How baby boomers can work for you

There are 303,882,247 people in America. 76 million of them are baby boomers. Now, not all of them will retire. And not all of them will retire at the same time. But most of their jobs will be up for grabs. What does this mean for you? Fewer workers equals more job openings, which in turn, means more opportunities for you. And there are many things you can do to ensure yourself one of them.

The “skill gap” or “knowledge gap” will become a huge issue for every industry that currently employs baby boomers (which is all of them). A great idea is to learn as much as you can about the industry you’re interested in, how it works, tricks of the trade. Get a baby boomer mentor if you can. The skills and knowledge you retain will ultimately be to your advantage when the retirement frenzy begins.

When their top-level employees retire, companies will start to hire more from within than outside for replacements. Why? They are losing a good percentage of workers and they already know their current staff is capable. The talent pool is getting smaller and smaller, so if you can get a foot in the door of the industry you want to be in, that’s as good of an idea as any. Even if it’s just for a little while; it should pay off in the end.

If you do get an interview, something to bring up is the fact they will assuredly lose some percentage of their employees due to retirement. Mention that you are a quick learner and would love to train for the job while those employees are still there. This would counter the loss of productivity and add to the efficiency in which new hires can fully take over.

The baby boomers in America are reaching retirement age. This fact ultimately leads to the formerly high unemployment level starting to decline. So look up - better times are ahead for everyone.

It’s Not the Size of the Dog in the Fight; It’s the Size of the Fight in the Dog

Everyone gets down in the dumps from time to time right? Well one of the lowest and most depressing moments in a person’s life is when they are unemployed. Most likely you want to sit in bed all day with a box of Oreo cookies while you let the crumbs roll all over the sheets in a big miserable mess. Obviously this isn’t the right way to cope.

It’s funny to think that animals might be able to best understand the rejection and indignity that humans face day to day in the employment world. Dancer, a tiny Chihuahua from Leesburg, FL, has faced numerous struggles such as our own. Born to a dying and abandoned mother, Dancer was no bigger than a human thumb. The veterinarian suggested euthanizing him because of his size and the series of health problems that would ensue. The new owner objected and Dancer has emerged as a healthy and certified therapy dog today.

All prospective employees feel like Dancer at one point in their lives. Discarded and left to rot. Not the most pleasant feeling one can possess. However, Dancer teaches the unemployed, unshaven and day long pajama wearing citizens not to get discouraged.

Even if you are productive from day to day with applying to jobs and rewriting your resume a million times, there are limits to your productivity when you are unemployed. Instead of watching reruns of Project Runway, get out of the house and go volunteer! Being able to see a smile on the face of someone you are helping can bring a huge smile to your own. A positive attitude exudes positive energy and this can be the key to getting you back in the employment game.

Dancer’s owner, Jenny Gomes, said a man in the veterinarian's office offered her $5,000 for Dancer when he found out the dog was an adult. Gomes refused, saying, “No way. You don't sell love.” Almost every job I have ever had presses the idea that if you love your job you will never work a day in your life. You could be offered a huge salary and benefits but if it is something so boring that it makes your eyes glaze over then you should ultimately leave it behind. Just like Dancer, you as an employee should not be bought. You should make a career doing what you love and you will radiate with confidence and happiness.

There is always a healing process when you get discarded but there are ways to bounce back. You have to have the willpower to overcome the career tragedy you have faced and learn from the experience. Just like Dancer, if you find a career you love then it will never feel like work. Stick to that motto and get out of your bed. I mean, if an 18 ounce dog can do it than you can do it too.