Encore! Encore! Take a Bow for Your Encore Career

Many people who lost their jobs in the current economic doldrums have decided to go back to school and learn new skills. Others have decided to shift their careers in new directions. These people will take the stage again in new roles, often in public service or with nonprofit organizations, and I applaud them. They obviously have faith in themselves and the determination to keep moving forward, two key ingredients for career success.

Earlier this month I participated as a judge in a marketing and publications awards competition among continuing education programs at private and public colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada, conducted by the University Continuing Education Association. Marketing professionals, graphic designers and writers formed two teams to evaluate hundreds of entries in seven hours. It was exhilarating to see some of the great programs created to give people a second go at a career. And, the experience showed me today's vast array of opportunities that are available to explore and master new fields by going back to school.

This week I talked with an enterprising woman who has been “in transition” since last April when she was laid off. She has used the last year to retool her skills by taking multiple courses in certificate programs and is completing a Masters degree in order to reshape her career and re-enter the job market.

You might think that with no income other than unemployment benefits, going back to school would be impossible for you, but there are options to check out. For instance, there are foundations and other organizations that provide scholarships and grants for adult students pursuing a degree as well as specifically for women, veterans and minority groups. Colleges and universities sometimes facilitate such funding. Before you rule it out, it’s worth your while to do a little online research, talk to your local community college or university counselors, and peruse your options.

The jobs that are available today are not the same jobs vacated by layoffs last year. Requirements have changed because of business needs and technological advances. How you use your “out-of-work” time could determine whether you will be able to get a job and how soon … and how much you will make. How will you re-enter the stage?

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Tell Congress to Extend COBRA and Unemployment Benefits

A CNN blog reports that “around 1.2 million Americans will run out of benefits after February 28.” A participant in yesterday morning’s 40 Plus of Greater Washington meeting announced that his Hill contacts said Congress has not been hearing a large outcry from the unemployed. Call your congressional representatives and senators today to tell them you want them to support extensions for COBRA and unemployment benefits.

Get a New Job— Entrepreneur

This week is Global Entrepreneurship Week, focused on encouraging people around the world to bring new ideas and services to the marketplace. If you are looking for alternatives to solving your unemployment dilemma, becoming an entrepreneur may be the route for you. If you are a freelancer or have taken on contract work that you arranged yourself, you already qualify as an enterprising individual.

An entrepreneur is defined by Merriam Webster's as “One who organizes, manages, and assumes the risks of a business or enterprise,” but what it takes to be entrepreneurial goes beyond this generic description.

All the same skills and attributes you need to apply to job hunting are basic to starting a business: market research; believing in your idea and yourself; having a goal; building a plan; networking; marketing; persistence; and a base of knowledge. But, is this a good time to be an entrepreneur, with the economy still weak? Opinions differ, but if your risk level is low and you need little capital to get started, it just might be the best time to start a business. Before taking the plunge, though, do your research, get some advice and check your own finances.

There are many free and low cost local resources for prospective and active entrepreneurs throughout the U.S., especially through the Small Business Administration, SCORE, and your local government’s small business development agency. Because these groups want businesses to succeed, they offer training classes to get you started as well as ongoing advice and support.

Entrepreneurship may not be for you—it requires hard work, attention to detail, long hours and sometimes low self pay until the business is sustainable—but with a solid plan and mentoring, you may find that being your own boss is right for you.

See these articles for commentary on whether a recession is a good time to start a new business:

Five reasons why a recession is a good time to start a company

Is Now a Good Time to Start Up?

Starting a Business in a Downturn

Passing Unemployment Milestones and Focusing on the Future

Many who were laid off earlier this year or before are still on the market for a job. There’s no denying that job hunting in today’s environment is more challenging than when the economy was booming. You can’t change historical facts, but you can change your future reality.

If you are passing an unemployment milestone, say six months or more, maybe it is time to take stock of your accomplishments to date.

Have you:

• Sought advice from friends and experts?
• Lined up your references?
• Had your resume professionally critiqued?
• Regularly updated your online profile?
• Networked at every opportunity?
• Followed up on leads given to you by friends and former colleagues?
• Shared job leads with fellow jobseekers?
• Developed or participated in a support network?
• Contacted recruiters?
• Attended workshops and seminars to keep your skills up?
• Enrolled with temporary agencies?
• Kept in touch with your contacts?
• Volunteered anywhere?
• Joined Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn groups?
• Conducted informational interviews?
• Updated your portfolio?
• Started a blog or your own website?

While these are great steps to take, especially if you have done them all, you might respond, “Yeah, but,” because so far they haven’t landed you a permanent job. However, at this juncture in your quest for re-employment, it’s okay to congratulate yourself for what you have accomplished…for a moment…and then move forward.

Rather than sagging into the dumps, now is the time to try new angles and ramp up your efforts. Instead of losing steam because of the time passed, energize yourself and get going.

Why Should I Help You? Part 1

Reaching out to others
by Linda Franklin, guest blogger

Last year I became another statistic filing for unemployment. My story was not unlike many others: With a company for 7 years, I thought I would be there for my career. When my notice came, I went through the usual shock and disappointment (“WHAT?!?!?”).

And then came the “What do I do now?” I began reaching out to everyone I knew and began meeting new business contacts at professional networking functions. LinkedIn became my new best friend.

While networking I quickly realized an important lesson: those who had themselves been laid off or experienced similar job ups and downs were the ones most likely to lend a helping hand. They understood the pain and frustration of the job search, and they regularly went that extra step to get my resume in front of the right person.

It was easy then for me to decide that, once I was employed again, I would make sure to reach out to help others in my network going through a layoff/job search. Not just by getting their business cards, but learning more about their background, experiences and their goals so that I could refer them to others or job postings that would be a good match.

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Linda Franklin, who has survived the bruises of 2 layoffs, is happy to be working again as Marketing Manager of WiseChoice.
http://www.linkedin.com/in/lfranklin99
http://www.twitter.com/LindaFrank123
http://us.mc518.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Linda.Frank123@yahoo.com

When Fridays Are Not Like Other Fridays

Fridays are not the same if you are unemployed. For that matter, no days are the same now as when you had a routine like you did when you were up and going off to an office each weekday morning. Time has an altogether different meaning to you now.

A job loss or layoff is life changing, leaving you with a new job—to find a job—that will consume much of your waking hours, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t occasionally take a day off to do something for yourself.

Until Monday…

Staying Positive When Time Drags On

Let’s face it, the economy is way down and news reports tell us every day how bad the outlook is. Unemployment is up here and there (although reportedly not quite so bad in the D.C. area as in many other U.S. regions). Companies are doubling up the workload on the employees they kept after laying off others and hiring fewer temps. I could go on and on.

It’s easy to get sucked into the gloom and doom scene, which can drag you down so that your job search becomes a perceived exercise in futility. Once that happens, your low mood will sabotage your efforts and show on your face and in your voice. I know. I’ve had a few days since my March layoff when the job hunt seemed hopeless, but it’s not. For example, I heard from a recruiter the other day that he’s seeing some action on the hiring front. Things are beginning to stir.

Also, if you get out and meet people in and out of your own field at local networking or learning events, you will find a great community of helpful professionals, willing to offer tips, support, leads and comfort. The main thing is to stay active in your professional arena. You may be on the outside now, but it could be your door to getting back inside. For me, it has been a lifeline to keeping a positive outlook and continuing on.