Seniors Site

Gone are the days when you go from one company to another just to apply for mobile and internet plans. Back then, these two come in separates. Two plans, two bills, two different services. For a person who works departmentalized, this is a good thing since you’ll be able to fix a thing without doing any changes on the other one. However, as technology advances, so does these plans and quite confusingly, the birth of techie lingo which complicates a senior’s mind.

Nonetheless, communication is important to seniors and although most of us hate changes, we’re forced to live with them. Knowing how to navigate your way through this will even save you pennies and at the same time, suit your needs perfectly. So, in an attempt to somehow lessen the burden, here is a handy guide for seniors who are looking for the right mobile and internet plans to use:

•    Bundles. Telecommunication companies are now offering services by the bundle. In a bundle, you are most likely to have a cable TV, internet connection and home phone line. With bundles, seniors will just have to pay one bill for all services, saving you time and energy when paying. You’ll notice too that you cut cost dramatically as compared to having 3 separate bills.
•    Don’t be fooled by “super fast, super big capacity” internet connection. Telecommunication companies are selling plans according to speed. While it is tempting to pay for the fastest one, notice the difference on how much you’ll be paying. In reality, you don’t have to pay for the fastest one, unless you plan to download movies and play hardcore online games all day long, since the cheapest one is reliable enough for your needs. You can upgrade any time anyway.
•    Go for VoIP and online calls. If you are to choose between a home phone and an internet connection, do get the latter as it can be used for calling home phones as well. VoIP or Voice Over Internet  Protocol is the newest technology created for making phone calls over the internet. For me it’s designed to replace your home phone whether they admit it or not! Not only VoIP calls are more convenient but also cheaper—you can even make calls for free!
•    Dialup, broadband or ADSL? If the internet connection will be used by multiple users within the area, you’re better off with an ADSL however, if there will be one computer terminal for an internet connection, your best bet would be a broadband. Throw dialup out the window, you won’t be needing this.
•    Mobile plan or just prepaid. Mobile phone companies are now offering phones that can be reloaded with credits when needed but can still be called when it doesn’t have one. These two have their own pros and cons. Choose the right one depending on your needs.

Finding a job in your 50s or 60s is certainly no-joke. First, most jobs found on local ads are age-specific and require skills that scream “young blood!!”. There may be some lucky seniors who are bound to become a supervisor or perhaps a consultant with a decent salary to boot but that will require years of experience or a college degree—something that not all seniors have. Nonetheless, this should never stop us from getting the job we want at any age as there are ways to be on top of everybody else when applying for your dream job!

This is where informational interview comes in handy. Informational interview is not your conventional “hire-me” interview, in fact, instead of the company getting to know you, informational interview is the other way around since it is you who are getting to know the company or a certain field. In a way, an informational interview will give you an edge over your fellow job seekers since you have firsthand, inside information of what you need to land your dream job.

I would like to consider informational interview as part of your research when trying to establish expertise over a field. We do know that at your age, it is important that you already have at least one “expertise” under your belt to be considered as “hire-worthy”. Moreover, informational interviews will help you determine if you are a good fit for a job or if you’ll be able to handle the demands that come with it. Only a person with experience on a certain job will know for sure, and they should be the one to interview. Consider them as your resource person. Your resource person can be found through friends, family and even associations, depending on the type of job you are aiming for.

Now that you know what an informational interview is, interviewing your resource person still requires some etiquette, the same ones you are most likely to throw at a hiring manager. It will also help if you do basic research on the job prior to interviewing your resource person as it will help you with the right questions to ask and basically putting you on the same page with the person you are about to interview. As much as possible, know your resource person as well so you won’t risk asking offensive questions or make such remarks. Typically, you would want to ask questions like how many hours per day the work will take and how a typical day at work is. This will give you an idea if you will be able to keep up with the work demand. Don’t forget to thank you resource person after the interview. A small token of appreciation will go a long way!

Let’s face it, not all retirement plans end in a successful fruition. Some seniors I know, or those nearing retirement are quick to admit, it really takes a lot more than careful planning. Worse, if luck is not on your side, market shares drop unexpectedly, leaving you with last minute, frantic calculations of your liquid assets and those unattended extra something you can quickly turn into cash, i.e assets you failed to notice then when you were living comfortably.

Sadly, I have heard stories from friends—and I am sure, you have heard them too—seniors delaying retirement for 5 or so more years just to make sure they won’t experience a “dry spell”—something that is far from amusing when you are well into your retirement age..

Lucky are those who were granted to work some more years but how about those who already went on with their retirement only to realize they needed to go back to work? Here are some tips for landing a better retirement job because for me, going back to work while retired need not be a pain at all!

•    Start local. There are jobs you can find without going too far from your own home—you just have to look for them and in some instances, be creative enough to spot opportunities. You can even inquire with your last place of work for job openings or part time jobs. If you did good during your working years, there is a big chance they will hire you again.
•    Aim for part-time jobs, if possible. You still need to somehow enjoy your retirement years, which means a work should not occupy 100% of your time anymore. You just don’t have the energy for that anymore and you are wasting valuable time if you do. Having part-time jobs is enough to tide you over, along with other monetary aid you’re supposed to be receiving.
•    Look for temporary jobs. Companies are now hiring for projects on a temporary basis. Jobs like this are usually not critical of age and would hire base on expertise. Aside from that, temporary jobs pay as much as regular jobs, sometimes even higher.
•    Join community programs. Government indeed takes care of their people. You just have to get out there and join. While you can volunteer for programs, paying jobs are also available.
•    Expand your horizons. All you need is a little background on something and you’re off to something big—on your free time! Join free seminars and watch online instructional videos for free. Learning something new will help you land a job that is both enjoyable and fulfilling.

Seems like working at home is on the rise as I have been receiving questions from my senior friends regarding this. There are many whats, hows and ifs, however, if you are quite familiar on how computers and the internet work, you are most likely to find your niche—or your own place—in no time!

For business-minded seniors who have limited startup budget or perhaps looking for a more flexible way of operating a store, that is without physically being there all the time, then an online store is for you. You’ll be quite amazed to see how online stores have evolved these days and store-owner support is stronger than ever—some don’t even require an uber-techie person to have one up and running!

Have services to offer? You can actually offer services of any kind to anybody over the internet. And when I say, anything, I do mean anything! But for the wholesomeness of it all, I will just talk about those clerical and office skills you may have or were able to hone over the years working 9-5. This includes bookkeeping, typing, transcriptions, data entry and coding. These are very much in demand nowadays and there are marketplaces in the internet wherein you can join and be found by potential employers.

However, working from home doesn’t mean you are free from paying taxes and other insurance issues. They still exist, mind you. If you are thinking of opening your home to make way for a small business you have in mind, be sure to ask your broker of your insurance coverage and have them arrange what is needed for your small business. They may have to adjust your coverage or have you get another one for the business.

When it comes to taxes, make sure your accountant is well-informed of your decision as you still need to pay municipal and corporate taxes unless you qualify for an exemption. Also, take advantage of other deductions involved when working from home. Just make sure you qualify for one before you actually make a claim.

Make sure you also check your local zoning laws since it can make or break your small business. Zoning laws restrict certain kinds of establishment so it is best to check them out and see if your business is allowed before actually putting it up. Saves you a lot of headaches in the long run.

Don’t forget your license. Businesses, no matter how big or small, require licenses and permits, if you want to operate legally. Check with your local authorities for requirements.

What I really , really love about computers, internet and indeed the world wide web is the ability to share valuable information without having to go out there and work your way against obstacles. I will tell you about the first time I fell inlove with the technology: back then, there’s no internet, just your simple desktop computer and few gigantic, impossible looking laptops. What amazed me was the convenient it had brought me while typing, saving my files and printing, not to mention a few selection of fonts you could play with.
Then came the internet. Although it was quite limited back then as compared to what internet has now become, still I considered it a breakthrough. I began emailing my friends, instead of writing them letters all the time—I still do that when I feel like it though. Now, I would like to call this phase as a “sharing era” when everything can be shared—and apparently, learned. There’s no limit now, you can find virtually everything over the internet. From your grandkid’s homework to your daughter’s Facebook to your neighbor’s famous apple pie recipe, they are all just a few clicks away. That’s not all, to top that, almost everything you can find over the internet is for free!
The latest trend however would be e-learning. For seniors who would like to learn something—anything—this late in their lives but are having a hard time figuring out how to go out of their houses and attend classes, e-learning is for you. E-learning usually doesn’t require anything for seniors to join. Some are conducted as formal classes where you listen to an instructor/teacher and throw questions at the end of each session. They can be in form of webminars—seminars that are conducted over the interent—or video recorded classes wherein you can view them anytime you want. Tests are also given to ensure you get the right feel and of course, to assess if you’re able to learn something from it. Tests are usually submitted through emails as well as correspondence between professors and students. Paid courses are usually credited and can be added to your resume, if need be. Some of the most popular courses are:  web animation, website design and web programming.
If you are interested in joining e-classes, there are some few things you need to get you started. First, you need a good internet connection—preferably fast enough for video and audio downloads—and a little know-how on clicking the play/stop/pause buttons. Seniors might also want to buy a separate USB stick to save files to as backup or to view them offline, although it is not required.

The problem with job seeking seniors is, most of the time, they had been out of the playing field far too long that they don’t know how to play the game anymore! Similar to dating, times have changed. Those which worked before such as pickup lines and dining out may no longer be applicable today and may even cost you your chance of getting the job you want.
Before you go on fierce job hunting, it is important to remember that a proper mindset is a must. Nowadays, companies know what they want from an employee long before they announce their need for one—and unfortunately, they don’t look back in firing an employee if he falls short of what’s expected of him since they know applicants are most likely be lining out their doors as soon as you leave the office premises! Sad but true.
So this blog post is to update job seeking seniors who would like to still be in the corporate world despite its very demanding nature. I believe that there are people who were born to be in the corporate world, then there are those who prefer otherwise. The same can be said for seniors or older adults in the workforce.
TECHNIQUE 1:  Get connections—top honchos to back you up. Gone are the days when you get a job just because a dear friend helped you squirm your way into the company office. In fact, most companies avoid getting tangled to such mess since they are not getting the most out of their employees—and it is bad for the company rep too.
TECHNIQUE 2:  Generalized or pre-made resume—include everything you know, even those vaguely connected to the job you are applying to. While it is good to let the hiring manager know that you are indeed an all-around guy or gal, it can backfire. Be more specific. Keep your resume as short and simple as possible—and right on target. What’s important is that your hiring manager will know that you are suitable for the job.
TECHNIQUE 3:  Come strong—and confident. Yes, it is good to be confident—confident that you can do the job right, that is. The company doesn’t need someone who is too strong since it is a sure sign that you are not flexible enough to accept changes when they happen. They just need you to be honest so they will know if they are choosing the right one for the job—never take it personally.
TECHNIQUE 4:  Brandishing your degrees to get the top position. Unfortunately, everyone needs to start from bottom and work their way up, unless your years-experience will be credited. When applying for a job, take it at face value and never expect something more or else, you’ll end up disappointed.

Let’s face it, sometimes it gets really frustrating at work especially if your career has already become a routine for you. Or perhaps you lost interest and would rather do something else. However, we all know that is not easy to just drop everything, pack your bags and leave since most of us are bound by 101 financial reasons.
Nonetheless, not having enough motivation at work does not always mean you do not like your work anymore. Maybe you just need a quick break or you have been knee deep all along and it’s already stressing you out. Here are some tips on how to maintain a healthy career motivation for us, older adults, who are still in the workforce:
•    Try something new. There should be no such thing as monotonous career. If indeed you feel like you are having one, then it’s time to introduce challenge to your work. Try something new, just to help you get engaged again. Aside from that, you’ll be able to get your career to a whole new level.
•    Find new opportunities. New opportunities represent challenge and work. There’s no better way to get yourself motivated than finding new opportunities and ultimately be successful in making them work to your advantage.
•    Avoid complex situations. Sometimes, having too much complication at work will frustrate you enough to shut your whole brain down, affecting your work flow. To avoid this, try a more targeted approach and focus on the things that matters most. Trivial things can wait.
•    Step back and assess your problem. Is you career weighing you down or it lacks the “kick”? Knowing for certain what you want and how you want it done will help you get your motivation back.
•    Perhaps a change in scenery? As we age, it is only understandable that our body, mind and soul will crave change as well. Perhaps a change in pace or starting anew. While seniors may find it impossible to stop working altogether, you can always find ways to lessen the burden or make it more enjoyable for you to accomplish.
•    Set up goals. Having a definite purpose career-wise will help you stay motivated. It’s like walking toward one goal in which your path is well lit.
•    Remember where motivation comes from. It comes from within you, by the way. You can push yourself ‘til kingdom come but if motivation does not manifest by itself, then maybe it’s time for you to move on.

Oftentimes, although we fail to acknowledge, our workplace becomes the very source of stress. For seniors, this spells catastrophe since your workplace should be one of the few places where you seek solace and refuge. This should be the place where you get creative and put together ideas, not something that represents chaos and depression.
Mind you, it happens—even to the most workaholic person I know of. Ever heard of complaints such as “I need a change” or perhaps “I don’t feel like working today”? That’s because their workplace is starting to feel like it’s closing in on them and there’s nowhere to run anymore.
It was said that your workplace represents your psychological—even mental—state. But what if it drives you crazy, would that mean you can easily be distracted by your environment as well? With these handy tips on how to rebuild your workspace, you are sure to get what you want from it and ensure it serves its purpose well!
•    List the things that annoy you the most when working. This should be easy as you are most certainly be noticing these things beforehand. Will it be the noise down the street or perhaps that neighbor’s dog barking up everytime someone passes their door? Annoying thing can be irritating and it really breaks your momentum causing you to slow down or lose interest altogether. These are the things you need to give attention first when rebuilding your workspace.
•    Your workspace should imbibe feeling of privacy—where you can be left alone with your thoughts. If you are working at home, the most ideal set up would be a whole room for your workspace. In an office setting, however, where cubicles are most popular. Try to pick a spot wherein you own at least one wall on any side just to avoid feeling too exposed.
•    Set up your workspace closer to the window. This gives you a breathing space when things are getting heavy without the need to leave your seat, or your work, for that matter. Also it creates an illusion that your workspace is much larger than it really is.
•    Have someone nearby but do not get in the middle of it all. This applies to seniors who are still working in an office set-up. Yes, you need your time alone but you also need someone to remind you that you are still a human and you are part of the office, not someone who should be taken for granted. On the contrary, getting yourself in the middle of it all will make you feel you’re just one of the many faces easily forgotten.
•    Proper lighting is important. If you cannot get enough natural lighting then have someone install a bulb in your workspace to enable you to see your work properly.

I have always believed that one of the biggest factors contributing to a senior’s stressful life must come from work. Whether it’s working with difficult boss or maintaining a near-impossible time table and indeed, working with difficult coworkers, it can all affect a senior’s positive disposition one way or another. As fiercely suggested, seniors must try to slow down and enjoy life as it will certainly do them significant amount of good. Getting your nerves all frayed is never good for anyone, much less seniors who still have their health to consider. However, it seems that if you are working in a “team” work environment such as in an office, you are most likely to encounter a difficult coworker, whether you like it or not!
Seniors don’t have to put up with these behavioral problems your coworkers must be having, here are some tips on how to deal with them without sacrificing your own productivity at work:
•    Create a plan of action. Knowing where your options are creates a certain kind of feeling of being one step ahead of the situation. Like you have a control over things and not the other way around.
•    Assess where you stand. Difficult people almost always don’t realize they are being difficult to others, until the time someone tells them straight. If your coworker is being difficult not only to you, then it’s time to get others involved before “difficulty” turns into a problem. As much as possible, don’t take it as a personal attack unless it blatantly is.
•    Your contribution to the situation. You might be contributing to the situation without you knowing it. Try to assess yourself, your reactions to the person when he or she is trying to communicate with you.
•    As a senior, it is expected of you to have some maturity over things. With maturity comes understanding such that, you must understand how things work first and its outcome. Understanding where your coworker is coming from must be your best weapon in warding off stress.
•    It is okay to confront your coworker, but never attack the person! As much as possible, express your concerns being not so beneficial as far as your working relationship is concerned. Try to work out an agreeable flow of things to make the relationship work. Always keep your emotions in check when trying to talk to a difficult coworker.
•    When things get tougher then it’s time to involve the gods! Your supervisor, your boss or whoever is in charge for this kind of problem. Nobody wants a snitch but if it’s the only way to resolve the problem, then why not?

Don’t you just love being the guy who knows everyone by first name? Or if somebody just needs to talk to someone, you’ll be the first one they will ever contact to get this someone’s attention?.. Well, I say, that’s one of the perks that comes with living in this world for such a long time! Seniors who have been in the work force for so many years are indeed well-known in their chosen field. Even those stay-at-home wives must have filled at least 2 personal phone books when asked.
In line with this, let me just introduce to you a new word:  networking. You must have heard this word once or twice—many times if you are active in the “web” scene. Social networking for one is probably the most used term as of the moment but just to be fair, I won’t jump into conclusion that we all are aware of that. Networking, by definition, is the act of meeting new people and making new connections. For seniors, like I stated earlier, connections are never a problem since they already existed, unless of course if you are planning to make new connections in yet another field. Problem is, most of these connections just go to waste, instead of making the most out of them. Let me rephrase that, it’s not about using people you know but taking your business to the next level just by merely knowing these people.
In today’s world, knowing as many people as you can will definitely be an advantage for you. Take for example your resume. You name people there as your referral, and somehow it has to be someone who can vouch for you and at the same time, prove to the company that his or her words can be depended on. Just imagine if you wrote down a name of a president or CEO of a well-known company? Just imagine that! That’s networking at work!
I would like to think that everyday is an opportunity to make new connections. It was said that no man is an island, and I firmly believe that. There are billions of people out there and millions of ways to make connections, there is no good reason why you should not explore the possibilities of networking. Making yourself ready and presentable all the time are the next best things to do, to attract people. To make networking work to your advantage, you should know the golden rule:  that is offering your help whenever needed. This way, you are already paving the way to a good relationship which you can reap benefits from in the future. Also, word of honor is very important so always deliver your promises.
Networking is all about relationships—as much as possible, personal ones. It should be cherished and nurtured overtime to make it work.