Which industries employ seasonal workers?

The main industries which employ temp staff at holiday time are hospitality and retail. Companies in other industries may take on staff on short-term contracts to cover annual leave and of course, in the northern hemisphere, the usual batch of winter illnesses. With this year’s swine flu, there may be more temp work available than usual.

Temp work is often one way into full time, long term employment. But if you are looking for a way back into work, it’s important to plan your strategy well. Make sure you choose an area of work in which you have experience and in which you’d be happy to work long term. And be sure that you apply to companies and organizations which are likely to have permanent vacancies.

The first step is to do some research and find out which local companies are doing well, despite the crisis and which are hiring gnereally – not just for the holiday period. Make sure you know what sort of service they need and match your skills to their requirements.

If you can make a good impression as a temp, it’s possible that you might be offered a job after your temp contract ends.

Another good source of temp work with a possibility of something more permanent is agency work. Find some reputable agencies in your area and sign up with them. Explain what you are looking for and they will be able to advise you.

Some companies have a policy of hiring temp staff as this gives them a chance to try people out before offering them permanent work. In fact, you can do a search using the phrase “temp to perm” to find employers who are doing just that.

It is also a good tactic for jobseekers who can get some experience in a company or an industry to help determine if its right for them.

I mentioned more nightmares and here they come! I decided to upgrade this blog to the latest version of Wordpress.

Last time I attempted that, I got into a terrible mess and had to get help. This time I managed to do it alone and was feeling extremely pleased with myself. But the reason for updating was to use new plugins and they simply wouldn’t work.  That seemed to be related to the theme and so I updated that.

The result? My blog vanished from the face of the internet! I was left with a blank page.

Fortunately I was able to work out what had gone wrong and retrace my steps.

But I’m very happy to see that Chris Farrell’s site, of which I’m a member, now has a Wordpress Section, where Jeff the Webguy is teaching us how to use Wordpress properly.

So, I can finally get back to work on the CV and resume writing software to go with my CV and Resume E-book and videos. (There will be a free uprade to existing customers and anyone who buys before it is released) It is quite complicated since I want to include several templates, to give people some choice.  So it is keeping me busy

First of all, getting new anti-virus software installed on my computer was fun (at first) Having the software installed remotely was like an electronic game of pin the tail on the donkey. Unfortunately they missed the donkey’s rear end and got its jugular vein.

The computer froze and crashed. After4 attempts at installation, it crashed every 5 minutes. The company were supposed to phone me, but never did. Luckily, I managed to stay calm  – “Isn’t it interesting that this software which is supposed to protect my computer has totally screwed it up??

I decided , between crashes,to uninstall some old programmes which I no longer use.

Miraculously, after several programmes had bitten the dust, the anti-virus software suddenly started to work.

A couple of days later, my monitor started to flicker and shortly afterwards died.  Attempts at resucitation failed this time.

So it was off to Tottenham Court Road and a journey back on one of the bendy buses Boris is so keen to get rid of, clutching a huge box with no handles in a carrier bag, which is just too small and has handles which aren’t strong enough to carry the box.  With the ability to produce such amazing technology, you’d think they could create packaging you can actually carry.

More nightmares tomorrow and if you don’t live in London ( and think I am completely mad),  you can Google “Boris bendy buses” and see for yourself.

This is just a short update

I’ve created a new section on my website, so that you can find my videos all in one place.

I’ve just added 3 and will be adding more today.

I’ll continue to post new videos on the blog as well

The address is: http://www.coolercareers.com/career-videos.html

If you would like to read the next article in the series on which this video is based go to;

Career Change Over 40

Situation #1

When you are applying for a job, it is considered standard practice to send out a covering letter with your résumé or CV; in fact, most advertisements will ask for one. So you should always send an accompanying letter, even if the ad doesn’t mention it.

Why is this so important?

For a start, it looks much more professional and secondly, it explains why you are sending in your résumé or CV. You may think that is blindingly obvious, but it is possible that the company has advertised a number of positions at the same time. You may have seen these in the same advertisement, but they could have been advertised elsewhere, especially if they relate to different departments and different types of job. So the HR department needs to know which job you are applying for and they don’t have time to read the entire CV to try and figure it out.

The person who opens the mail is probably a secretary who has nothing to do with the selection process. So your letter needs to start with a clear indication that you are applying for a specific job, by mentioning the job title, the website or publication in which it was advertised, the date of the ad and the reference if there was one.

Situation #2

When you are applying to an agency, either for a specific job or to be considered for any jobs which are suitable for you.

Agencies get hundreds of résumés in the post or via email every day and they can’t keep track of them unless the applicant clearly states why he or she is sending it in. Is it to apply for a specific job, as a result of a phone conversation with someone at the agency or is it in response to a general request of résumés on the agency website?

If you get junk mail or email, you know how annoying it is to receive mail from someone you don’t know with no clear indication of why they are writing to you. You will probably delete the email or put the letter in the trash. Do you want the agency to do the same to your CV?

Situation #3

When you are sending a résumé or CV to a company “cold”, it is absolutely crucial that you enclose a letter explaining why you are doing so. Otherwise the CV you have sweated over for hours, is destined to be filed in the bin without a second glance. You must take the time to introduce yourself, explain why you are contacting them and give a compelling reason for them to read your résumé.

Need to give your CV and job application covering letter a complete makeover? Get step by step instructions and CV templates, plus reports on online applications and transferable skills. And if you take the trouble to learn how to do this properly, why not make money with this information as well? We’ll show you how.

Writing a covering letter for a job application is not difficult. Find out exactly how to do it here. http://jobseekerssuccesskit.com/covering-letter-for-job-application

Finding the best jobs for over 50s is not always easy, especially as so many employers still tend to go for younger workers, despite laws against age discrimination. However, there are also companies which really value the fact that older people have so much experience, not only in the workplace but also in their day to day lives. These employers can see that as a result of their experience, older people can be ideal candidates for certain jobs.

These companies are also forward-looking. They are well aware of the fact that demographics are changing worldwide and soon there will be more people over 50 than under 30. The impact of these changing demographics on the workforce will be dramatic. It will soon be essential to employ older workers and they will be working longer, possible up to the age of 70 or beyond. Otherwise there will simply not be enough young people to support the economy.

So the first step in your search for a job is to find the employers who are aware of this trend and sufficiently forward-looking to take action by employing older workers.

In the US, the American Association for Retired People issues a list of the best employers for over 50s and this is published every two years. The organizations which are on the list take an innovative approach, including flexi-time, job sharing and retraining. So if you live in America, taking a look at this list is a good starting point.

Otherwise, take a look at what is happening in your area by looking for recruitment agencies which specialize in finding work for over 40s. Search the internet for newspaper articles on companies which make a point of employing older people.

Look for sectors of the market where age and maturity are advantageous. Examples are working with homeless people and the elderly. This can cover a wide range of activities as organizations which work with these groups also need admin staff, book keepers, accountants and catering staff.

As people become older and live longer, those who are already retired want to keep active and healthy and many would prefer to learn the necessary skills from people who are closer in age to themselves.

Freelance consultancy is another possibility as it is a good way in which to continue the type of work you did whilst in employment. As companies are cutting back on full time staff, they often turn to freelancer to get some of the work done. Paying contract rates for a short time can be more cost effective than keeping someone on the payroll in a full time position.

The best jobs for over 50s are the jobs in which they are respected and valued and where they can use their experience to best effect.

Are you interested in creating your own job online? Get more information at best jobs over 50

What exactly is a SWOT Analysis? It’s just an (honest) evaluation of your own strengths, your weaknesses, the opportunities which present themselves and finally the threats which might just get in the way of your success.

Once you are clear about your career goal, you can start your personal SWOT analysis by getting hold of applications for jobs which interest you. Take out the job descriptions and the person specifications and use them as a starting point to help you work out your strengths and weaknesses which elte to this particular career area. You can do this with the details of just one job, but using several will give you a broader view of the industry or the career.

Strengths

List all of the strengths which you have and which relate directly or indirectly to the requirements for each job. This will cover skills, talents, experience and qualifications and don’t forget to include soft skills such as communication skills and teamwork, as well as personal qualities like patience, tenacity and attention to detail.

You should also write down at least one example of a situation in which you used each of your strengths. This will be invaluable when it comes to writing applications.

Weaknesses

Now go through your job packs and list your weaknesses, that is, the areas where you lack experience or your skills are poorly developed. You don’t need to write down examples this time – you are probably all too painfully aware of them anyway. And you certainly don’t want to draw attention to them. You will come back to this list later, when you start to move from analysis to action.

Opportunities

You can look at this in two ways: opportunities for yourself to develop and progress in your career and also opportunities for you to add value to the employer.

For yourself, does this job offer what you want from a career? Will it provide training, opportunities for progression, the chance to travel or whatever else is on your wish list?

Employers are much more interested in what’s in it for them and so being aware of the opportunities you will give them for development and improvement of their products and services is important and will be very closely linked to your strengths.

Threats

These are difficulties and obstacles which could prevent you from getting the job in the first place or hamper your progress when you do get it. For example, problems in the economy as a whole or this specific sector could lead to cutbacks or a reduction in training budgets.

You can also look at your competitors – other people who are likely to be applying for the same jobs. Are they better qualified than you or do they have more relevant work experience?

As part of your career change strategy, your personal swot analysis will help you take action to improve your prospects of getting the job you want.

Before you create a SWOT analysis, you need to have clear career goals. If you are having difficulty setting good career goals, read our tips and articles to help you choose more effective goals.

Improve your career change strategy with our job interview tips: http://jobseekerssuccesskit.com/

So, making bad choices is definitely something you want to avoid if possible. Having said that, finding your vocation is not an exact science, whether you are just starting out or embarking on a second career. So look at mistakes in a positive light – they can help you identify what you really do want to do and what you most definitely want to avoid!

So, what is the best way to go about making a career decision? Is it advisable to go after a post in an expanding market or should you stick to what you love doing? You can take the following steps to maximize your chances of securing an interesting job which gives you some measure of security in an uncertain world.

First of all, watch out for trends. With career change an inevitable part of life, this is becoming more and more important. Advances in technology are also leading to new jobs – careers you’d never have considered because they simply didn’t exist! So your ideal career may have just been invented. Or perhaps you can invent it yourself – increased flexibility in the workplace now allows individuals to work part-time or freelance more easily and this gives you the opportunity to create your own portfolio. So don’t discount the possibility of developing a new work style.

Next, you should think about training and education. Change is happening at a much faster rate than it did in the past and if you want to keep on top of your game, you need to be involved in lifelong learning, whether that means keeping up to date in your present industry or learning new skills which could help you find a post in another one.

Another good strategy is to develop expert status in your field. New developments and discoveries are happening in every field and the more you know about a subject, the better your chances of getting hired. You can narrow this down a little by focusing on one or two aspects of your area, particularly those in which demand is highest now or will be in the future.

And of course, make sure that your computer skills are constantly updated. Most jobs involve computing these days and if you can add some extra relevant IT skills to your resume, you’ll open up more doors.

Don’t forget the element of job satisfaction. It’s really important that you enjoy what you are doing, or at least enjoy the majority of tasks you have to perform. Do you feel that it’s vital to be passionate about your work? Some people will sacrifice money and security for a job they feel passionate about, while others feel that it isn’t realistic to work in a job you love and that it’s better to choose something realistic which is relatively secure. You need to find the balance which works for you.

You can never know 100% if a career will be right for you – until you’ve actually done it for a while. Remember that good career choices are different for everyone and the best career choice is the one that gives you what you want.

Want to know the best way to find a job? Check out our free mini course Employment – How To Thrive Whatever the Economy.

For career ideas and inspiration, visit http://www.coolercareers.com

With so few good pension schemes, not many people can afford to retire at sixty or sixty five. And if you live to be one hundred, which is no longer rare, you will probably expect to work at least in some capacity until you are eighty – unless you have a few million stashed away.
On the positive side, this doesn’t mean staying in your present job until you are eighty! Despite age discrimination laws, it’s unlikely that your boss will keep you around that long and even more unlikely that you’ll want to stay!

So deciding to make a career change at 40+ is a good move, but it may not be easy to implement. And you may feel that you have no idea which direction your new career should take.
Let’s take a look at some of the positives. You already have a good twenty or more years of solid work experience. This will not only have given you some very good skills, but will also have a pretty clear idea of your strengths and what you enjoy doing – as well as what you don’t.

One of the best ways in which to change career when you are older, is to build on what you have already got and to take the best aspects of your experience, both at work and in the rest of your life, and turn those into new income streams. This can be done gradually and will also enable you to have a very flexible working life. This means you will be in control. You may want to work full time for the next ten years and then cut down to 75% of your current workload and later to 50%. Being in control of your own career gives you this freedom.

To gain complete freedom from employers you will have to work towards becoming self-employed and you can do this slowly, experimenting with different possibilities while still within the relative security of your present job.

If you’d like to know how to do this, download this free e-book, which will show you how to build a portfolio career and enable you to change career over 40.

For general career change advice go to Career Change.