Over the past two years, Brett and I have talked to many individuals who have moved from one career to another – pursuing their “encore opportunity”. Today I am putting Brett in the “hot seat” as he has also successfully moved into a new career. Brett moved from a long career in radio broadcasting and sales to open his own company, Circle270Media Podcast Consultants, as an expert in podcasting helping many organizations throughout Central Ohio utilize this great new media method and technology!

Were there accomplishments you reached over the years that would eventually help you in this career change?

You brought strong transferable skills to your new company – can you discuss your evaluation of such skills and how you utilized that knowledge in your discussions with new clients?

Were there opportunities you pursued that supported your career move?

Adults 50+ have a variety of reasons for changing employment. Starting a business takes an even larger jump – whether it is for career fulfillment, or financial needs. However, there are many barriers in creating a company. As an older Gen X, did you ever feel age was an issue? What were the other challenges you faced?

Do you see self-employment for older adults as an important part of our economic growth? Do you see the creation of your company as an important step for your family, community, and even your career colleagues?

We are always interested in clients’ educational background and the types of training or “life-long learning” they may have pursued over the years. Tell us about yours and is there some topic/class/workshop/conference/program which made a significant difference in your career path?

Circle270Media provides a wide array of services to clients including content marketing, content creation, audio production/recording and broadcasting. Would you give our audience an overview of your work and how you assist clients in their efforts to utilize this new technology?

What are the top 3-4 steps you feel our listeners can utilize should they be considering a career change that takes them into self-employment? What should they consider as they venture into a new career journey?

The Successful Encore Career is a service of Employment For Seniors and sponsored by Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, Nationwide Insurance, RiseSmart, Thompson Hine, and Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

This podcast is free to you and available on your favorite podcast player. If you have benefited from this podcast and would like to help us defray costs involved in producing the podcast, we welcome your support. Click here to donate via our safe and secure PayPal account. 

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or SubscribeOnAndroid.

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If you liked this episode, please leave us a rating and a review in iTunes.  Click here to learn how! 

On Friday, February 7, from 9:30am - 12:00pm, Employment For Seniors is hosting local representatives from the 2020 Census to discuss the many available job opportunities and to answer your questions about working for the Census.

• The Bureau has various positions ranging from office clerks, field enumerators, and supervisory positions.

• The hourly rate is based on the position and ranges from $14.50/hr to $20.00/hr.

• All of the positions are temporary and last several weeks.

• It is ideal for applicants seeking extra income, applicants looking for work for a limited time period, retired people on Social Security, military retirees, people seeking to work from their homes, and the unemployed.

• This informational event is focused on job-seekers who are 50+, but anyone interested is welcome to attend!

• This is your chance to play a part in history and help ensure everyone in your community is counted.

• This 2020 Census jobs information event is being held at the Employment For Seniors office in Whitehall, at 4300 E. Broad St.

• IMPORTANT: To attend this event, you must call and register for a specific time slot. Each session will last no more than 20 minutes. Spaces are limited, so call 614-863-1219 immediately to reserve your spot!

Let’s move our job search into the new year (and out of the last century), successfully. We are going to “clear our old fuzziness to a 20-20 vision”, by reviewing the critical steps to make a job search successful! Our goal is to help mature job seekers become the best candidate they can be!

Do your research

As you begin a job search, it really is important to “do your research”. Often clients have a dazed look when I talk about “research” – but it is no more difficult than making a restaurant reservation online! You can find a job without doing research – but the result is often working for a company that does not match your vision. Or you are in a position that is not a good fit for you. Doing research may eliminate those mistakes and save you valuable time as opposed to being out in the job market searching again.

• Check out the company website for hints on their “culture”, benefits, ratings on sites like the BBB, etc.
• Be sure to completely understand the position description – read it thoroughly and compare it to similar jobs in other companies.
• Check a salary site – know the range of salary the position carries in your community and have a firm understanding of your own financial needs – if the job pays less than your expectations, what are you willing to accept?
• And, find people who know people! Get your network moving and discover the connections you have to the company. LinkedIn is a the first step.

Update your skills

Podcast on lifelong learning

Podcast on Volunteer Week

• An employer needs someone who can do the job Day One! You not only have to show you have the skills/experience for the position, but you need to be prepared to use those skills.
• There are many ways to update/increase skills. The Columbus Metropolitan Library has a full array of workshops, plus the opportunity to utilize the Lynda.com (that is Lynda with a y) free through your library card. The EFS website has a link to this great resource.
• Volunteering is a great way to update skills, while you are giving back to your community. You can learn new skills, close the gaps on your resume, and strengthen your network by providing some of your time to a local nonprofit.
• And there are educational programs throughout Central Ohio, such as Program 60 at Ohio State, that allow those 60 and over in an academic course, however, you are not earning credit – so learn something without taking the tests!
• If you are outside of Central Ohio, check into your local community college, local library and any agencies that provide employment training – programs are often at low or no cost.
• Check out podcasts on our site for valuable information on volunteering and on utilizing the educational programs in our community. 

Resumes, online apps, cover letters – application materials must be perfect 

• You can only make a great first impression once! If your resume or cover letter have typos – if your online application is not complete – or your emails are full of acronyms or jargon – your chance for a great first impression are lost!
• Utilize local resources to assist in the development of your resume and other materials. Even if you feel you are an expert on resumes – another set of eyes will see mistakes that you do not see. You always want to be sure you are using “t-h-e-r-e” and not “t-h-e-i-r”!
• There are also professional career coaches and resume writers that can be incredibly helpful in not only helping on your application materials, but guiding you along the path of your career journey.



Practice-practice-practice your interviewing skills

Podcast on interviewing

• ALWAYS focus on your work story – interviews are not to discuss your family, hobbies, political opinions.
• Just like application materials need to be perfect, your interviewing skills must be at the top of your game. Often mature job seekers have not been interviewed for years and not aware of the issues in today’s hiring process. Be sure you have practiced with someone who can provide you with constructive direction. Let’s get rid of all of those “little habits” that can annoy a recruiter!
• Be sure you’ve not only read through the position description, but also created “work stories” – examples of your accomplishments in previous jobs that can be used in the new position.
• Be prepared for the interview – professional clothing but comfortable; have copies of your resume, list of questions to ask the interviewer, as well as a list of references; do a dry run to the interview location to be sure you are not going to get lost; and arrive early – but not too early and never late.

Networking for life

• Over one-half of the positions available are never posted! The only way to find those positions is through networking. Networking is an extension of your research gathering – a strong network will provide you with information on positions and employers.
• Building a strong network is a life-long journey – it is not just engaged to help you find a job today. And it does not matter how many network contacts you have but more importantly those contacts are able to and willing to provide you information.
• To be a great networker, you must also be a great listener. And networking is a “two-way” street – if you are interacting with a network contact, be prepared for them to ask you for information or assistance in return.
• Be respectful of your networking connections, value their time and assistance. And do not forget to follow-up with your connections, particularly when you have found employment.

Know your transferable skills and the value you bring to an employer

Podcast on Transferable skills

• Your transferable skills were learned/honed in previous jobs and you can utilize those skills in a new position.
• Understanding your transferable skills; when you are able to clearly describe them to an employer your candidacy will be much stronger
• Identifying transferable skills in relation to the position description of the new position provide the interviewer with a clearer picture of how you can meet their needs. Your job interview will be enhanced with strong statements of your previous accomplishments.
• Once you have identified those transferable skills, be sure to use them in your resume and cover letter, as well as in the interviewing process

Conduct a proactive job search along with a reactive search

• Many job seekers merely respond to jobs posted on various websites. We are reacting to what is sent to us.
• But while you respond to postings, it would be helpful to also conduct a proactive search – go after the companies of interest to you. After you have a good view of your transferable skills, begin a search on the companies known to be great employers in your community. Or those whose culture you value. Or employers with a mission/industry that match what you want to do.
• Your network is critical in a proactive job search; it may be the only way to find great employers.
• You can also utilize “informational interviews” to gain more information on an employer, on specific job types, or an industry in general.
• It has been found that job seekers who are searching for great employers, not just posted jobs, have a greater rate of success in finding a job as well as a greater rate of job satisfaction over time.

Control your job search, do not bend to “isms”

• We are often faced with “isms” in our job search. Whether it is ageism, or another form of discrimination, but prepared. You always want to control your job search, including your reaction to a situation that has turned away from your great skills, to an “ism”.
• Know your own worth – you have been successful in previous jobs and there is no reason that your age or other “ism” should keep you away from continued success.

The Successful Encore Career is a service of Employment For Seniors and sponsored by Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, Nationwide Insurance, RiseSmart, Thompson Hine, and Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

This podcast is free to you and available on your favorite podcast player. If you have benefited from this podcast and would like to help us defray costs involved in producing the podcast, we welcome your support. Click here to donate via our safe and secure PayPal account. 

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or SubscribeOnAndroid.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! We'd love it if you could please share this podcast with your social media friends!

If you liked this episode, please leave us a rating and a review in iTunes.  Click here to learn how! 

There are many reasons and situations when employment is halted. Mat Parker, Partner at Fisher Phillips, is our guest to discuss the issues employers face in recruitment/hiring/retention practices and policies.

Although employers are often forced to reduce labor through downsizing, terminations, lay-offs, what are some of the common mistakes employers make which could be prevented during these difficult times?

Are there more common “claims” of discrimination that you have noticed in your practice? And do situations come up in a variety of companies, or is it more dependent upon size of the employers or type of industry?

Does the size of the reduction in force create other factors or situations that an employer should beware of?

Are there tips for our employers on common strategies to follow in hiring procedures/practices? How does an employer ensure their review of candidates, whether they are the “most qualified” and/or the “best candidate”, reflect a thorough assessment of the individuals?

We often provide our clients with tips on how to not “age” their job search. We encourage them to practice their interviewing skills, be sure their resume is focused on today’s workplace needs, and to utilize resources/services like Employment for Seniors. Are there other tips you would encourage job applicants to consider?

When an employer calls to post a job with EFS, knowing our clients are mature job seekers, the employer is committed to widening the pool of applicants and finding those with strong experience. Many of our listeners are not in Central Ohio. Could you give the audience some tips on how to manage a strong recruitment/retention programs, such as where and how should they be posting jobs to ensure a diverse pool? And what costs are incurred when an employer is not cognizant of age issues?

Have you found situations where employers have created accommodations to assist their older workers – whether they need to have additional training in updating skills, or they are moving toward semi or full retirement? [e.g., flex or part time scheduling, changing job tasks or upskilling workers to meet the current needs]

The Successful Encore Career is a service of Employment For Seniors and sponsored by Central Ohio Area Agency on Aging, Nationwide Insurance, RiseSmart, Thompson Hine, and Circle270Media Podcast Consultants.

This podcast is free to you and available on your favorite podcast player. If you have benefited from this podcast and would like to help us defray costs involved in producing the podcast, we welcome your support. Click here to donate via our safe and secure PayPal account. 

Subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or SubscribeOnAndroid.

HELP US SPREAD THE WORD! We'd love it if you could please share this podcast with your social media friends!

If you liked this episode, please leave us a rating and a review in iTunes.  Click here to learn how! 

On Friday, December 6, from 9:30am - 12:00pm, Employment For Seniors is hosting local representatives from the 2020 Census to discuss the many available job opportunities and to answer your questions about working for the Census.

• The Bureau has various positions ranging from office clerks, field enumerators, and supervisory positions.

• The hourly rate is based on the position and ranges from $14.50/hr to $20.00/hr.

• All of the positions are temporary and last several weeks.

• It is ideal for applicants seeking extra income, applicants looking for work for a limited time period, retired people on Social Security, military retirees, people seeking to work from their homes, and the unemployed.

• This informational event is focused on job-seekers who are 50+, but anyone interested is welcome to attend!

• This is your chance to play a part in history and help ensure everyone in your community is counted.

• This 2020 Census jobs information event is being held at the Employment For Seniors office in Whitehall, at 4300 E. Broad St.

• IMPORTANT: To attend this event, you must call and register for a specific time slot. Each session will last no more than 20 minutes. Spaces are limited, so call 614-863-1219 immediately to reserve your spot!