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What We Are UP To: Winter Rituals Edition

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winter snowflake painted on a winter window

This is always the time of year when we’re thinking about goals and resolutions. But I’m wondering if instead of making resolutions this winter, would it make more sense to develop rituals. You know, like a morning ritual or evening ritual. Maybe even rituals by season? I saw this article on The Everygirl blog titled “10 Rituals I’ll Be Using to Stay Healthy During the Holidays” and it made me think that rituals could give us something to look forward to. Here’s what else we’re looking forward to this month. 

Watching | Netflix

> After ditching traditional cable, we’ve decided to check out what Netflix has to offer. I’ve heard nothing but good things about “The Queen’s Gambit” and “Bridgerton”. If you have a Netflix favorite, be sure to drop it in the comments. 

Reading | Annual Credit Reports

> The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the nationwide credit reporting companies – Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion – to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. I’ve set up a reminder to do this every winter. I guess you could call it a winter ritual. 

Remembering | Seinfeld Strategy

> I recently wrote a post about the Seinfeld Strategy and how to use it as a way to develop a new habit. On some level, I view rituals as habits. Like remembering to floss every day. Whether you’re setting a goal, making a resolution, developing a habit, or creating a winter ritual, the Seinfeld Strategy can help you stick to it.  

Working On | Our backyard

> We’ve been living in our new home for a little over a year. When we first moved in, it was really tempting to look at new furniture. Especially for the backyard. But we said that we wanted to live in the house for a while to get some sense of what we would use. It was a good decision. We bought a couple of things over the holidays and they’re not at all what we were originally looking at. 

Feeling | Stressed

> I’d like to think that regardless of your politics, we can agree the past few months have been more than a little stressful. And I’m not sure that is going away anytime soon. That being said, a certain amount of stress can be good for us. There are also ways to manage stress this winter. I came across this article in Lifehacker titled “Exercise is Stress Relief So You Should Probably Go Exercise Right Now”. Besides the title making me laugh, it reminded me that taking time for ourselves should always be a part of our rituals. 

Planning | Eating Better

> Honestly, eating better is always on my to-do list. Somedays I’m really great at it. Other days, I’m not. Part of the challenge right now is the pandemic. We love picking up fresh fruits and vegetables. But that means visiting groceries and markets more often. We’re trying to conserve our trips. So, I’m trying to figure out what to do with frozen fruits and veggies. 

Loving | Peakay Silver

> Speaking of the pandemic, one of the things that’s a PITA is trying to get your mask on/off with hoop or dangling earrings. And unfortunately, I don’t own a lot of small earrings. So, I picked up a pair of little heart earrings from Peakay Silver. Gorgeous! Excellent quality.

Geeking | Hot Cocoa Bombs

> Have you seen these? They are chocolate orbs filled with hot cocoa mix and marshmallows (sometimes other treats are added). You put them in a mug and pour warm milk over them. Viola! The orb opens up and you have hot cocoa. The “bombs” are beautiful to look at. The presentation is fun. And they taste good. If you’re looking for a little something to break up your winter routine…this might be it.

We hope you’re staying safe and warm this winter. What’s UP with you? Tell us your winter routines!

Resume Tips for Older Job Seekers

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door sign step into your best day for optimizing a resume

In an article from the Associated Press, older workers are facing higher unemployment numbers because of the pandemic. I wish that I could say that I’m surprised by this, but I’m not. What I am surprised at, is when I hear that older job seekers rely on outdated job search strategies.

I understand that an older job seeker maybe hasn’t looked for a new opportunity in a while. That’s okay. But recruiters are using new tools to find the best candidates, so you have to update your strategy accordingly. One of the first things you’ll want to revisit is your resume.

I asked my friend Meg McCormick SHRM-SCP if she would share some resume tips with us. Meg provides customized resume services at HR Meg. I’ve known Meg for years and she’s a super smart HR professional. She knows what’s happening inside organizations and what companies expect in a job seeker’s resume.

Meg, one of the advantages in being an older job seeker is you have lots of experience. But many career experts say that long resumes (over 2 pages) can be detrimental to your job search. How can someone decide what to include on their resume?

[McCormick] Two pages should be enough space to present your work experience. Anything beyond that, the hiring manager isn’t going to read. I recommend including more details about your current / most recent experience and accomplishments, and fewer (if any) details for any work you did more than 15 – 20 years ago.

Another approach is to summarize earlier jobs under a catch-all heading, such as ‘prior sales experience, 1987 – 1994’. That gives the hiring manager some context into your career history.

Another area of a resume that job seekers are regularly told to get rid of is the objective. What are your thoughts on including an objective in a resume?

Meg McCormick resume expert headshot

[McCormick] The objective usually goes at the top of the first page – this is prime resume real estate. It’s the first place the hiring manager looks, and what you put in that space is critical to making them want to keep reading your resume.

That valuable space is better used for a ‘Professional Summary’, which is a brief statement that explains your unique value proposition for prospective employers. Some call it your ‘personal brand’. You can explain your career objective in your cover letter.

I can see older job seekers using their job search time to not only look for a job but relocate to where they want to be in “retirement”. What tips do you have for someone who is trying to get a job in a new city or state?

[McCormick] The internet is your friend – you can search job postings anywhere in the world!

  • Research the job market in your destination of choice and discover location-specific job boards.
  • See if there are regional placement agencies or recruiters that specialize in your field with contacts in your new locale.
  • Use LinkedIn to see if you are connected with anyone who has contacts in companies located where you want to move and ask if they would make an introduction.
  • Check out regional newspapers and local news channels online to get a feel for what’s happening in terms of business, the economy, and lifestyle in your potential destination.

If you’re fortunate enough to have a job that is well-suited for telework, you might be able to arrange with your current employer to continue remote working for them, but move to your new location. Be sure you agree on work hours, especially if you’ll be leaving your employer’s time zone, and other details of your arrangement. This could end up being a win for both you and your company. One caveat: Don’t make a move like this without checking with your employer first; especially if the move would take you out of state (or even out of the country), there may be tax and legal implications that impact both you and your employer.

An older job seeker might also be faced with taking a pay cut. How can they convincingly answer the pay question, so a potential employer understands they’re cool with less money?

[McCormick] I think it’s better to approach this one first in terms of what’s the salary range for the job. If you’re pivoting to a new career field, your most recent salary is irrelevant to the new job. So, you could say that you’re comfortable accepting a salary in the range of $X – $Y, which you feel is reasonable based on your research and the job description as you understand it. Do your research up front so you have an idea of what the job ought to pay, and adjust for locality and other factors to come up with a fair range.

The nature of the salary negotiation process has changed in recent years. In many states and some localities, it is now illegal for employers to ask for an applicant’s salary history or to use it as a screening factor, such as requesting it on a job application. If you are specifically asked what your last salary was, you can respond by explaining that you know it’s not relevant given the nature of the job you’re interviewing for, and instead asking what the pay range for the position is. Some jurisdictions require employers to provide this information.

Remember to consider other components of the total compensation package in addition to salary. For example, additional paid time off might be more valuable to you at this stage in your life than salary. Or you might be in a position to save a big chunk of your pay in the employer’s retirement plan to maximize their matching contribution. There’s more to compensation than just base salary.

HR Meg blog resume expert logo

Last question. If a job seeker hasn’t had someone review their resume in a long time, I think it would be a good investment to do so. What does a professional resume writer (like yourself) offer that a job seeker would find helpful?

[McCormick] I think it makes sense to have an HR professional review your resume, especially if it’s been a number of years, or if you want to change careers. I have the ideal background and experience to create resumes that get noticed. You’ve probably only ever worked on your own resume; I’ve read and written more than I can count. I have a good sense of what hiring managers want, and I can tell a good resume from one that’s trying too hard to impress. I keep up on hiring trends so I can bring current HR knowledge to each client.

It’s also worth considering that with resume services, you get what you pay for. Less expensive services base pricing on volume, and you probably won’t get an individual consultation with a pro. I provide individual attention and communication throughout the process. You’ll come away with a customized resume that’s appropriate for your industry, featuring a professional summary that conveys your unique personal brand to hiring managers. I do all the work – I don’t outsource. I can also offer assistance with customized cover letters targeted to specific job postings and can review and recommend updates to your LinkedIn profile.

A huge thanks to Meg for sharing her knowledge and expertise with us. If you want to learn more about her services, visit her website at https://hrmeg.com and be sure to subscribe to her blog.

Older job seekers can offer organizations a lot of skills and expertise, but you have to get the interview. Resumes are the first step. Make sure yours will stand out in the crowd.

What We Are UP To: Breaking Tradition Edition

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scarecrow flower art that is breaking with tradition

One of my Facebook friends recently asked what people were doing for the Thanksgiving holiday. Someone responded by saying since they’re not having a large holiday gathering, that they took a vote and are having pizza for Thanksgiving dinner. I love it! I know that things aren’t ideal right now and there are many things we would rather be doing. But we have to think about our health and safety. That doesn’t mean we can’t have some fun by completely breaking the traditions we’ve adhered to in the past. Here are a few of the things that we’re up to.

Feeling | Grateful

> Despite all of my grumbling about the pandemic, I’m very grateful to have my health, family, and work. I’m grateful for a nice home and plenty of food. I hope that during the Thanksgiving holiday, we don’t break the tradition of taking a moment to remember what we’re thankful for. 

Remembering | The importance of face masks

> I’m confident that I’m not the only person who is tired of the pandemic and the masks, sheltering, etc. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to stop doing my part. While it does mean that we won’t be able to do some of the things that we’ve enjoyed in past holidays, staying safe and healthy is most important. Keep wearing those masks!

Planning | When to put up the Christmas tree

> We have friends who have already put up their Christmas tree. You might be one of those people too. And we totally get the reasons why. Typically, we wait until December, but we’ve been wondering if breaking the tradition in 2020 would be the right thing to do. I can’t help but think I’m cheating the Thanksgiving holiday. Maybe that’s okay this year.   

Watching | Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 1 & 2

> One tradition we will not be breaking is related to birthdays. My birthday is this month and we always watch the birthday person’s favorite movie. Mine is Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy. I love the soundtrack and the superhero fun. 

Working On | Our annual strategy meeting

> We typically try to get away once a year to set goals for our personal and professional lives. We call it our annual strategy session. Earlier this year, we were planning a trip to discuss goals and COVID-19 got in the way so we had the session at home. It worked well so we decided that we will be permanently breaking the tradition of offsite strategy sessions. 

Reading | Further

> Brian Clark is the founder of Copyblogger, a community dedicated to all things related to content marketing. I’ve been a big fan for years. He recently launched a once-a-week electronic newsletter called Further, focused on aging and finding ourselves as we age. I love the writing style and suggestions. Speaking of goals, one of his recent newsletters was about breaking the tradition of starting new goals in January. Why not just start them now?! 

Loving | David’s Teas

> When I’m regularly traveling, I love stopping in a coffee shop to try the seasonal teas. Pumpkin Spice Latte? I’m there! With the pandemic, I’ve been ordering some seasonal teas from David’s Tea. Some of my new favorites include maple oolong and sweet potato pie. 

Geeking | Jeff Granito Designs

> We’ve taken a fancy to tiki art. Our new favorite designer is Jeff Granito. Jeff has worked with companies like Disney, DC Comics, Sesame Street, and more. If you’re looking to add some tiki to your winter holiday season (and who wouldn’t?), check out his site for mugs, shirts, face masks, and more. 

What’s UP with you? Keith and I wish you the best of health and happiness. Thank you for reading Unretirement Project.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby long before the pandemic at the Conservatory & Botanical Gardens of the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, NV

6 Tips For a Successful Phone Interview

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I feel good mental preparation for phone interview

I don’t want to spend a lot of time pointing out the obvious. The pandemic has been hard, and many people have lost their jobs. According to AARP, the percentage of long-term unemployed job seekers increased to 26.4% for those ages 55 and older. If you’re looking for a new opportunity, not only are you dealing with the challenges of searching for a new job but searching for a new job in the middle of a pandemic.

What I mean by that last sentence is that many employers are changing their recruiting process to make candidates feel safe. And that’s a good thing. For example, in the past, a candidate might have been asked to stop by the office for a short screening interview with human resources. Now that short screening interview is being conducted over the phone. 

And if you’re a candidate that has always felt one of your strengths is your ability to connect with individuals face-to-face, a phone interview could feel a bit weird. So today, I want to share with you six tips for having a successful phone interview. 

  1. Schedule the interview. Employers are not out to trick anyone. So, if someone calls you wanting to do an immediate screening interview, make the suggestion to schedule a time. If you receive an email to schedule a time, don’t feel compelled to do it right away. Find a time that works for you so you’re at your best. Obviously, you can’t wait indefinitely, but if you’re a morning person, opt for a date where you can speak in the morning. And vice versa. 
  1. Have your technology charged and ready. I know this sounds basic, but you’d be amazed how many people don’t do it prior to their phone interview. If you’re planning to take the call on your cell phone, make sure your phone is charged. If you’re using headphones or earbuds, make sure those are charged too. Be careful about using a speakerphone, because it can pick up ambient noises and you won’t sound clear. You want the interviewer to be focused on you and your qualifications, not how badly the call sounds. 
  1. Get into the interview spirit. Since the interviewer will not see you, it’s important to have your voice convey your enthusiasm. If it would get you into the interview spirit, get dressed like you’re going to an interview. Find somewhere quiet to take the call where you can sit in a chair (like an interview). You will sound better if you’re sitting with excellent posture during the call. It does make a difference in your voice. Test it out with a friend sometime. 
  1. Be prepared to answer the salary question. As a human resources professional, one thing I’m hearing from companies is that they do not want to waste your time (or theirs) if the salary isn’t a good fit. It’s possible that will be one of the first questions you’re asked. Be honest. And if you’re applying for a job that pays a lot less than you’re accustomed, be prepared to explain why. And, again, be honest!
  1. Plan to take notes. It’s possible that the interviewer will ask you to send a follow-up. Or the interviewer might tell you some things about the job or company that you want to remember. Have a pen and paper ready to jot down a few prompts. You can fill in the details after the call, but this could be very helpful later during the actual phone interview process. Especially if you discuss salary and benefits. 
  1. Have a couple of questions. Just because you’re looking for a job doesn’t mean you can’t ask some questions. At minimum, you should find out what the next steps are in the interview process. Before the interview, check out the company website and see if there’s a recent press release that you can ask about. For example, “I was on your website and saw the company’s announcement about XYZ product. Will this job have any interaction with that project?” You get the idea.

The phone interview is becoming very popular right now and honestly, they’re not going away any time soon. First, because the pandemic is still with us. And second, because companies are finding them very effective. So candidates will need to work on their phone interview skills to stand out in the process. 

How to Create Your Retirement Vision Board

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brainstorming rules to help create a retirement vision board

One of the best things that Keith and I started doing to help our retirement was to start talking about it. What do we want our retirement to look like? It helped us realize that we want a period of “unretirement”. It’s one of the reasons that we started this blog. 

But there are times when simply talking about future goals isn’t enough. And even writing down goals isn’t enough. I want to see more than the words. I want to see what the future may look like. Visualize it. 

A vision board can be a good way to do that. Vision boards are a tool used to help clarify, concentrate, and maintain focus on a specific life goal. Literally, a vision board is any sort of board on which you display images that represent whatever you want to be, do, or have in your life. 

There are many ways to create a vision board. Maybe you keep it in a journal. Or a bulletin board. For me, I’m finding the perfect place to keep a vision board is Pinterest.

A few years ago, I wrote a 5-day plan for learning Pinterest on HR Bartender. Since then, I continue to see activity and engagement on the platform. My experience with Pinterest is that it’s less of a dialogue or conversation platform and more of an inspiration, utilization platform. Think of it like a digital bulletin board. 

If you’re looking for a way to stay focused on a goal, consider creating a vision board to help make that happen. Here are five things to note:

  1. You can make it secret. Not ready to share your vision board with the whole world. No problem. Pinterest has a feature that allows you to make a board “secret” so only you can see it. 
  1. Section it to fit your needs. Pinterest has a nice feature where a “board” can have “sections”. So, your vision board could have a personal AND a professional section. For example, your retirement vision board might have sections for your encore career, where you’d like to live in retirement, and places you’d like to visit. 
  1. Pin images, articles, and quotes that help you achieve your goals. One of the things I like about Pinterest is that I can pin a variety of things – images, articles, quotes. I can pin stuff from the internet and photos I’ve taken or articles I’ve written. Bottom-line: it’s flexible.
  1. Change it when you want to. After pinning something, you can move it to another board, or delete it completely. Let’s say you pin a list of the top cities for retirees. Couple of months later, you see a better list. Delete the old one and replace it with the new one. 
  1. Delete what doesn’t work. One of the downsides to vision boards can be a feeling that you look at it and say, “I’m not getting to my vision fast enough.” Or “I’ll never achieve the goal.” It’s important to remember that our goals change regularly, and we have to be willing to let go of some goals in order to make other ones happen. Vision boards must be flexible to be effective.
  1. Your vision board can be portable. I’m not against the bulletin board type vision project, but there’s something nice to me about having my vision board with me all the time. If I’m at a conference or out at dinner, and I hear something, I can immediately post it. Versus going home, then finding/printing/posting it. 
  1. When you’re ready, you can share it. There might be components of your vision board that involve coworkers, family or friends. Maybe you want to start a business. Or move to a different city. Pinterest allows you to share boards with others.

Vision boards can help us with our career goals, life goals, and maybe even retirement goals. We have the flexibility to create something that fits our needs. Because the goal with a vision board is to make it happen. So, if it works, take advantage of what Pinterest can offer.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby somewhere in Fort Lauderdale, FL

Business Acumen: 6 Ways to Improve Yours

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two business people talking using their business acumen

I’m starting to see an increasing number of articles about older workers and today’s job market. And they’re not positive. Either older workers are being pushed out of their jobs or they’re reluctant to return to work because they’re in a high-risk virus category. Either way, older workers need to start thinking about their careers.

Regular readers of Unretirement Project know I’m a human resources professional. For the next few weeks, I want to spend some time talking specifically about careers. If you’re one of those people trying to figure out what your next career move might look like, I hope you’ll find these articles helpful. 

Today, let’s focus on one of the biggest competencies that organizations expect from employees – business acumen. This should come as no surprise to anyone. It’s important to know the business, be able to talk about it, and make decisions to help the business grow. But honestly, it’s hard to develop business acumen. Oh sure, a lot of people throw business buzzwords around like “growth mindset” and “blue ocean strategy” but do they really know everything those terms mean? In today’s business world, new concepts are being developed all the time. It’s a challenge to stay current, especially when your plate is already full of work. 

Personally, I find it helpful to take inventory of the things I’m doing to stay on top of business. I love lists that remind me to step back and just get focused. So, here’s a list of suggestions that can help build business acumen.

  1. Read (and listen to) the right stuff. I’ve discovered an electronic newsletter called “Morning Brew” that helps me stay on top of business news. Trust me, I hate junk emails as much as the next person, but this isn’t junk. This Monday-Friday enewsletter provides a stock market overview and some commentary about the business headlines of the day. What I really like is the casual, conversational tone. Business acumen doesn’t have to be boring or stuffy. 
  1. Develop a business book library. Today’s business books are refreshingly transparent. I have nothing against the classics like “First, Break All the Rules” and “The Five Dysfunctions of a Team”. But consider checking out “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” and “The Science of Self-Discipline”.  You don’t have to buy all of these books. Check them out of the library. Just listen to many different business voices.
  1. Learn how your organization makes and spends money. If you haven’t bought your controller a cup of coffee lately and asked about the profit and loss statement, now might be a good opportunity to do so. Years ago, I did just that and it was one of the best hours I’ve ever spent on my career. The good thing is there’s no rule that you’re only allowed to do it once. Consider scheduling coffee time (maybe via Zoom) with your controller right before budget time too.
  1. Join your professional association. I’m not here to tell anyone which professional organization(s) to belong to.  Everyone needs to figure that out on their own. But I do believe it’s valuable to be a member of a professional organization. And let me add that I feel it’s important for individuals to get involved. Volunteer! Not only will you make friends, but you will learn from your colleagues. Part of developing business acumen includes developing a professional network. 
  1. Step out of your regular responsibilities. The next time the boss is looking for a volunteer, consider raising your hand. Getting involved in project teams can help you 1) learn new knowledge and skills 2) build new working relationships and 3) get noticed by the organization. I know your calendar is already full. These types of extra assignments might be worth it. Both from a learning perspective and your long-term career development. See if you can squeak out a little bit of time to make it happen. 
  1. Know your customer. Do you know who the top ten customers are for your organization? Not just their names, but do you know what they do? Why do they do business with your organization? Years ago, I had the chance to go on some customer calls with the sales team. Very valuable! If you’ve never done it, consider asking a sales manager if you can tag along. You’ll learn a few things and I’d say that the sales department will be happy you did. 

Over time, I’ve come to realize that business acumen isn’t something you learn once and you’re done. Business acumen is changing all the time. Yes, it’s true that terms like profit and EBDITA haven’t changed. We have new terms like blockchain, disruption, and vlogger. If you want to be a contributor, you have to know how to really talk business. And there’s never been a more perfect time to start learning.