Friday, March 21, 2014

Why Older Workers Make the Best Hires for Temp and Part-Time Jobs


By Art Koff, Founder of RetiredBrains.com
More and more employers are finding it cost effective to utilize boomers, seniors and even “retirees” on a part-time or project assignment basis. Temp firms have been using this resource successfully for years.

An older worker generally needs less training, has a better work ethic and will often take a temporary or project assignment for far less than the hourly rate the person commanded when he or she was working full-time. Employers usually do not have to pay benefits so hiring from this age demographic is a win-win for both as older workers often have less need for benefits than they did when they were younger and raising a family.
A common problem employers have when posting temporary or part-time jobs on general job boards is the huge quantity of response. It is difficult to separate the qualified applicants from candidates that match the job description. Older workers are much less likely to “apply” for jobs that are not a realistic match for their experience and abilities. Some job boards like this one allow posters of jobs to ask up to three qualifying questions at no charge to help focus their response.

Common Misconceptions and Stereotypes
The perception that older workers are less productive than younger ones is false. Numerous studies and research have shown that older workers’ productivity does not fall but rises because of greater dependability, better judgment and accuracy. Studies have shown older workers actually miss less work than younger workers and can learn new techniques and technologies effectively.

Advantages of Hiring Older Workers
Older workers generally have a better work ethic, are more dependable, tend to be more loyal and are more appreciative of having a job and care about doing a “good” job. They are also less likely to be looking for a full-time job while working temporary or part-time.
  • Studies have identified older workers’ assets (compared to younger) as having:
  • Lower absenteeism;
  • A more positive attitude;
  • A commitment to quality;
  • More experience;
  • Superior customer service skills;
  • Better people skills; and
  • Being more punctual, more eager to learn new skills and less likelihood to change jobs.
Reaching Boomers and Older Workers for Temporary and Part-Time Assignments

Many older workers seeking temporary employment will not apply for positions that may be appropriate for them as they often feel they will be discriminated against because of their age. This is a good reason to go to job sites that specifically target this age demographic and allow screening questions to help limit response to more hirable candidates. It is also a reason to craft a message more tailored to this demographic. Check this resource, which provides posting information, links, costs, etc.
Addendum 

Few employers are preparing for the coming retirement of boomers from their workforce in the great numbers that are predicted. As boomers retire, a great deal of experience and knowledge as well as familiarity with the company culture will be lost.
Most employers have not yet instituted programs to retain these boomers and even fewer employers have put programs in place to recruit retiring boomers with the needed experience and knowledge to fill their needs on a temporary basis. Keeping retiring employees on a temporary, part-time, flex-time or seasonal basis is a cost effective partial solution to up and coming workforce challenges.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

9 Tips to Help You Find a Job


  1. Register with temp firms in your local area as they don't care about age but are more interested in your skills and experience. Also if you get work through a temp firm it helps build your resume for future work assignments.
  2. Try to get an interview with an employer that is not your first choice to practice your interviewing skills. You don't want to go to your first interview in a long time with the employer you are really interested in working for and make easily correctable mistakes.
  3. Consider having your resume re-written or updated by an expert as the resume you used years ago is no longer appropriate. Click here for free resume writing help.
  4. Look for temporary, part-time or project assignments as they are much more available than full-time jobs.
  5. Search for a job in areas that connect older workers with employers seeking to hire them. Click here to search for a job and where you can search for a job in any geographic location by job title or keywords.
  6. When applying for a job tell the employer you are willing to start working as a consultant or on a project basis; this often gives you a leg up on younger workers who are often unable to accept this kind of employment. Temporary employment or working on a consultative basis can lead to full-time work.
  7. Get information on the perspective employer prior to your interview. For example contact someone who works for this employer who attended the same school you went to or is a member of your sorority or fraternity saying. "Hi. You and I went to the same school but graduated at different times. I'm interviewing for a position in your firm later this week and, before I meet with the hiring manager, I would like to test out a couple questions I have about the firm on you and see what you think the answers might be." (You might also ask if you can use their name as a reference).
  8. Look at companies with fewer than 500 employees as employers of this size created 64% of the new U.S. jobs from 9/92 through 2012 even though they employ just 55% of the private sector work force according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  9. Volunteer with a charity or non-profit. Although in most cases there is little or no monetary compensation, it is often excellent experience and can possibly lead to employment with a firm that is seeking that particular experience or appreciates your work ethic. It is also easier to find employment while you are working as you have a better mind set. Looking for a job on a full-time basis is not a very rewarding experience. Click here for volunteering information

Art Koff, Founder
RetiredBrains

 

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If you're looking for a job, caring for an aging parent, are worried about memory loss, have arthitis pain, planning a vacation or even want to continue your education, the information you need is at RetriedBrains.com.