So you’ve found yourself downsized and let go from your company. You are treating your job search as your full time job and now have some free time when you are not focused on the job search. After all, now you do not have the commute time and all those additional hours you were putting in.

You’re used to getting up in the morning and going somewhere all day. In addition to looking for a permanent job and networking, there are a number of productive ways to invest your time during this period of transition.

Here are the first 5 tips for taking advantage of this time of transition.

Tip #1: Make sure your finances in order. You may not find this fun, but it can be great stress relief to figure out how much money is coming in from all sources (any severance, unemployment, any income from interest-bearing investments, etc.), how much is going out, what assets you have and how much money you’ll need to cover expenses every month.

Tip # 2:  Get moving! Continue your exercise routine if you have one and consider trying some new things (a yoga class, new fitness session at the gym, new routines for using the machines and equipment, etc.) This will be great not only for your health but for your emotional well being.  If you have been working a lot of hours in an office all day, this is a great time to take up jogging, walking, lifting weights, yoga or whatever you’d like. Playing team sports is a good idea. Of course make sure you discuss this with your doctor to ensure there are no health concerns with taking on the new activities and ease into it until your body adjusts. Exercise is a great stress reliever as well as providing many health benefits.

Tip # 3:  Expand your horizons and learn something new. Take a class at a local college, community college or vocational school. It could be something that  interests you and you have not taken time to attend a class, or some training that will lead to another job or career.  You may be amazed at how many instructional videos are on You Tube that will allow you to learn something new.

Tip # 4: Explore earlier interests that you set aside because you were too busy. Maybe you played a musical instrument, painted, cooked, did some sort of craft or writing. Start doing that again. You might finish your novel this time. Maybe you have some books you’ve always wanted to read or movies you want to see. Now is a good time.

Tip # 5:  Enjoy the outdoors and new places.  Don’t be a recluse. Go out for hikes in the park, go to the coffee place and hang out or go to the bookstore to pass time. Check out the local art galleries and museums.

Watch for more career advice tips on this topic coming soon!

Based on the current business environment, your company may be asking you (and other employees) to cut your hours to avoid layoffs. Or perhaps you expect this may be what is coming next.

What questions should you ask the company so that you have all the information you need to make the decision of whether to accept this offer (assuming you have a choice)? Then what do you need to ask yourself to determine how to deal with this change?

You probably won’t be retiring when you expect to retire.

Your first thought when reading this may be:  “So what? I’ll just end up working longer than I now plan. I had already figured that would likely be the case”.

A recent survey provides some key insights to take in around this:  the opposite may be true and it could leave you totally unprepared, from both a  financial as well as life style standpoint.

And the Survey Said…

Check out these numbers from the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s 2009 Retirement Confidence Survey, showing the retirement ages planned by those currently working, along with when current retirees actually did retire:

What Can We Learn from This?

What do you see from this information?  What struck me is that, for each age, the difference between planned and actual was significant. Take the age 55 and under as an example. Only 3% planned to retire before age 55, yet 18% actually found themselves in this situation. For those 55-59, 6% planned to retire during this age span; 17% actually retired. Note that for those 60-64, the percentage difference between those planning to retire (23%) and those who actually did (37%) is a whopping 14%!

The key thing to note here is that many of us (including me) are finding ourselves retiring sooner than we expected…and the reasons are not always good. Job eliminations, downsizing, outsourcing of major work, business consolidations and mergers, changes in the financial position or strategic direction of the company, and a myriad of other situations are resulting in employers offering early retirement packages.

So Now What?

Know this: As much as we plan (or think we do), we can’t anticipate everything that could happen.

Start thinking now about what you would do if you are offered an early retirement package.

• What is the financial reality in terms of severance, assets, investments, etc.?
• How can you objectively assess your options and make a rational decision (after you’ve dealt with the emotions tied to losing your position, perhaps one you love)?

Contact Me Now!

Don’t wait until this happens to you.

Contact me for a complimentary Encore Tune Up. I will help you begin thinking about what to do if this should happen to you…

If you are already in this situation, let me be your mentor and partner to sort it out and define the next course of action. I have been where you are right now and am here to serve and help you move forward with confidence!

The truth is, for many of us, retirement is more elusive than it was even just a year ago. Our retirement plans have been based on an expectation and assumption that the value of our 401K’s  continue to increase and that the equity in our homes also rise. Both of these key underpinings have changed dramatically in today’s economy. The value of our 401K’s and other investments has decreased at the same time the value of our homes has also dropped.

Two recommended strategies to consider

1. Go back to work
2. Spend less and cut back

To cope with this situation, many older Americans are getting back in the workforce. A recent NPR article on this topic states that, in April, 16.9 percent of Americans 65 or older were working or looking for work, the highest level for that month since 1971.

If you are considering going back to work or trying to figure out figure out what to do next, contact me for your free 30-minute Encore makeover session.

You are not alone in this struggle. I am here to support and help you move forward…Just take that first step and call now!

1. Sign up for an email account with your first and last names in it. There are free accounts available through Hotmail, Yahoo, Gmail, etc. Using a generic family email account or one with a cute or racy handle does not make the best first impression.
2. Make it easy for someone to find later by naming it “Last Name – Resume.” A recruiter or hiring manager will not likely take the time to open up generically named resumes to find yours when it comes time to contact people for the first round of interviews.
3. Craft several resumes that are responsive to the requirements of different positions. For example you may have a “marketing resume,” a “sales professional resume” and a “general manager resume” if you have background appropriate to these types of roles. Make sure that you send the appropriate resume that corresponds with the job posting.
4. Create a cover email that summarizes your accomplishments and key differentiators from other candidates. Make it easy for the reviewer to see why you are a good fit, based on the requirements outlined in the position listing.
5. Incorporate your cover letter into the resume file, rather than having it be a separate Word document. When reviewing emailed resume submissions, recruiters may not take the time to open the cover letter if it is not in the body of your email. This may result in your losing an opportunity to sell yourself.
6. If you are located somewhere outside 50 miles of where the job is based, explain in your cover email why and how you intend to relocate to the vicinity of the job .

If you’re a blogger, forum user or social networker, have you given any thought to the kinds of personal info you’re putting on the web? With the recent news that more and more employers are using the internet to research job candidates and staff, let’s take a look at the potential pitfalls of living your life online.

What’s your “Internet reputation”?

The Internet is a very sociable place. Millions of people all over the world are signed up to networking sites (My Space, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and many others). If you’re among them, it might be second nature to you to write an account of your last night out and upload photos to show just how much of a good time you had.

Before you hit the ‘post’ button, it will pay to think about who will be able to see what you publish. The web is a public place and you don’t always have total control over who can access your info. Plus the more you publish, the easier it is for employers and prospective employers to find out more about you than you’ve told them on your resume.

You may be asking: Do employers really pay attention to what you put online?
Some do. Recent research by a networking site found that one in every 5 employers admitted they used social networking sites to search for information on candidates. Two thirds said that what they found influenced a recruitment decision, and a quarter said that they had decided not to hire someone because of what was online. You’re likely to blow your chances of making a good first impression if the first search result they come across is you in party animal mode.

The Top 5 Big Mistakes

Here are some of the big no-no’s that might scupper your chances of landing that great new job:

• Posting stories and photos of wild nights out. Your friends might be impressed, but what about your future boss?
• Gossiping about friends’ love lives…or publishing detailed accounts of your own
• Whining about your current employer
• Criticizing your manager or colleagues. What may seen to you like a bit of gossip between friends can look very different to your boss (or a prospective new boss).
• Spending too much work time on social networking sites. The time a post was added is apparent on many sites. Are you doing this during work hours?

Check yourself out!

We all care about how we come across in person and the same applies on the web. Here are my top tips on how to check yourself out.

• Enter your name or email address into Google and see what comes up. If it’s that blog about your New Year’s fancy dress party, consider removing it.
• Read the privacy policy of sites before you sign up. It pays to know exactly how your information will be used.
• If you want to get things off your chest on a forum or blog, use a fake name. Better yet, talk with a friend via other means rather than posting anything online.
• Use the web to your advantage: upload your resume or join a professional networking site like LinkedIn.

All in all, it’s about being sensible. Be careful what you publish and post - if you wouldn’t put it on the back of a postcard, don’t put it out there!

I have hands-on, personal experience with mergers and acquisitions,  having managed several of them as the bank where I worked acquired smaller banks.

Then we were acquired by a larger bank. There is uncertainty about who the new managers will be, who will report to whom, and how the newly-consolidated company will function. Those within the company that is acquired fear layoffs.

But John Challenger, chief executive of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, says this is not necessarily true. He notes the acquired company could have been bought to fill a need for specific expertise.

In the case of the latest merger I was involved with, our bank had a stronger branch presence and the larger bank that acquired us was stronger in the investment and commercial sides of the business. The larger bank needed the scale of our branch network and of course,  our investment and commercial operations were strengthened by the acquiring bank’s expertise.

So what is a professional to do when the company is acquired?

Here are 4 key tips:

1. First ensure that your new boss (if there was a change) knows what you’ve accomplished. Remember they are new to the combined organization too and he/she is likely not aware of the strengths, talents, and accomplishments of the new staff. You know the saying “Toot your own horn. No one else will do it for you”. The new boss may well have new ideas and is looking for the talent to implement them. The sooner he knows who the key talent are, the better.
2. Develop relationships with people from the new company. The more people you know in the new organization, the better. Go  out of your way to introduce yourself and find out more about those from the new company. Those alliances will serve you well as the consolidation of  functions begins.
3. Make recommendations regarding how processes can be streamlined, expenses trimmed, sales increased, etc.
4. Be prepared to come early and stay late so you are viewed as a key contributor who works hard. Perceptions are very important at this stage of the merger “game”.

Tonight I attended an acoustical music event with friends here in Charleston. One works for a government agency and is concerned that, with the current agency financial situation (in the red), job eliminations are looming, likely earlier than later.

The question came up of whether she should return to college to finish her degree, so that it is easier to be considered for interviews. She is interested in doing something different, so is considering pursuing a different major than her past career experience (as a corporate trainer within HR).

Here are my thoughts on this, for those in mid-career or over 40.

First do some research around the kind of career you are considering. Is there a demand? If so, in what industries? Do those industries appeal to you?

If they do, who do you know that currently works in those industries? Connect with them and find out what it is like to work in that industry, what are the key challenges, and what education and experience is needed to be considered. Listen carefully to the responses, so you can make an informed decision.

Then look for educational programs that provide the classes and courses needed.

Before registering for any program, talk to at four to six recent graduates. Ask them “Was your degree helpful? What were you doing before? What are you doing now”? The admissions office at the college should help connect you with people in similar age and career status who can provide very beneficial insights.

You may find that a given program helps with securing promotions within the current career but not for career change, or vice versa. Do your research so you know whether the course of action you are considering will indeed get you to where you want to be.

Know that educational programs can offer great opportunities to network with other adult students. Live programs are more helpful than online programs, since you will be working on group projects and activities. Those classroom activities may well lead to access to people who normally would not agree to speak with you.  The senior level marketing expert for the Columbus (OH) hockey team was in one of my college courses. He was able to connect those interested in how marketing works for a sports team with key people he knew, and those connections proved to be very valuable in the job search later.

Here is another example. When my son was completing his masters degree, one student in one of his classes lost her job. She shared her resume with some in the  class and one of her class mates who had worked with her on a student project introduced her to a manager in his circle. She was hired for a current opening.

If you are currently employed, take advantage of any educational benefits provided by the company. There may be a cap on this benefit. Even a $1000 educational allowance will allow you to get into continuing education programs at community colleges. Again the exposure to professors and other adult students will provide great networking opportunities.

Focus on courses that build skills, especially skills you can use whether you work for a company or yourself. Examples include public speaking, writing, and computer courses. Your own skill set is your best career insurance in any economy.

Witness the amazing the talent a 47-year old unemployed female has..

Inspiration for all of us who need a lift today…incredible!

PS At the end of the video, you can navigate to the yahoo site with multiple versions of the video. I found the full 11-minute version (more of her story included) to be wonderfully insightful. What key lessons do you take from this?

It is not enough to have identified those who you respect and who know your work well. You must ensure that they are true assets in this key process. As reported recently in The Wall Street Journal, your chances of getting a job will be enhanced if you go the extra mile in preparing them. How do you do that?

First look for not only references but “endorsers”, those who can provide a strong testimonial to the quality of your work and your work ethics.

Then cultivate those relationships. Make sure they are informed about the kinds of positions you are looking for and your interview activity. Let them know how much you appreciate their support and help. Hiring managers and companies can be very picky during the evaluation of candidates and having strong endorsers in your corner is critical.

Don’t merely ask them to serve as references and leave them in the dark as to what is coming up. Prepare them for the call they may receive. Think about what you want to get across to the hiring manager and the the image you want to portray, and prepare your references to speak to that. For example if you learned in the interview that the position is one that is heavily engaged on project teams, you’ll want your endorsers to speak to your interpersonal skills, collaboration ability, and dependability.

Prepare your references for the tough questions that may come up. How do you want them to respond to the question “What are the areas for development”? If the position requires a skill that is not your strongest suit and you know it is important to the hiring manager, figure out what your references can share that will counter-balance that. If the role requires experience with a specific project management software that you have never used, what do you want them to say if asked about your technical project management abilities? your ability to quickly learn and master new applications and systems?

Remember it is not enough to merely let your references know they may receive a call. Prepare them in advance, not only so they are comfortable that they know what is coming but so they can support you across the finish line on this new journey. They are vital to your success.