JOBSEARCH: Turkeys must plan for “retirement” at 50!

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-retirement24-2009may24,0,885521.story

Early retirement claims increase dramatically

Instead of working longer as the economy worsens, more Americans are calling it quits before age 66. The ramifications could be profound for the retirees, families, government and social institutions.

By Mike Dorning

May 24, 2009

*** begin quote ***

Once they lose their jobs, older workers have a harder time finding new ones. On average, it takes laid-off workers 55 and older nearly a month longer than their younger counterparts to find new employment, and the gulf has been growing recently, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

*** end quote ***

I’m much more skeptical than the BLS.

For turkeys (i.e., fat old white guys who had high paying jobs), they must plan, that when they lose their current job (as they surely will), for the contingency that thewill be unable to find another.

Ever!

Not one at a lesser pay. Not one that is “yuckier”. Not one that is “elsewhere”.

No, they may never find another one at all.

That has terrible ramifications.

That means at age 50 or later, what ever you have is all that you will ever get. That means at 50, you may never have health insurance again. That means at 50, you will begin to draw against your “pot of gold” (i.e., your total savings and investments).

You may have to be the Greeter at WalMart to permit yourself the luxury of dining on the expensive dog food.

You may, in fact, be on welfare and / or food stamps in your not-so “Golden Years”.

You may be “medically bankrupt” if you get sick without insurance.

Sacred yet. You should be.

Immediately, turkeys using my not-patented not-copyrighted formula for “job replacement interval” —

{For those, who aren’t aficionados of the Big Turkey’s methodology for calculating “job replacement interval”. Using my patented and copyrighted methodology, you can easily determine how many months YOU will need to find a new job. That is a function of: Annual Salary; the likelihood of a layoff in your company, industry, or skill set; the ease of finding another job in their skill set; their age; and the economy.}

— I’m adjusting the age penalty formula from (Less than 40 is 1; 41 to 49 is 2; 50 to 57 is 3; 57 and up is 4) to (Less than 40 is 1; 41 to 45 is 2; 45-50 = 4, 51-55=8, 51-55=16, 56-60=32, and 61 is 64).

Yes, after 56, I don’t think you can get another job again ever.

My formula may be wrong, but it should serve as a wake up call.

Plan as if there was no job to work at tomorrow. There may well not be.

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JOBSEARCH: Turkeys have to deal with their feelings!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/05/15/time-makes-a-list-of-tech-failures-microsoft-checks-it-twice/

Time Makes A List Of Tech Failures, Microsoft Makes It Twice by Leena Rao on May 15, 2009

200905161120.jpg

*** begin quote ***

Time Magazine recently published a list (completed by 24/7 Wall St.) of the “Top Ten Biggest Tech Failures Of The Past Decade.” Microsoft Vista, Microsoft Zune, Gateway, YouTube and the Segway all made the list.

*** end quote ***

I was attracted to the picture.

In job search, the search is usually preceded by a job “loss”.

It feels like this picture.

Heck of a way to end a career.

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JOBSEARCH: Build An Alumni Network

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1609743

Build An Alumni Network by fjohn reinke

As an “old alumni”, I’ve learned the value of “networking”. College alumni have an easy natural way of building one. Unfortunately, few people realize the need for it.

Even fewer people can define what “networking” is, or the objectives of it. Everyone can tell you what the want out of it; instantly! Everyone wants to “network” when they are out of work. Everyone wants a new or better job from “networking”. Everyone wants. Nobody understands about “helping, before being helped”.

I personally believe that “networking” is NOT some open ended wishy washy ‘connect to everyone’ of Facebook or LinkedIn. Or even worse: Myspace or Plaxo. I’m an attendee at the “church” of networking is a “structured activity”. I particularly like Lucht’s definition of “networking” as a formal meeting. In counseling my “turkeys” (i.e., out of work executives), I structure it as: a five minute howdy, five minutes about listening to the target, five minutes for the “networker” to describe their search or need, ten minutes to listen to the target give their wisdom, and five minutes to extract two more names. Input one name; output two names. And, another “listen station” is enable to alert you to opportunities.

But how do you get to that point?

If the predecessor activity is “first help, then be helped”, how does one know who to help? You have to “seed the field”. There’s where Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Plaxo, or anything else can be useful. It allows you to connect with people easily and casually. So the model is: “Seed the field”, “First help, then be helped”, and then “Use structured networking meetings to seek help”.

At no time in our lives are we able to “seed the field” than in our college days. Even after being out for a while, one can still recapture the “seeding”. I always thought “alumni” was a great way to setup a granfalloon — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granfalloon — strange idea. A very important concept in “job search”. You can use your “alumni” connection to create a granfalloon. That will allow you to know who needs help. Of course, know that you have to help. But that’s usually the easiest part. Then, after helping, you have a person ready to help you when you need it.

So, we have moved the problem back to “seed the field”. Does your school have a vibrant alumni society? Most schools have something. Unfortunately that “something” is organized around raising money for the school in the form of alumni donations. That doesn’t necessarily help the alumni. Services are all oriented to satisfy a different master. That’s really perfect for the person who wants to “seed the field”. A Yahoo or Google group, a free WordPress blog, or such can form the nucleus of an alumni news service. “Seeding this particular field” is a small effort in three areas: Identify the alumni in the news, collect alumni email addresses, and operate a small daily news cycle. Sounds like a lot of work, but it really isn’t today.

Google news has the ability to present links that satisfy the news requirement. Let say that an alumni of “Ye Olde University” want to “do” this. Dashing to the free, and unequaled wordpressdotcom site, this alum creates a blog called “TheGreatUnwashedAlumsOfYeOldeUniversity”. (Free!) Then, this alum goes to Google news and searches for “Ye Olde University”. This alum can then request email or an rss feed. Then, check the news about and for alumni. Copy news from the source to the blog and post. Zip over to Legacy, the obituary site, and do the same thing. You’re now a font of news and information for your fellow alums.

As time permits, you identify your fellow alumni. And, invite them to read your blog. Capture demographic info as you can in a spreadsheet or document. Name, Email, Class Year, DOB, Address, Phone, and other background data. Try to categorize their characteristics – doctor, lawyer, indian chief, teacher, finance, pharma, etc. etc. Geography. Organizations. Whatever you can. Finally be sure you ask them how you can help them? Setup a plan to “ping” them every so often, quarterly, but at least yearly. Use Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, Plaxo, Cardscan, or anything you can think of to find and connect. Each connect can be reported in your blog as an “update”. Note: Do NOT post email addresses, phone numbers, or street addresses in the blog. Spammers and scammers abound. Become the “Paul Revere” connector that Malcom Gadswell describes in his books. While there is a good reason not to post this information, it does allow you to be the “clearing house”. Just report that you heard from “Jones, Joe (Class of XYZ)” and some further information if you have it.

So, you now have a field being “seeded” for your future use.

Use this as input to “First help; then seek help”. Try to “help” everyone you can. Match needs with resources. Collect information about your fellow alums. It will snowball quickly. When time comes for you to ask for help, you’ll have a field of “plants” ready for harvest.

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JOBSEARCH: Age discrimination? No, I find that hard to believe

Saturday, April 18, 2009

http://www.ajc.com/business/content/business/stories/2009/04/12/fired_workers_sue.html

ajc.com > Business
Laid-off workers increasingly turn to lawsuits
Government reports more claims of discrimination in job cuts
By TAMMY JOYNER
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, April 12, 2009

*** begin quote ***

Eric Oliver was on vacation last summer when he learned that he and seven other white co-workers, all over the age of 40, had lost their jobs at a software company from India.

Attorney Sidney Holderness’ expertise in underwriting title insurance wasn’t enough to keep the 60-year-old from losing his job.

*** end quote ***

We as a society better figure out how to make use of “old workers”. And, stop wasting the first twenty five years as well.

We’re going to be living a lot longer and can’t afford to waste any human resource.

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JOBSEARCH: STRATEGY Get your writing noticed?

Thursday, March 26, 2009

OK, we all agree its a tough world out there.

And, as you despite being an expert in <insert favorite aspect of your career>, you, (and me), AIN’T drawing a paycheck.

(And, for those smug overconfident soon to be unemployed, you may have drawn your LAST one!)

Here’s a way to get your content out there. I don’t particularly care what content it is. AS LONG AS IT’S SPELLED RIGHT and gramatically correct. (Wouldn’t that be the kiss of death. Like having a typo on your resume!) And, it isn’t too controversial (e.g., “How I was abducted by aliens”; “How to conceal your drug habit?”; “Padding your expense account”; “Best racist dirty jokes”). You get the idea.

I do know that this site has “buzz”, is indexed by Google, and has high traffic counts.

SOME folks are even putting their resumes on there. (I’m not so sure that’s a great idea.)

But if I was a lean and hungry seeker. I’d get soem high quality content up there. ESPECIALLY if I was an expert in something other than the lifestyle of turkeys (i.e., out of work jobseekers) large and small.

fjohn
the big fat old turkey hisself

p.s., I’m putting stuff up there. We’ll see if it works for fat old turkeys!

http://www.scribd.com/

*** begin quote ***

Welcome to Scribd!

Congratulations, you’ve just joined the world’s largest community of readers. Now that you have an account, you can:

* DISCOVER fun or functional writings and documents on any subject – explore by category, by browsing or just typing in a search topic.

* SHARE your own writings and documents – dust off all that great content on your hard drive or in print. Then check back for comments and analytics on how many people have read or downloaded your doc.

* DISCUSS topics of interest to you – leave comments on other people’s documents, join groups and express yourself.

… and a whole lot more. Also, don’t forget to check out the Scribd blog for updates on new product features and other Scribd news!

– The Scribd Team

*** end quote ***

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JOBSEARCH: Age Discrimination? No, really!

Friday, March 13, 2009

http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2009/03/11/age-discrimination-is-the-new-reality-in-job-market-says-guest-expert-dave-opton/comment-page-1/#comment-117011  

Age Discrimination is the New Reality in Job Market Says Guest Expert Dave Opton
Posted in March 11th, 2009
By Dave Opton, CEO and Founder of Execunet, AARP member, exclusive for WWDS.

*** begin quote ***

If you are anything like me, while you always knew there were laws against age discrimination on an intellectual level, it wasn’t until you got out there in the real world looking to make a change at say 45+ that you came to internalize emotionally age discrimination was more than a phrase you read about from time to time but actually came with raw nerve endings. To understate the case, not a great feeling.

*** end quote ***

Unfortunately, you’re right. Exponentially.

From a societal pov, with the market crash killing 401ks and “savings”, as well as the home value crash, “we” as a society have a big problem. “We” are raising the social security retirement age, and more importantly the Medicare age. And, “companies” are shooting anyone under 40 at their first opportunity. How many “consultants” can our economy support?

As you know, I’m advising turkeys that after 50, they will find it IMPOSSIBLE to get another salaried position. (Now that may be a SLIGHT exageration, but NOT MUCH!)

I’ve revised my “emergency fund required” formula. The age component multiplier goes from a one multiplier at ages below forty to a plus one multiplier for every five years of age OVER 40. (That is 40-45 is DOUBLE; 50-55 is quadruple; 60-65 is five times. SHOCKING? You should see the old farts, myself included, who I tell that they will never work again at a salaried job like the old days! Their stunned. Some have high school age or younger kids in second marriages. Are they surpprised!)

This reflects the reality that “jobs” are really hard to come by.

I tell anyone who will listen that: “Success for future generations is: (1) ruthless financial discipline — no bad debt; (2) a life long interest in learning — education — a degree — they can’t take it away from you; (3) a white collar job in order to save big bux; (4) a blue collar skill for hard times — never saw a poor plumber; (5) one or more internet based businesses — your store is always open; (6) a free time hobby that generates income; and (7) a large will-maintained network of people who can “help” you.” Funny how no one believes me?

ERISA changed the corporate behavior of discharging “old” aerospace engineers before their pensions would vest. SO to we will need such a “game changer” to allow us to “bridge” “old age” to retirement.

I suggest that old farts, or those soon to be old farts, like myself, INSIST on an employment contract before they jump to the next opportunity. Can’t get it; be advised! You’ll soon be screwed. We have to change from an “at will” employment culture to something else.

:-(
fjohn
the big fat old turkey hisself

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JOBSEARCH: Learn to Network

Saturday, February 21, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/jobs/21career.html?_r=1&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Career Couch
You May Not Like It, but Learn to Network
By PHYLLIS KORKKI
Published: December 20, 2008

*** begin quote ***

Q. Everyone is saying that you need to network to find a new job. But you hate networking. Do you have to do it?

*** end quote ***

As anyone I have coached will tell you, I’m a fan of Lucht’s formalized face-to-face networking. I see folk practicing “networking” without doing the proper preparation. Even worse, they don’t follow up.

Very frustrating.

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JOBSEARCH: Two minutes of inspirational speeches

Saturday, February 21, 2009

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d6wRkzCW5qI&eurl=http://blogs.jobdig.com/wwds/2009/02/09/inspiration-motivation-just-the-way-i-like-it-short-sweet-2-minutes/&feature=player_embedded

Inspiration, Motivation Just the Way I Like It: Short & Sweet 2 Minutes

Posted in February 9th, 2009

Hat Tips: eppsnet.com, http://blogs.jobdig.com, “What would Dad say”

Two minutes of inspirational speeches.

# – # – #

Excellent for turkeys who are down in the dumps.

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JOBSEARCH: Granfalloons as a jobsearch tactic

Friday, February 20, 2009

In doing my personal “lessons learned” after action follow up, I found one glaring oversight that came up in the “after chat”. Granfalloons! How could I have missed that tip?

*** begin quote ***

Granfalloon – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A granfalloon, in the fictional religion of Bokononism (created by Kurt Vonnegut in his 1963 novel Cat’s Cradle), is defined as a “false karass.” That is, it is a group of people who outwardly choose or claim to have a shared identity or purpose, but whose mutual association is actually meaningless. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granfalloon

*** end quote ***

To a certain extent, “manhattan college alumni” is a granfalloon. But, it would be unpolitic to use that. So let me give an example, I use every day.

“Birthdays on Facebook”

Every day, after I “do” my Jasper obits, but before I “do” Jasper Jottings overnight news reported by Google, I do “Facebook Birthdays”. That’s basically a three step process. First, I go onto the Facebook site, which very gerously tells me which of my Facebook friends is having a birthday. I copy them over to a Facebook personal “Facebook Friends List” called “bday”. Opening up a new browser window for each of them, I write a form Happy Birthday message and send it. Then, I use the “Facebook Share Friends” feature to suggest their fellow borthday-ites to them. Using the “bday” list is very quick. Finally I send the group the following message:

*** begin quote ***

To: [individual list of names]

Fr: FJohn Reinke

Re: Hey, you folks share a birthday!!!

Best wishes on your mutual day.

I always thought birthdays were a great way to setup a granfalloon — http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Granfalloon — strange idea. A very important concept in “job search”. I’ve sent you connection suggestions of some “sharers”.

This is a Robbie Burns message. You know the gift to see ourselves as others see us. Facebook tells me that you share the day; it doesn’t tell you. Here’s a gift. A networking stretching weird one.

Nota Bene: They did say that “opportunity” knocks. What they did NOT tell you was what you’d find when you opened the door. It’s a great free offer requiring nothing more from you but to be open to something new. What throws you off, in this case, is that “opportunity” is disguised as a fat old man with strange ideas. ROFL!!!

fjohn

Attached: [Facebook copies the Wikipedia definition of granfalloon]

*** end quote ***

I have received a lot of positive, but some negative feedback about it. On the positive side, some “birthday circles” have formed out of it. My estimate is that about 1 in 3 “days” have some “Facebook Friending” takes place. At least based on what I see reported to me by Facebook. On the negative, some “Facebook Friends” have “defreinded” me. (As an old data guy, I track activity manually and know what they’ve done. Special mark in their record that I keep. I don’t depend on any cloud service to keep all my records. Be funny when they come back to me for something. A networker, like an elephant, never forgets.)

I don’t see an immediate payoff to me. Yet? But, I have people message me that other Granfalloons I have suggested have paid off big for them.

So for example, the “Alumni of Marketing Presentation 2009-02-04” could be a granfalloon that a student might set up to “capture” the synergy of yesterday. It would tie them both to their fellow students (very valuable imho) as well as to the faculty adn alums who were there yesterday (less valuable imho). It’s a trick to create those “webs of weak links” that are so valuable in job search.

Anyway, that’s what I would have liked to communicate to the audience about “granfalloons”. Maybe you can pass this along as a handout. Of course, if anyone has any questions, I’d be happy to answer by email.

Thanks again,
fjohn68

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JOBSEARCH: Everyone is their own jobsearch

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

http://www.goarticles.com/cgi-bin/showa.cgi?C=1376776

What role do we play in our own job search? by Jason Monastra

*** begin quote ***

A democracy is always temporary in nature; it simply cannot exist as a permanent form of government. A democracy will continue to exist up until the time that voters discover that they can vote themselves generous gifts from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates who promise the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that every democracy will finally collapse due to loose fiscal policy, which is always followed by a dictatorship. The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:

From bondage to spiritual faith; From spiritual faith to great courage; From courage to liberty; From liberty to abundance; From abundance to complacency; From complacency to apathy; From apathy to dependence; From dependence back into bondage.

Apathy is defined as a state of indifference, or the suppression of emotions such as concern, excitement, motivation and passion. An apathetic individual has an absence of interest or concern to emotional, social, or physical life. They may also exhibit an insensibility or sluggishness.

*** end quote ***

sigh!

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