By: Christina D. Taylor, Sr. Career Coach
It’s no mystery that finding a job can be difficult, and it can be especially hard if you are an older adult.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, it takes “on average ten months for someone over 55 to obtain a new job.” Compound that with the rising cases of the Covid-19, it’s no wonder people are taking longer to become employed or deciding not to re-enter the workforce at all.
So, what can you do while you await that golden job opportunity? Prepare. Building your skillset as you search will only add to your viability as an asset to an employer.
Here are three tips to help you along the way.
Brush up on your computer skills
Are you proficient in MS Office Suite? If not, The Senior Source offers basic computer classes to help! Also, Youtube.com offers a variety of basic computer tutorials for free.
Take a college class
What better way to add to your resume than to expand your knowledge? Many community colleges and education-based organizations offer courses for audit. You can study everything from business office support to welding and medical coding. Check your local community college to see their continuing education classes.
Practice interviewing
In today’s virtual workplace, it’s essential that you can confidently interview in person or virtually. Familiarize yourself with the “most often” asked questions in an interview. You can locate lists on sites like indeed.com or monster.com to discover what employers seek when interviewing applicants.
These are great starters to prepare for your next opportunity.
Want to know more about the EFSC Employment Services? We offer financial and career coaching to older adults in DFW. Contact a career coach today at Employment@TheSeniorSource.org.