Older Workers-New Technology: YES THEY CAN

NEW Survey Debunks OLD Stereotype

For years, a stereotype has been fostered by the media, and now social media, that older people are just not that savvy when it comes to new technology. 

This false perception contributes to age discrimination that affects the older job seeker.

Two companies,  DROPBOX and Ipsos Mori, have surveyed more than 4,000 information workers in the U.S. and Europe about their use of technology in the workplace. 

The survey has revealed that workers aged 55+ are actually less stressed using technology in the workplace than their younger peers. The results also showed that older workers are actually BETTER at using multiple devices than their younger peers - only 13% of respondents aged 55+  reported having trouble working with multiple devices compared to 37% of 18-to-34-year olds.

If you are an older job seeker, don't PERPETUATE the stereotype of the obsolete older worker. Be sure to keep your skills AND resume up-to-date. Create your killer resume HERE.

If you haven't been in the job market lately, it might not be your job skills holding you back but your JOB HUNTING skills. CLICK HERE for a free assessment.

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Change Your Clocks - Keep Your Schedule

 4 Tips to Help Your Body Adjust

Studies show that it will take your body a week or more to adjust to GAINING an hour of sleep. This article from The Cleveland Clinic explains why and offers some tips for adjusting to the time change (Editor's Note).

"Nearly everyone looks forward to “falling back” and claiming that extra hour of sleep in autumn. But taking advantage of that extra rest and keeping the benefit can be tough.

Time changes in the  fall and spring inevitably alter people’s schedules, says Cleveland Clinic neurologist and sleep expert Tina Waters, MD, and it can take the body up to a week or more to adjust. Until then, falling asleep and waking up later can be harder. And, losing an hour in spring can cause even more problems....

...

1. Make gradual shifts as needed

In autumn, Dr. Waters says, changing your sleep schedule isn’t necessary. Fall asleep at your normal time, and your body will feel the same when you wake...READ  THE ENTIRE ARTICLE HERE

Can A Job Loss Kill You?

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At Closing Plant, Ordeal Included Heart Attacks 

By MICHAEL LUO

The first to have a heart attack was George Kull Jr., 56, a millwright who worked for three decades at the steel mills in Lackawanna, N.Y. Three weeks after learning that his plant was closing, he suddenly collapsed at home.


Less than two hours later, he was pronounced dead.


A few weeks after that, a co-worker, Bob Smith, 42, a forklift operator with four young children, started having chest pains. He learned at the doctor’s office that he was having a heart attack. Surgeons inserted three stents, saving his life.


Less than a month later, Don Turner, 55, a crane operator who had started at the mills as a teenager, was found by his wife, Darlene, slumped on a love seat, stricken by a fatal heart attack.


It is impossible to say exactly why these men, all in relatively good health, had heart attacks within weeks of one another. But interviews with friends and relatives of Mr. Kull and Mr. Turner, and with Mr. Smith, suggest that the trauma of losing their jobs might have played a role.


“He was really, really worried,” George Kull III said of his father. “With his age, he didn’t know where he would get another job, or if he would get another job.”


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A growing body of research suggests that layoffs can have profound health consequences. One 2006 study by a group of epidemiologists at Yale found that layoffs more than doubled the risk of heart attack and stroke among older workers. Another paper, published last year by Kate W. Strully, a sociology professor at the State University of New York at Albany, found that a person who lost a job had an 83 percent greater chance of developing a stress-related health problem, like diabetes, arthritis or psychiatric issues.

In perhaps the most sobering finding, a study published last year found that layoffs can affect life expectancy. The paper, by Till von Wachter, a Columbia University economist, and Daniel G. Sullivan, director of research at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, examined death records and earnings data in Pennsylvania during the recession of the early 1980s and concluded that death rates among high-seniority male workers jumped by 50 percent to 100 percent in the year after a job loss, depending on the worker’s age. Even 20 years later, deaths were 10 percent to 15 percent higher. That meant a worker who lost his job at age 40 had his life expectancy cut by a year to a year and half.

Additional investigation is still needed to understand the exact connection between job loss and poor health, according to scientists. The focus is mostly on the direct and indirect effects of stress. Acute stress can cause biochemical changes that trigger heart attacks, for example. Job loss and chronic stress can also lead to lifestyle changes that damage health.

Studies have, for instance, tied job loss to increased smoking and greater chances of former smokers relapsing. Some laid-off workers might start drinking more or exercising less. Increased prevalence of depression has been tied to both job loss and the development of heart disease. 

Read the full article at the The New York Times

Related Lifestyle Article:For Ways to cope with Stress you might want to read this article 

LATEST POLL: Election Stress and Older Americans

"People are so stressed by this election that the American Psychological Association has coping tips."  ~The Washington Post

Editor's Note: Yes, "election stress" is a thing, and, according to a poll by the American Psychological Association, an average of 52% of Republicans and Democrats  feel stress from the election campaigns. Social media users have more anxiety because of  constant media exposure. But, older Americans are especially feeling the stress of this election possibly because many issues that are particularly important to them aren't as discussed  - health insurance, medicare, prescription costs, social security, retirement.

The APA outlined a few more ways to manage the stress of this election. And, if none of the below helps you cope, just keep reminding yourself, it's almost over.

• If the 24-hour news cycle of claims and counterclaims from the candidates is causing you stress, limit your media consumption. Read just enough to stay informed. Turn off the news feed or take a digital break. Take some time for yourself, go for a walk, or spend time with friends and family doing things that you enjoy.

Read Complete Article Here.

CLICK HERE to get 49 Benefits of Hiring an Older Worker

Staying Motivated in this "Bad News World"

(Editor's note) We've recently been deluged with abhorrent news reports in rapid succession. There have been hundreds of innocent lives senselessly lost in the United States and all over the world. Political debates and elections are in progress which could have a profound effect on our future. We feel powerless and don't know where we stand globally. And In the midst of this turmoil, you may be in a career change or a job search. How is it even possible to focus or stay motivated with all of this chaos around you? Life Coach Shawn Doyle shares four tips to help you stay motivated during these tumultuous times:

1. Set a bad news budget — If you want to get and stay motivated, I strongly recommend limiting the time spent reading or watching negative stories. Look I’m not an ostrich, and I’m not burying my head in the sand — I know that there is violence and terrorism in the world. If a horrific story comes up I will find out what happened, but once I get the gist of it, I move on. I do not dwell on the sad horrific details and read all of the eyewitness reports on the horror that happened. The result of doing that is just depressing and it brings you down. So I strongly recommend that you create a bad news budget and spend a very short amount of time each day on reviewing the news then move on to something positive.
Read complete article here.

From The Atlantic: The Mental Health Consequences of Unemployment

"Recession is when a neighbor loses his job. 

Depression is when you lose yours."

~Ronald Reagan

Editor's Note: In this article published in The Atlantic, research shows that people who have been out of work for at least six months are more likely to suffer from depression than those with jobs. Even sadder - often, people who find work after extended periods of unemployment lose their jobs within the first year, and the theory for their job loss is debilitating depression.

“Your whole life your job defines who you are,” Yundra Thomas told The New York Times two summers ago. “All of the sudden that’s gone, and you don’t know what to take pride in anymore.”
... A new poll from Gallup ...finds that "unemployed Americans are more than twice as likely as those with full-time jobs to say they currently have or are being treated for depression—12.4 percent vs. 5.6 percent, respectively." Moreover, for those who have been unemployed for 27 weeks or more (the "long-term unemployed," currently numbering 3.4 million people), the depression rate is 18 percent, nearly one in five."

Read the entire article here.
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‡ 4 Tips to De-Stress Your Job Search ‡

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 Four Tips to De-Stress Your Job Search:

Job seekers are spending long, grueling hours, hitting the job front from multiple angles, but the stress is becoming unbearable. So, I decided to build a list of de-stressing tips which hopefully provide you with some relief.


1. Take stock in what you have. When did our personal worth become indicative upon a j-o-b? No doubt, the loss of income will force us to make some difficult decisions, but never will our income, possessions, or number of/type of credit cards we hold even come close to representing our self-worth.

My husband reminded me yesterday of what beautiful grandsons we have; and no matter the kind of day I’m having, or the day they’ve had, we grace each other with smiles, hugs, and kisses. They don’t care about the job I have [or that I even have one]; they don’t care about the fanciness of clothes I wear; they don’t care about successes and failures I’ve had in my professional life. They care about my well-being, my happiness, and about the fullness of my “you’re loved” Grammy meter. =]

It’s too dang easy to lose sight of what *really* does matter, sadly concerning ourselves more about what’s secondary, maybe even irrelevant; i.e. why didn’t I get a response to my resume; why didn’t I get that call from the recruiter like he promised; and, why am I not getting interviews. You can stress about the “whys”, but at the end of the day, they are meaningless.

2. Embrace that you’re a pea in a pod. So many around you are facing the same job-search challenges, and although it might feel like you’re alone, maybe on your own deserted island, you are not alone.

I bet you have plenty to offer others who are unemployed – even if it’s just an open ear. What’s the best way for us to de-stress and shift focus from our own problems? Helping others always works for me.

Where can you find a “pea buddy”? How about …

■ Online forums
■ Local job clubs
■ Business groups
■ Networking events

“Let’s conquer this together.”

Click here to read part 2 of this article
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8 Activities to Cope with Stress During A Job Search

8 Activities to Cope with Stress During A Job Search.

Contributing Writer: Ilissa Banhazl, Marriage and Family Therapy, 2011

Getting older can be humbling for some of us, especially if you are trying to find a new career in today's job market. The economy has lead to workers of all ages being let go.

Realizing you are older in a youthful job market may ignite other losses. People sometimes find that they are getting older and physically may not be able to do the things they used to do. We can feel isolated without a job to go to everyday. Some of us may experience loss of loved ones or adult children moving away.

Do you feel like the same person inside? Would it be helpful to work with a psychotherapist as you navigate this new stage in life? Losing your role in life can be disorienting and people can get depressed or anxious.
Although we see ourselves aging through our bodies (the outer shell), staying young is really about attitude if you are lucky and have your health. It’s time to reinvent yourself so that you can compete.

Find a new hairstyle, pick out a fresh suit and head out for your interview. If you are feeling like your value is down, because that’s what the job market reflects, there are certain coping skills you can use to elevate your mood. Make a list of your strengths and accomplishments. Structure your day so you don’t have too much down time. Use this free time to develop other parts of yourself that you may not have had time for before. Maybe you’ve wanted to learn how to golf or scrapbook. Take a part-time job to stay active, take a computer class, or volunteer with kids in the schools.

Stress takes a terrible toll on your health. Try to take one day at a time, noticing your feelings and learn to sit with them. Feelings are not good or bad, they’re just feelings. Its how we act on the feelings that is either appropriate or inappropriate.

8 Activities I suggest to my patients to help ease their stress during this ambiguous time are:

1. Journal your thoughts and feelings. Give them away to the paper.
2. Share your feelings with a safe person; someone who shows empathy and will not judge you.
3. Learn how to meditate and quiet your thoughts. This leaves room for new ideas.
4. Practice deep breathing throughout the day. That’s in through the nose, hold it for three seconds and blow it out your mouth. Your chest should not be rising but your stomach should.
5. Swim, walk, go to the gym, dance sing, paint, draw, golf
6. Read books on how nail an interview.
7. Join a group for leisure or for therapy.
8. Use this time become tech savvy, like younger applicants.

Remember every job interview is a learning experience. What can I do better or different next time?

Life isn’t over because you’re older than 40. It actually begins for many people because they now know what works for them. They also care less what people think. There are many active and satisfied people in this age group.

Keep hope and keep living. Happy, involved people tend to generate positive energy around them. Pound the pavement; search the internet until you find a job. Tell yourself over and over, I am valuable. I would be an asset to any organization. Now get out there and sell yourself! Good luck!


Ilissa is a marriage and family therapist in private practice in Glendora, CA. She facilitates a variety of therapy groups. She is the radio host of Talk Therapy w/Ilissa. Ilissa speaks on several topics. She authors 3 blogs. She specializes in relationship counseling and eating disorders. She also treats anxiety, depression, grief and loss as well as counsels on parenting and pre-marital issues. www.ilissabanhazlmft.com, www.eatingdisordersgroup.com

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Simplify. Want Less Stuff In Your Life? (video)

LifeStyle @ Internsover40:  Is this a time you need to simplify. After decades of bigger-is-better, experts say the epidemic of accumulation is waning for many people, for both financial and psychological reasons. NBC's Chris Jansing reports.





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49 Benefits of an older Skilled worker: Learn More

Are You A Burned Out Job Seeker?

Are You A Burned Out Job Seeker? Time to Reboot and Refresh!


Do You Think A Vacation Can Improve Your Work Performance? Some of you are looking for a job. Some of you have a job. Either way stress is a part of your daily life. If you want to improve your performance its time to take a vacation. So close you laptop, turn off your Blackberries and Iphones. Put the "out of office sign on your door or email auto-responder". Clearing your head can really lead to a burst of new opportunities. Do you have a story to share that might help those who are resistant to taking time off? (Editor's Notes)





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8 Ways To Cope With Stress During A Job Search

How To Stay Positive During Your Job Search

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After 6 months or so of job searching you might have some really :(( down days. But there are so many things you can do that will help you maintain a positive view of the world.  It may feel like the only job left for you is the midnight shift as a stocking clerk. While we do what we have do you must not lose site of your long-term job search.(Editor's Note)


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< Have you been Stressed or Anxious during your Job Search? >

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Editors notes: So many unemployed and underemployed older skilled workers have commented over the last year that they have mentally suffered with a tremendous feeling of stress and anxiety. Thus living with a sense of being less productive and experiencing a diminished quality of life. So in addition to the numerous articles we have posted on this topic I felt it was time to provide some additional resources that might help you find relief.

 Panic Away may help you with:

• Immediate Anxiety Relief

• A Natural Technique To Stop

• Panic Attacks and General Anxiety Fast!

Is Any Of This Experience Familiar To You?

• Maybe you found yourself in the hospital's ER because you thought you were having a heart attack only to be told later it was anxiety?
• Do you ever fear you might stop breathing because your chest feels tight and your breathing erratic?
• When you drive do you fear the idea of getting stuck in traffic, on a bridge or at red lights?
• Do you ever feel nervous and afraid you might lose control or go insane?
• Have you struggled with anxious thoughts that will not stop?
• Do you ever feel uncomfortable in enclosed spaces such as supermarkets, cinemas, public transport or even sitting at the hair dressers?
• Are you nervous and on edge in normal situations that never bothered you before?

Do You Feel Any Of The Following Bodily Sensations?

• Dizzy spells leading to panic
• Tightness in throat and chest- shortness of breath
• Racing heart with tingle sensations
• Hot flushes followed by waves of anxiety
• Obsessive worries and unwanted thoughts
• Not feeling connected to what is going on around you
• Overwhelming fear that the anxiety will push you over the edge?

These and other similar uncomfortable sensations are all too common but the truth is you do not have to ever suffer from another panic attack or anxiety attack again

Click Here! to Learn More.

Could a Layoff make a healthy person sick?

Losing your job can make you feel lousy. Whether you're fired or laid-off, joining the ranks of the unemployed is not exactly a feel-good event. You don't need a study to tell you that.

But what impact does losing a job have on your health? Could a layoff send a perfectly healthy person into a downward spiral of sickness? It's possible, says Kate Strully, a sociologist at State University of New York in Albany. In her new study published in the journal Demography, Strully analyzed a variety of job loss situations — including being fired or laid off or losing a job after the entire company shut down — and found that job loss may indeed trigger serious physical and physiological illness.

Strully used a nationally representative and continually updated data set known as the U.S. Panel of Study of Income Dynamics (PSID), which surveys people around the country each year on their employment status and their self-reports of health, among other things. Strully used data from 1999, 2001 and 2003 to track people's job status and the impact on each person's health 18 months later. Since previous studies on employment and health suffered from a chicken-or-egg conundrum — researchers could never be sure whether the stresses and strains of unemployment led to poorer health, or whether people's poor health led to missed work days and lower productivity, which contributed to job loss — Strully focused on people who reported having lost their job due to factors out of their control, such as the entire company shutting its doors. (See the worst business deals of 2008.)




She found that among people unemployed under these circumstances and who did not report any health problems prior to losing their job, 80% were diagnosed with a new health problem — ranging from hypertension and heart disease to diabetes — 18 months later. (Not surprisingly, those who started out with one or more of the conditions asked about on the survey were 54% more likely to lose their job within a year and half, for any reason, than those who did not report any health problems.) The most commonly reported conditions among this group were high blood pressure, arthritis and other cardiovascular-related problems. "Job loss leads to a lot of physiological changes," says Strully, who conducted her study as a Robert Wood Johnson Health and Society Scholar. "That's definitely what this suggests."

More intriguing was the long-term effect job loss appeared to have. Even if some of these people found new jobs soon after losing their first one, they were more likely to retain the legacy of poor health from having once been unemployed. "People who lost their job and were re-employed within a year and half also reported increased onset of new health problems," she says. "They shouldn't have had the most severe experiences of unemployment and income loss, and still we see them having new health issues."


Read complete story at: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1896986,00.html#ixzz0fb0s5Mj5

Let your self destress with the Weekly Summary of Most Read Career Articles

12/19/09 Readers weekly choice of the Most Read Career Articles. (or how to quickly find out the best of Internsover40).Grab a cup of coffee. Put on your favorite XMAS Music. Finish wrapping up those presents. We are giving you a chance to catch up on your weekly reading and viewing with a list of the most popular Stories on Interns over 40. These are the the top 5 stories that your peers have read this past week. This weeks stories include tips for getting a job using Linkedin and how to make contact with employers. Hope you find them valuable. We look forward to reading your comments.

1. How to Compose a Brilliant Cover Letter
   
2. Common Concern Older Workers Have
   
3. How To handle Age Bias as  older Job Seeker
4. How Older Worker Can Find Work
   
5. Tip to De Stress Your Job Search : If you need to some help relaxing read this one.
   

 Best wished for a very relaxing weekend with your family and friends. 


Related Tools:Save Time Creating Brilliantly Crafted Resume Cover Letters (TP)

4 Tips to De-Stress Your Job Search (pt. II)

3. Get out every day, even if it’s just a walk through your back yard. Visit your local library, and yes, the local unemployment office. Being unemployed doesn’t mean you need to be in seclusion, facing the uphill battle all on your own.

Don’t overlook transition assistant programs for those who’ve left the military, the resources provided from local employment centers, and the benefits that result from *just talking with people.*

Here’s another “insider tip” that few use: visit your Chambers of Commerce. You’d be amazed how wonderful the people are who man these offices [I've served on countless executive boards and committees over the years] … and wow, what a terrific resource they can be. These people are so helpful, and I *guarantee* you won’t leave your Chamber’s office unsatisfied. For example, they can provide details on upcoming business networking events (great for meeting professionals in your area), provide you with a membership directory (packed full of local companies, addresses, and sometimes, contact names), and on occasion can provide job leads.

Need additional ideas for getting out every day?

■ Meet your significant other for lunch; brainstorm on job-search strategies and ideas worth pursuing. In fact, ask for more than just advice … ask for hands-on help. An extra pair of eyes and hands can go a long way.
■ Go yard sale-ing – crazy! I know. =] It’s fun though … and fun is a great de-stresser. Ah, but mention you’re searching for a job as you casually peruse each sale’s offerings. You’ll be amazed how many job leads you’ll uncover using this unorthodox method.
■ Join area business groups that have “power lunch sessions” – many of the ABWA groups have daily power lunch meetings for professionals wanting that daily “kick in the pants” of motivation.

4. Grab a drink and curl up with a good book. Never overlook the calming effect of just sitting still and taking time for yourself. If you feel guilty stepping away from your job-search, opt for a self-help book to brush up your time management skills, or whatever skill you wish to improve upon, or go with something like the following:

What Color is Your Parachute, written by Richard Nelson Bolles [a great read]
Who Moved My Cheese, written by Spencer Johnson [funny stuff]

You may be jobless, but you are never, never useless or worthless. And don’t you forget it!

http://www.careerealism.com/4-de-stressing-tips-for-your-job-search/

Teena Rose is a crafty 10-year career writer — not your run-of-the-mill resume specialist. She’s noted as a resume 2.0 strategist, understanding that today’s job-search is increasingly dominated by the next generation of job-search tools. You can find her on Twitter, on LinkedIn and on her website.

Click here to read part 1 of this article