Are you over the age of 50 and looking for a new job? Have you discovered that the process of job-seeking is much more difficult than you had expected? Is it all too easy to make excuses: to say, for example, that you are too old to learn new things or too frustrated to show your best self?

No excuse is acceptable when you are searching for a new job. You are a successful, special person, and you can succeed in anything you want! Those who say “I can’t” and those who say “I can” are both telling the truth. So, which one are you? Are you of the optimistic bunch who can take a challenge and turn it around? Or are you a member of the pessimistic group who give up easily at the slightest obstacle or barrier? The job market has changed dramatically in recent years, and now we’re in a survival-of-the-fittest mode.

Only the best shall be successful in achieving their job goals. But what do we mean by “best”? It is critical to note that reaching a job goal usually has nothing to do with skills, experiences or attributes (though these are essential)—in fact, the final deciding factors are personality and attitude.

Start off by sitting yourself down, staring intently into the mirror, and honestly answering this question: “Is my age really an issue?” Your answer will determine how well you approach and perform within today’s job market.

Let’s take a moment to consider the number one challenge faced by those over 50 in search of a job. That challenge is packaging – in other words, how you go about inventing, marketing and re-inventing yourself to suit different employers, different job agents and the many different scenarios you will find yourself in as you pursue your job goal. At this age, one of the greatest dilemmas you will run up against is having a wealth of varying skills, experiences and attributes to offer. Where most people in this target group fall short is in knowing how to package these beneficial qualities appropriately by targeting them to suit each specific job opportunity they are presented with. To do this well, you must keep the following three key points in mind with regard to packaging:

Industry Requirement: Issues to do with industry evolving bringing about current trends, experience and specialist skills required. Do you know what these are and if you possess these current requirements at the expected level.

Job Role Requirements: Issues to do with job role tasks that are age sensitive. For instance role requiring heavy lifting or strenuous activities.

Your Requirements: Issues to do with your own personal values and why you are looking for a new job. For instance, are you looking for a more financial rewarding role, greater job satisfaction or perhaps a job that will keep you physically and mentally active?

How successful you manage these three key points depends largely on how good your job market skills are. So start off on the right foot by taking this FREE Job Market Performance Assessment to determine your current level of job market skills and discover what you could be doing better!

If you are seriously searching for a local job, but you have no idea where to look, you may be just one of the thousands of unemployed people in the country. However, finding a job is easy when you know where to search.

Where can you find employers? How can you find your desired local job?

Before anything else, you should determine your skills and abilities, update your resume and be ready to face the employment process. There are several options on where to find employment.

1) Job Center: Job centers provide numerous vacancies for different kinds of work. Majority of job centers update their employment board frequently.

Originally, these career centers cater to young jobseekers up to 21 years old. They arrange for appropriate job interviews, which they believe, would match your skills and abilities. Some job centers also process training vacancies and apprenticeships to young people. Today, these centers also cater adults’ need of employment.

2) Newspapers: Local and national newspapers, non-profit papers and job hunting newspapers provide advertisements on current job vacancies. You could find all the existing newspapers in libraries and check all the recent job postings.

Majority of newspapers today have their content available online. You could browse through them one by one and list all the jobs you prefer.

3) Journals and magazines: Every industry has their own periodicals, magazines or journals. Most employers go to these publications for employing professionals. Some could be bought in magazine stands and others come by subscription. Therefore, if you are hoping to establish your career based on your finished field of study, you could subscribe to a professional magazine and increase your local job prospects.

4) Agencies: Employment agencies handle most of vacant local work. Covering all kinds of work for various industries, these agencies are listed in local directories and Yellow pages.

5) Employer grounds: Many companies have job vacancies on their premises. Since these companies such as food retailers make use of internal notice boards, they do not advertise in newspapers and agencies. You could walk into these companies and ask the front desk for employment vacancies.

6) Internet: The most cost-effective way in finding local jobs is through the internet. Majority of employment agencies, newspapers, top companies, magazines and job centers have their own website. You could save time by searching through them one by one and apply for the job you prefer the most.

Making use of all these options could save you a lot of time searching for your desired local job. You could use all of these methods simultaneously to increase your chances of employment.

Job hunting abroad can be both an opportunity and an adventure. There are hurdles to overcome when searching for the right job abroad. Let’s take going to Madrid, Paris, Rome or London for example. It’s not enough to just send resumes, the idea should be “get the luggage and get on the plane.”

Getting a work permit is one obstacle in Europe. To stay there for an extended time, a residence permit is needed. This an only be granted once a working permit has been granted. Companies only provide non-European workers their work permits if they prove that there are no qualified European for the position. This is tough since the European Employment Services allows different companies to recruit prospects in eighteen European Economic Area countries. Remember that an ideal candidate is one who is able to speak the native language of a specific city other than English.

If you have your eye on Spain, a typed application letter with a resume must be prepared, including a recent photo and translated qualifications and/or copies of diplomas and other credentials. The letter must be written in a direct formal style citing the vacancy applying for. A must have for the closing should be “En espera de sus noticias, les saluda atentamente.”

In the United Kingdom, newspapers are good sources of job openings. Assorted prime papers offer complement of job vacancies like “The Guardian,” “The Daily Telegraph,” “The Times,” or the “The Independent” particularize vacancies daily. Companies are very particular regarding the reason you are applying. Research on their product offers, location of branches/offices, etc. There must be a reason why there is an interest to work for a specific company.

The application for jobs in Italy should also consist of a typed application letter. This should be formal and conventional in form. Using the Italian language is a must when explaining the intriguing reason for application. Diplomas and other credentials including impressive list of references should be handy during the initial interview. There are three to four expected follow-up interviews including a psychometric test. Put emphasis on personal appearance before the interview especially how the dress as this shows the concern in getting the job being applied for.

The average job search abroad ranges between six to twelve months. Experts consider searching for a job a full time job itself. Attending career counseling is helpful if unsure on what to do. There are a lot of great career resources who can give advise that best fits ones interests and passion.

Are you looking for a new job or a career change?  If you are, you may end up turning to the employment section of your local newspaper.  Although your local newspaper is a great way to get access to local, up-to-date job listings, you need to be cautious of some of those listings. 

When we think of scams in general and when they are associated with job opportunities we automatically think of the internet.  Yes, most scams take place online, but what you may not realize is that some of your local newspapers may also be home to employment scams. Unfortunately, most newspapers do not have the time, the money, or the resources needed to check each and every one of their employment ads. That is what allows some employment scams to make their way into your local newspaper.  However, the good news is that most scams can be spotted right away, at least with the correct knowledge.

Most commonly, employment scammers, those who use job listings to scam unsuspecting job seekers, try and target free or weekly newspapers.  Although they still have to pay a fee to take out an advertisement, most of the fees associated with weekly or monthly newspapers are quite minimal.  If and when the scam works, the scammer could either walk away with “required,” deposit, or your social security number, possibly even your bank account number, if you were “required,” to sign up for direct deposit. The money that scammers make is actually quite high.  That is why five dollars to post a job listing isn’t much of an expense to them.

As outlined above, many scammers make money by stating that all job applicants or hired applicants must pay a deposit.  You should never have to pay to get a job; it should be the other way around.  Of course, with this in mind, a legitimate business opportunity, particularly one that is home based, may require that you purchase certain equipment, like a telephone headset, but you should be able to make your own purchase, anywhere you want.  You are urged to avoid any job opportunity that asks you to pay a deposit, whether that deposit is for learning materials or “just because.”

You are also advised to be cautious of any job listings that are for work-at-home opportunities.  Yes, work-at-home jobs and business opportunities do exist, but most of those opportunities are actually advertised online, not in a newspaper’s employment section. You will want to be cautious of any work-at-home opportunities that say they only have a certain number of openings, like five or more.  Many times, these listings are used to get job applicants to act fast and avoid their suspensions in fear of the opportunity being given to someone else.  Avoid, at all costs, any job listings that say you can make money stuffing envelops, as this is almost always a scam.

When using your local newspaper, especially one that is a daily newspaper, most of the job listings will be for local jobs. You are advised to find a legitimate job listing, one for a local job, and compare it to one that may raise your suspensions.  In most cases, you will find that real, legitimate job listings will contain as much information as possible.  Be cautious of any job listing that doesn’t actually explain the job to you or one that also has a 1-800 number listed.  1-800 numbers are common, but they should be accompanied with lots of information.

In short, what you need to remember is that just about anyone can take out space in a newspaper’s employment section.  By keeping the above mentioned points in mind, when examining your local newspaper’s employment section, you should be able to spot and avoid employment scams.

Are you looking for a new job?  If you are, you may be using the internet or your local newspaper to find job listings.  Although the internet and local newspapers are a great way to find up-to-date job listings, you also need to be on the lookout for scams.  There is such a thing as an employment scam.  The good news is that many employment scams are easy to spot, especially when you know what to look for.

When it comes to being on the lookout for employment scams, it is extremely important that you remember employment scams are not only found online.  While these scams are more common online, many employment scams are making their way to local newspapers, possibly even your local newspaper. That is why you always need to be on the lookout for employment scams; you should never let your guard down.

As for spotting an employment scam, which is also commonly referred to as a job listing scam, there are a number of points that you will want to be on the lookout for.  Perhaps, the biggest red flag is when you are required to putdown a deposit to apply for a job or to get hired.  If you are thinking that it is suspicious, you are right.  Many people are so desperate for a job that they don’t realize that they shouldn’t have to pay to work; it should actually be the other way around.  No matter what excuses you are given, like that your deposit would be used to process your application or pay for your training materials, do not fall for it.  Under no circumstances should you pay an employer to let you work for them.

Another easy way that you can spot an employment scam is by examining the information given to you in a job listing.  For instance, most legitimate business opportunities or job listings will be full of information. Whether the job listing is for a local job or work-at-home job, you should be able to get information on the type of job available, a little bit of background information on the company in question, qualifications needed, as well as information on how to go about applying for the job.  Employment scams often provide as little information as possible.  You will want to be on the lookout for job listings just that encourage you to “act fact, as only five more positions available,” or something else along those lines.  Never apply for a job without knowing exactly what you would be doing first.

One of the reasons why you are advised against apply for a job that you don’t really know much about is because many job applications request your social security number.  Your social security number in the wrong hands can result in a bad, costly situation.  The requesting of a blank check, for direct deposit, is another red flag that you should be able to spot.  If you are hired to work for a well-known company, one that is either local or online, direct deposit is okay, but you should never signup for direct deposit because you are required to do so, especially if you are trying a new work-at-home opportunity.

The above mentioned red flags are red flags that you should always be on the lookout for and avoid.  In all honesty, you may be able to search for and find legitimate job opportunities or examine a large number of job listings without every coming across an employment scam, but it is still best if you are prepared for it all.