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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. 

Portfolio Career: An Alternative to Encore Career

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old time image on a cruise ship gentleman reading newspaper during a portfolio career

Given everything that’s going on right now, it’s possible that individuals might have their primary career on hold while waiting for their employer to bring people back to the workplace. Of course, this could be having an impact on planning for an encore (or second) career. However, there is an alternative. 

A portfolio career is where someone works many part-time jobs instead of one full-time job. For example, an accountant might sell insurance and do tax preparation. Or an HR pro might conduct file audits and help people update their resumes. It’s the idea of having several smaller jobs that a person can work on at the same time. 

I understand that for some, this might not be optimal. But for others, this could be exactly the flexibility you’re looking for. If you’re looking at your current and future work options and thinking a portfolio career might be something worth exploring, here are a few pros and cons to consider. Let me add that, depending on your situation, some of the advantages could be disadvantages (or vice versa). 

Advantages

Decide carefully what projects you want to work on. The plus side of a portfolio career is that you can pick the projects you enjoy and minimize the ones that you don’t. A downside can be that in order to make money you take projects that you don’t like, and they don’t produce your best work. So really spend some time soul searching about the work you want to do and that you feel you’re good at. 

Learn to manage your time well. The purpose of a portfolio career is to provide flexibility, while still making a living and feeling fulfilled. Juggling multiple smaller careers isn’t going to be easy. Losing control over your time can have a detrimental effect on your health and wellbeing. You will need to figure out when you’re going to work and how you’re going to handle last minute requests to work on your day off. Trust me. It will happen. 

Consider a long-term strategy. Another great aspect to a portfolio career is that you could start with 3-4 smaller jobs then transition down to one prior to “officially” retiring. This has the potential to be a very viable way to manage your exit strategy while still accomplishing some of your personal and financial goals. But like all strategies, you have to plan and get the support of your family and friends. 

Disadvantages

Realize that you need to market your services. In order to be successful with a portfolio career, people need to know what you do. It’s possible a person might know you as the person who walks their dog when they’re on vacation, but they don’t know that you can also run errands. It will be important to have a marketing plan in place, so you don’t miss out on opportunities. Oh, and don’t forget that there may be some costs involved.

Think about setting up a home office. There’s a good chance that whatever you’re doing for a portfolio career will involve needing a space. Even if you decide to do house cleaning and handyman services, you’ll want a place to keep your calendar and do invoicing. This can be tough, especially if you’re trying to downsize in retirement. You’ll also want to think about your technology needs including internet. 

Balance risk and reward. Again, remember the goal of your portfolio career. The last thing you want to do is go heavily in debt and not see a return on the investment. Maybe when planning a portfolio career, it makes sense to start small and add as time goes on. For example, maybe your current computer equipment will do, and you can save toward buying better equipment in the future. 

There’s more than one way to transition your career during unretirement. Portfolio careers can allow you to start smaller side gigs while working a full-time job. Then when you’re ready, you can make those side gigs your focus. The key is planning so you have the flexibility to be successful.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby somewhere off the coast of the Mexican Riviera 

Using Social Media in Unretirement: 5 Day Plans

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using social media on a phone while traveling in unretirement

When we have a little spare time – or when spare time is abundant – many people look for opportunities to better themselves. That’s smart because new skills can often open doors. Whether you plan to work during retirement or you just enjoy learning new things, successfully navigating social media platforms may bring both satisfaction and opportunities.

Communication skills have always been a desirable workplace competency. It factors heavily in productivity, leadership and, of course, marketing. In today’s modern workplace, that includes online communication. Social media is particularly valued because of the vast number of users. For that reason, I’ve written short 5 day learning guides for Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram.

Your 5 Day Plan to Using Facebook

Many of us are already using Facebook which can be a valuable business tool without disrupting our personal space. Businesses and groups are plentiful, so there are work related things I just prefer to read on Facebook. Best of all, Facebook is very helpful in offering notifications and reminders to keep you on top of important customer interactions.

Your 5 Day Plan to Using LinkedIn

LinkedIn is another social platform where most of us can already be found. And whether you are looking for a career opportunity or just want to network, the business application of LinkedIn is second to none. LinkedIn is great about helping you optimize your profile and connect with others who share your work interests.

Your 5 Day Plan to Using Twitter

Twitter describes itself as an online news and social networking site. Over the years, Twitter has made several changes to become more business friendly. Today it’s easy to have conversations with your Twitter contacts or even Tweet Chats with larger groups who share common interests. You can quickly grow an audience on Twitter.

Your 5 Day Plan to Using Instagram

Instagram has rapidly risen to the top of the social media ecosystem where 80% of users follow at least one business brand. Instagram grows brand recognition through the power of visuals with graphic images, videos and stories. Following hashtags will help connect you with a global audience that shares your interests.

There are a few other popular social platforms like YouTube, Pinterest and TikTok that you can explore. But I wanted to give you some basics here to help you build a solid foundation.

By now we know that social media isn’t just some fad. It continues to grow as a communication medium, connecting business and personal brands with a vast global network. Whatever your goals, you can scale your social media activity up or down. Right now, we’re really experiencing the value of connection. Learn how to carry that forward into your own unretirement.

What We Are UP To: The Travel Edition

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travel off the coast of saint Thomas

While I haven’t been doing much business travel lately, that’s going to come to an end very soon. Spring conference season is right around the corner. It’s not a problem. I love to travel. But I find my travels are fun when I plan right. Here are a few things I’m planning or like to have nearby when I travel to make my adventures a bit more fun. 

Watching | The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 1 & 2

> With its star-studded cast, this story is about some British retirees who decide to spend their retirement in India. The movie covers a myriad of topics – love, getting older, feeling valuable, etc. and you’ll experience all the emotions that go along with it. I’ve seen both movies and a plane trip might be the perfect way to see them again. 

Reading | Made in America

> I just started reading Bill Bryson’s “Made in America: An Informal History of the English Language”. I will say that I’m enjoying it but it’s also heavier reading than I expected for being an informal history. I might have to find time to read this one earlier in the day and switch to something lighter right before sleep. Might be perfect for long layovers in the Atlanta airport. Ha!

Remembering | Drink More Water

> Keith and I have Walt Disney World annual passes, so we will be planning some travel to the parks. To make our trips more pleasant, we’ve put together a dedicated backpack for our trips. I solicited some feedback from other annual passholders in a Facebook group and we’ve added a couple of Brita water bottles. They filter water and are BPA free!

Working On | Organizing Warranties and Manuals

> With a new house, comes new stuff. For a couple of months now, we’ve simply been throwing all of the manuals and warranties into a box. Well, we can’t stand it anymore! So, we purchased a little filing cabinet that fits into a closet. My new mission is to organize all of it…and before I start to travel. 

Feeling | Relaxed

> We’re certainly not bored around here. Plenty of work projects and stuff to do around the house. But it’s at a good pace. It’s one thing to accomplish goals when you’re running around at a frantic pace. It’s another to keep working the list of to-dos then realize you’ve been slowly and steadily crossing things off the list. The first one is good. The second way is better. At least to me it is…

Planning | Our first Pilates workout

> Well, it’s not our “first” …but our first in a long time. We’ve been walking regularly, and I still love using my Cubii. Found a Pilates studio near our house and signed up. Let’s hope we remember how to do this. LOL! Seriously, I’m sure we will be feeling it but very happy to be exercising again. 

Loving | My new MacBook Pro

> My laptop was showing some signs of slowing down so as a preventative measure, we decided to buy a new one. This purchase put us 100% in the Cult of Mac. Our last laptop was Windows based. We’re still setting it up for travel but so far, I’m in love. It’s really nice to have the same access to files on the road as when you’re in the office. 

Geeking | Clutch Charger

> Carrying around a portable charger is a ‘must-have’ in my travel bag. But I have to admit, they can be big, bulky, and heavy! The nice folks at Clutch Charger sent me one to test drive and I’m impressed. It’s the size of a credit card. Very lightweight and it does the job. 

What’s UP with you?

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby off the coast of Charlotte Amalie in St. Thomas, USVI

Aging In Place: 7 Things You Can Do to Prepare Your Home

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fenced yard in New Orleans for aging in place

When Keith and I were making the decision to move to Gainesville, Florida, we also talked about staying put in South Florida and renovating our current home. It was the live version of “Love It or List It” with David Visentin and Hilary Farr. LOL! Deciding whether to stay and renovate or move is a big decision. Especially when you consider aging in place.

Ultimately, we decided to move. But as we were building our current home, we kept in mind that this was going to be a place where we wanted to age comfortably. This played a role in many of the decisions we made during the construction process. 

As you talk about your aging in place plans, think about your home. It could be done as part of a renovation to the home you have right now. Or building something new. Maybe a bit of both – buying a new home and then renovating it. Regardless, here are a few things we learned along the way when it comes to aging comfortably at home.

1. Appliances: I’m specifically talking about refrigerators, washers, and dryers. I know the current trend is to have the refrigerator freezer on the bottom. But that means bending over all the time! Same with front load washers and dryers. Think about how much bending you want to do all the time and are there options to have the latest while saving you some back pain.

2. Bathrooms: Three things to consider: adult height vanities (again, be kind to your back), “comfort height” toilets, and shower bars. If you’re not ready to look at shower bars in your bathroom, it is possible to have them pre-blocked during construction. Then that support structure can be utilized later. 

3. Ceiling Height: We love high ceilings. They can make small rooms look very spacious. But changing out light bulbs and smoke alarm batteries can mean climbing very tall ladders. At some point, we must decide how many times we want to climb up on ladders when we’re 60, 70, or older. I hate climbing on ladders now and want to do even less of it when I’m older. 

4. Drawers and cabinets: Just like ceiling heights, tall cabinets look fabulous. But depending on how tall those cabinets are, it might involve using a step stool to reach those top shelves. And our builder told us to focus on drawer pulls versus knobs. The idea being to minimize the amount of gripping we would need as we age. And as lovely as some drawer pulls look, they also suggested steering away from ones that might accidentally grab or snag clothing.

5. Flooring: This is a double-edged sword. On one hand, it can be helpful to have all wood or tile floors so there are no thresholds to possibly trip over. But then again, if we put rugs on the wood or tile floors, we run the risk of tripping over them. I wish I had an answer. It’s definitely an important conversation to have. 

6. Landscaping: I love beautiful landscaping. I’m not a fan of yardwork. Keith likes yardwork. He finds it cathartic. We spent a lot of time talking about how much yard would give us the beautiful part we love without being a huge burden. While Keith loves doing the yardwork today, there might be a time when he doesn’t want to, and he shouldn’t feel guilty about it.

7. Lighting: Our home in South Florida was filled with natural light. We rarely turned the lights on during the daytime. Yeah, in the evening we turned lights on but not during the day. Gainesville is different. The natural light isn’t the same. Lighting is important because we need it to read, clean, etc. Not only do we need to plan for built in lighting, but we need to consider additional lighting in terms of lamps, night lights, outdoor lighting, etc.

I don’t know that anyone should duplicate what Keith and I did on our home. But I put this list together so you can have the same conversations and make the right decisions for you. I’d like to think that most of us want to enjoy our homes as we age. That means planning for both form and function when it comes to aging in place.

Image captured by Sharlyn Lauby while exploring the streets of New Orleans, LA