How to find a job: Suggestions for students/alumni over 40 (part 1)

Lots of folks over 40 are finding themselves looking for work these days, and many are disturbed to find that it takes longer to find a job than they’d anticipated.  The latest estimates we’ve seen are that older professionals can expect to be in the job market for 8 months or more before finding something satisfactory.

So, let’s say you’re an alumnus of ULM, or maybe a non-traditional student, and you’re wondering what you should do to better your chances of finding work.   

Networking:
First, register with us, ULM Career Connections, and keep an eye on our job postings at www.ulm.edu/careerconnections.  Come by the office in Library 302 to chat—we’re more likely to remember you if we’ve seen your face!  And that’s the case with any contacts--former employers/coworkers, former professors and classmates, family and friends—networking is key.  Don’t hole up in your house!  Get out there and let people know you’re in the market for a job.

Networking can be electronic as well as face-to-face, although the personal touch is always most effective.  Besides registering with us, get signed up with the ULM alumni website as well as LinkedIn and other social networking sites such as Facebook.  ULM’s My Circle is a great way to make contact with fellow alums in your career field—people like to help out their fellow Warhawks/Indians.

Are you a member of any civic organizations or volunteer groups?  Church?  Professional groups?  If not, you might try getting out there and joining something.  Volunteer your time to do something connected to your professional skills (e.g. if you have computer skills, you could volunteer to help out a local non-profit organization with their membership database).  You’ll meet people, have fun, and just maybe make a contact that could lead to a new job!  

Skills:
If you’ve been in the same job for a good while, your skill sets may have gotten a little rusty.  Think about polishing them up by taking a course or two at the University or community college.  Especially computer skills—make sure yours are up to date.  

(to be continued)