Creating a Portfolio Career: A Way to Take Control of Your Work

Thumbnail image for Creating a Portfolio Career: A Way to Take Control of Your Work February 26, 2010

How would you design your portfolio career?
A portfolio career is a combination of smaller, more flexible work roles rather than just one job.
For instance, to create your portfolio career, you could pick and choose from part-time jobs, temporary assignments, freelance or contract work, and/or self-employment.
You might find yourself working two or three days a week [...]

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Updating Your Computer Skills: Important for Finding Work After 50

Computer Skills February 14, 2010

How up-to-date are your computer skills these days? What about your LinkedIn profile?
Updating your computer skills is the fourth success strategy for finding work after age 55, according to the MetLife study of the job market for baby boomers, “Buddy, Can you Spare a Job?”.
The study found that interviewers are looking for people who are [...]

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Could an Encore Career Be For You?

Encore January 28, 2010

What do you think about when you hear the words “encore career”?
According to the website Encore.org, an encore career is work in the “second half of life” that combines “personal fulfillment, social impact and continued income, enabling people to put their passion to work for the greater good”.
The idea is to be able to use [...]

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Finding Your Passion When You Don’t Know What You Want

meryl streep as julia child by daves cupboard, on Flickr January 23, 2010

Having trouble finding your passion in midlife?
So did Julia Child!
I recently saw the movie, Julie and Julia. In the movie, Julia Child has no idea what she wants to do, after being relocated to Paris with her husband.
She finally realizes the one thing she likes is food and decides to explore her interest through cooking [...]

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Job Search Networking After 50

Handshake December 18, 2009

How healthy is your network?
Most everyone would agree that job search networking is probably the most important element in any career change or job search.
The MetLife study, “Buddy, Can You Spare a Job?”, lists nurturing your network as the third success strategy for finding work after age 55. I talked about the first two strategies [...]

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Finding a Job After 50 Takes More Than Experience

Findng a Job November 27, 2009

Finding a job now is difficult, no matter how old you are. But when you have years of experience, it’s only natural to believe that employers would value what you have to offer.
Unfortunately, it’s not enough anymore to bank on your past experience.
Experience Alone Will Not Get You the Job
I think about one of my [...]

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Navigating the New Job Market After 50

New Job Market November 6, 2009

Let’s face it. The new job market is challenging, but especially so for older job seekers. What have your experiences been like?
According to a recent MetLife study called “Buddy, Can You Spare a Job?”, many Boomers now plan to continue working until at least age 69, but are having difficulty competing with other, often younger [...]

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Finding the Courage to Change Careers After 50

Eagles October 14, 2009

Where do you get your courage?
I’ve been thinking a lot about courage lately. There’s no doubt the job market is difficult right now. To change careers or find a new job after 50 is especially challenging. That’s why I get so inspired by those people who keep moving forward in their job search despite [...]

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Career Networking: Lessons From a Motorcycle Racer

Together September 28, 2009

What does career networking have to do with a motorcycle racer?
Last week I rented “The World’s Fastest Indian”, a movie about motorcycle racer Burt Munro. In his 60s and despite health problems, Burt travels from New Zealand to the Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah to pursue a long-held dream of setting a world speed record.
As [...]

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Getting Unstuck

moving on September 9, 2009

Getting unstuck is a challenge all of us must face at one time or another. But when you’re embarking on a new chapter in your life or changing careers, you can be especially vulnerable to losing your focus.
Here you are, finally having discovered your ideal career, the work that would allow you to express yourself [...]

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