new career 20 years or longer. It could be a much easier journey if you were working in a career that you enjoyed and were challenged by the every day activities of the job.

The fastest growing job hunting group are the candidates over age 50. The smart employers have learned they benefit greatly by hiring reliable, hard-working and experienced people beyond age 50. So although the present employment climate is not the best, mid-career candidates have a range of advantages over the younger candidate. If you carefully analyze your skills you'll find many are transferable to other unrelated careers. Leadership, project management, team building, communication, skills in operating computer related systems and software, budgeting, marketing and customer service are just some of the transferable skills that you will find are desirable qualifications in changing to another career.

Take a careful look at your interests. What do you enjoy doing and not doing? If you say you'd enjoy working under a palm tree on the beach at Trunk Bay in the Virgin Islands, with the right career change planning, you can make it happen. Review the challenges you resolved in all of your jobs, obstacles overcome and the results achieved. From these and other similar questions, and a self-assessment of your strengths and weaknesses you are now prepared to research careers that would fit your interests, skills and qualifications.

Remember as you research possible careers throw as wide a net as possible. What you thought originally as a possible good fit will turn out not to have much of a future and another suggested career may easily fit into your transferable skill sets and interests. In your career change research, you'll discover the possibility of added training. How long will it take to acquire the required training and skills? What are the possible costs? The short and long-term outlooks for the career are also important considerations. Will you have to relocate? Perhaps self-employment is a possibility. All this information will have to be assessed and reviewed before you begin your career change job search.

On occasion, you'll find to qualify for a complete career change you have to successfully move through several career path related steps. You will have to work, for example, in an almost entry-level position, earn your strips and then perhaps qualify for a job with a larger employer with more career related opportunities. When you've focused on a new career after age 50 now will be the time to put your years of experience to work. Build a job search plan, include your network of contacts, and continue to build your network to uncover hidden job opportunities. Read and study how to write the best resume and cover letters pertaining to career change.

Study and practice your-interviewing skills. See a medical professional and start a diet and exercise program, it will do wonders for your self-confidence. This renewed self-confidence will show through in everything you do in your job hunt. Ask for help in any area where you think you may be stuck. This is where your network and a mentor can be invaluable.

Keep an upbeat and positive attitude. One method to do this is to read books and listen to CD's on motivation. If you are unemployed plan to work a full day every day in your career change job search. If you are still working keep your job hunt out of the workplace.

You have a toolbox full of marketable skills, you are dependable, have a long list of achievements, and have a passion to do a great job in the new career. Your successful career change after age 50 is just around the corner.




John Groth has changed careers seven times during his working life. Learn more about changing careers and career planning at http://careersafter50.com. Discover how others over age 50, built winning career plans, changed careers and found the right careers by career planning after 50.




Career Planning After 50 - A Proper Foundation Is The Key!


A proper foundation is the key to both career and financial success.

Career planning after 50 is one of the key activities you can engage in to set the foundation for your future success. A well planned foundation that will build future success; growing your career, changing careers or just finding that second job after retirement is an important component to your overall plan.

Wishing to qualify for that second job after retirement, for example, may require years of planning, preparation and skill building, getting to know and help the right people and a full measure of financial planning.

Planning for a career after 50 is not a one time event. As your interests and obligations chance the process also changes and will mean you will be redefining your overall career objectives, updating your financial plans and exploring new directions.

Regardless of where your are, and whatever your age, the building of a robust career and life plan follows a linear path from selecting a career, finding the right job in the career and then developing your ability to find satisfaction in your selection and growing and progressing in the job.

After age 50 career planning can present you with special problems. It's not like you were starting out with a clean slate. You have learned there are certain circumstances in the work place that you are uncomfortable with and want to avoid. You have developed interests both on the job and outside of work that will help you develop you career plan foundation.

Just like building a house, get the career planning after 50 foundation right and it will dictate the size and scope of the structure.

The basis for your career foundation is research. You've been working for-awhile what careers peak you interest? Why? Which careers would you not want to work in? Again why? Talk to others working in the desired career. Find their names by using LinkedIn, friends or a related local or national career association.

Make use of the internet, search for information on the desired career. Who employs people working in the career? Find out all you can about the possible employers. What are the salary ranges? What is the overall career path?

Now how do your qualifications and experience match up with the desired career? Do you need additional training? What is the fastest and cheapest way to get qualified?

You have transferable skills from you present career to your new job. What are they and how would you showcase these skills to qualify for the new career.

After examining your transferable skills what specific experience do you seem to be lacking to qualify for the new position? What is the best and quickest way to qualify? Part-time work, temp assignments, working after hours for a non-profit or career related association; are all methods to get the desired experience.

Even if you are happy with your current position, it's a good exercise to go through this process at least annually. It will help keep you grounded and alert for possible opportunities. Moreover, career planning is just not exploring career possibilities or career changes but building on your current strengths and skills to make you more valuable to yourself and your current employer.

If you discover in building your career foundation that a career change is warranted, take a deep breath, and carefully plan your job hunt. You have some learning to do, research to complete before you can mount a well planned job hunting effort.

In any job hunt what may look simple becomes difficult, what should be done in days takes weeks, people don't call you back, you get rejected in a job that you are completely qualified for, people make promises and routinely break them, and so it goes. Although a job hunt takes time, you have the advantage of a well planned effort, a realistic level of patience and the knowledge that a daily focused effort will produce desired results.

Stick to your career plan. Keep up the training and learning. Work your network, help others. Fine tune your financial planning. Reduce your debts. All are designed to keep you on track to build the proper positive attitude and guide you to your career objective.




Discover up to date career planning ideas and tips at http://careersafter50.com. You'll find informative articles on career planning and job hunting along with stories of individuals just like you who successfully made after 50 career changes.




Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Trade with Bangladesh resume after week long rudder

background blue lineSunday 25 December, 2011

Trade with Bangladesh resume after week long rudder  
Saturday 24 December, 2011 Source: times of India

Bangladesh resumed on Saturday after the end of a week-long shutdown, called by Indian exporters and importers demanding upgradation of infrastructure along the border, officials said here.
"After the withdrawal of the helm, the normal export-import business between India and Bangladesh through the Akhaurah country customs station (LCS) has resumed S ...
This year a number of cases including al-Qaeda leaders feared have leader Osama bin Laden, North Korea's "Dear Leader" Kim Jong Il, Tunisia's Zine el-Abidine ben Ali, Egyptian Hosni Mubarak and Libya Muammar Gaddafi. The big question is now, so what?

Breaking News
Sunday 25 December, 2011

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Where is Apple headed after Steve Jobs Apple CEO offers his vision.

background blue line Wednesday 28th December, 2011

Where is Apple headed after Steve Jobs? Apple CEO offers his vision.   
     Tuesday 27th December, 2011  Source: Axcess News

(AXcess News) - A drop in iPhone sales pushed revenues for Apple down slightly during the past three months, with many customers presumably waiting to buy the new iPhone4S, which the company launched last Friday.
But CEO Tim Cook laid out his vision for where Apple is headed in his first conference call with reporters since the death of company fo...
UK foreign policy in 2012 is likely to see an extension of that of the last decade, the most capastrophic since the 1930s. Britian is eyeing Burma, Syria, Somalia, and Iran.

Breaking News
Wednesday 28th December, 2011

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Whether it be a new product launch, announcing a community event, promoting a Web site, or advertising your business, then our Network Flyers service is for you.
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Monday, December 26, 2011

Career Change After 50 - Reenergize Your Career!


Career change after 50-now may be the time to reenergize your career and work to developing an after 50 career plan. After all it's your future.

You see a neighbor getting laid off from a job he held for over 20 years, a relative just got their hours cut, your teenage son can't seem to find a part-time job as the openings are being gobbled up by job applicants 10-20 and sometimes 30 years older.

Your boss seems to be giving you more work and you need to get it done with fewer people and fewer resources.

Career change after 50 is not a viable option, although a few years ago in a better job market you may have moved to a different job. You do have a job but you've got the blues and are not happy about your current situation. What to do?

Reenergizing your career will wash away the blues. Developing and building and working on a career plan after 50 will allow you to see a brighter future. Reenergizing is building zest and purpose into your career and not being pulled down by outside elements. Manage what you can control and minimize the influence of outside factors.

Here are four central ideas to get your career back on track, reenergize your outlook and perhaps build a plan for a possible future career change:

1.Attitude and Acceptance is Everything: Staying positive in a down environment is difficult but doable. Plan to be reading motivational books or listen to them on tape in your daily compute. Reduce or eliminate your contacts with individuals who always see the glass as half empty. Make it a habit to hang out with positive and upbeat individuals.

Accept your current situation, it may not be ideal, but it is what it is. It is giving you the resources to plan ahead for a better future. Look and accept the positive aspects of your career and present job. Remind yourself of these facts everyday-it may not be the best-but it is far from the worst.

2. Develop your Career Plan Now: It's been said that most people spend more time planning their vacation than building and planning for their future. By your future we mean your future career. Staying with your current career or a future career change, you career plan should work for either destination.

There are countless books and articles written about building a robust career plan. In summary you need to think about your future, what addition learning do I need, what books do I need to read and study over the next year-five years, what organizations should I belong to and contribute my time, are my networking skills up to speed and if not how to I learn the skills, are there technical skills I need to learn and how do I get it done, teamwork skills, project management skills, leadership abilities, and workshops and seminars to attend to build for my future.

You'll find more things to add to your career plan, but it is something you work on every single day, keep it flexible as your learning increases and you discover new avenues to explore.

As you work your career plan and move through your written to do list your confidence will increase, you'll be able to work more efficiently at your current job which should further increase your abilities and confidence.

3. Always Do Your Best: Are you proud of your work effort, every day? If not, now is the time to change. It's up to you. At the end of every day if you can say you did a great job today, the positive aspects of this conclusion should give you a great deal of pleasure, and as you recognize this, the job will get easier.

Organize your job to make it more efficient. Set written job related goals, daily, weekly and monthly. Think about putting the achievement in your resume, not just one but a whole host of accomplishments. You'll find in doing this that you will grow personally and your career will grow and expand.

Doing your best every day, looking for and resolving challenges, will lighten the load on the current career but it will give you future career options.

4. Reenergize Your Career Now Because It Is Your Future: You'll get closer to your future by taking action. Are you going to float along with the stream ending up in some backwater going no where, or shooting along over some fatal waterfall? It's up to you.

What do you want to happen with your career? It doesn't have to happen overnight-good things don't usually happen that way-but a slow and steady growth of you abilities, experience and knowledge. This daily effort will energize your current job and career and build your qualifications for that future career-when you're ready to change careers to your dream job.

When the planned opportunity is revealed you'll be ready to step through the door with your career bags packed.




To learn more about career planning and career change go to http://careersafter50.com. Discover how others moved from a deadend career, were unemployed or were just in a job that not longer excited them.
You'll find their inspiring career change after 50 stories on this site.