Jeff Dean has a story to tell about being a seasoned professional who found himself in job search through no fault of his own. In this episode, you will hear ways to navigate through the waters of being labeled "over qualified" which is a euphemism for age bias to using your skills and persistence to find a better quality of life. Take Aways: - Participate (not just join) job seeker groups - Networking is key, and more productive than ever before - Use time wisely and consider volunteering - Age bias is real, so be prepared to demonstrate your value over younger workers (e.g. loyalty, experience) To network with Jeff Dean, connect with him on LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/jeffreyjdean Related articles: Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/carolinecastrillon/2022/09/25/how-to-combat-ageism-during-a-job-search/ Indeed: https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/ageism-in-hiring

Listen to a person who embodies our podcast tagline - Success is a Journey. David D'arcangelo, Managing Director of Arc Angel Communications, former Commissioner for the Massachusetts Commission of the Blind, candidate for Republican Secretary of State, and and former Malden City Councilor at Large talks about his career journey. Here about how he started working in government, moved to the private sector and then returned to his calling in public sector service. In this interview, you will hear how the number one reason for workplace discrimination for individuals with disabilities, how two-thirds of all working age people with disabilities are not in the labor force. Take Aways: - strategies for entering the new workforce - perseverance and how it pays off - secret sauce to identifying the right job/career fit - how to use your natural skills to take you to the next level For more information or to get in touch with my guest: David D'arcangelo at Arc Angel Communications, visit his website - www.arcangelcommunications.com Free personality testing information - www.truity.com (Myers Briggs, Big Five Personality Test, etc. Disc Personality Test - www.discpersonalitytesting.com SELF ASSESSMENTS/PERSONALITY/STRENGTHS* Clifton/Gallup Strengths Finder – Free High Five;  https://high5test.com/ VIA Institute on Character  https://www.viacharacter.org/survey/account/register Enneagram – Enneagram Institute  https://tests.enneagraminstitute.com/  Positive Intelligence – Why only 20% of Teams/Individuals Achieve Their True Potential https://www.positiveintelligence.com/science/   *Sourced from the Online Networking Group for 50+ Job Seekers - http://tinyurl.com/50plusjobseekers Free Business Clothing for your Job Search Are you in need of business clothing or interview coaching for an upcoming interview? Visit the Tailored for Success website to join our community - www.tailoredforsuccess.org

In this podcast, I review the top 10 soft skills desired by employers today. According to Peggy Clause the author of the book Soft Skills, "Soft skills get little respect but they will make or break your career". The top 10 soft skills are: (1) Work ethic - the commitment, discipline and dedication one demonstrates toward their work or responsibilities; (2) time management - the ability too effectively prioritize time to accomplish tasks and meet deadlines; (3) Communication - communicating effectively involves conveying and receiving information, ideas, and feelings through verbal, nonverbal, and written thoughts; (4) Adaptability - the capacity to adjust and respond positively to changing circumstances, environments, and situations; (5) Problem Solving - refers to the ability to identify, analyze and find solutions to complex or difficult issues; (6) Teamwork - the ability to collaborate and work effectively with others toward a shared goal, fostering cooperation and contributing to a positive team dynamic; (7) Creativity - the ability to generate original ideas, think outside the box and approach tasks or challenges in innovative ways; (8) Leadership - involves guiding and inspiring others to work toward a common objective, motivating and influencing individuals or groups to achieve their best potential; (9) Interpersonal skills - the ability to interact and communicate effectively with others, building and maintaining positive relationships and (10) Attention to Detail - which refers to the ability to accurately and carefully focus on the specifics and finer points of a task or situation. As you progress through your career journey, remember that employers can train you for the hard skills they require (i.e., coding, using excel), but they do not have the time or want to train you in soft skill development. Soft skills are the skills they are looking for and will often times make up for the "hard" skills you lack. Enjoy the journey!

Everyone seems to be talking about the new artificial intelligence - ChatGPT. ChatGPT is OpenAI which is short for Open Artificial Intelligence. In essence it is an artificial intelligence research organization founded in December 2015 by Elon Musk, Sam Altman, Greg Brockman, Ilya Sutskever, Wojciech Zaremba, and several other prominent figures in the field of AI. OpenAI's mission is to ensure that artificial general intelligence (AGI) benefits all of humanity. In this coffee break episode, I will give a brief description of ChatGPT and what uses it can have for job search. For more information, join Tailored for Success on July 12th 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. EST for a lunch & learn on the topic. To register got to: https://ChatGPT_for_the_Job_Search.eventbrite.com

This podcast will discuss several aspects of the power and influence of mothers: (1) the power mothers have on their families and communities, (2) the importance of self-care for mothers, how mothers overcome challenges and how mothers empower the next generation.

Happy New Year!  2023 is predicted to be a good year for job seekers, career changers and employees in general.  Stay up to date on what employers  want in candidates by listening to this week's Coffee Break. For more information on the topics discussed in today's podcast: 1. Bureau of Labor Statistics December 2022 Jobs Report - https://www.bls.gov/news.release/empsit.nr0.htm 2. Strumpf Associates Center for Strategic Change - https://www.strumpfassociates.com/2023/01/05/lunch-with-lori-2022-12-1/ 3.  Free & Not Free (but worth it) Professional Development Websites   - CareerOneStop www.careeronestop.org - Coursera - www.coursera.org - Linkedin Learning - https://www.linkedin.com/learning/ (first month is free) 4.  LinkedIn and Your Personal Brand - https://youtu.be/27-PcXVqpzY 5.  Tailored for Success Reimagine Your Career Workshops

Is there a job seeker in your life that you want to support during the difficult holiday time?  Are you a job seeker looking to give people ideas of what to buy you for Christmas that will help in your job search?  Then consider these 12 ideas for gifts for job seekers.  Info for some of the items mentioned in this podcast: 1. Tailored for Success Career Closet - https://www.tailoredforsuccess.org/career-closet 2. LinkedIn Premimum - www.premimum.linkedin.com; comes with a one month free trial 3. How to find industry subscriptions: https://guides.lib.unc.edu/market-research-tutorial/trade; to help individuals stay current in their chosen field. 4. Audible - www.audible.com 5. Grammarly - www.grammarly.com (free) but the premium subscription is very helpful for job seekers 6. Entertainment Subscriptions - https://decider.com/article/gift-streaming-subscriptions/ 7. Sensory Fidget Toys for Adults - www.amazon.com, search on "sensory fidget toys for adults" Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Tailored for Success, Inc. 

Having an internship is an opportunity to learn about a company, network and gain new skills.  This podcast is a light hearted interview with Asiah Wotring who was the Legislative Intern for the Department of Children and Families in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.  Hear how Asiah obtained this amazing internship, what duties she had and what work she produced as a result.   The inspiration for this podcast came from our Coffee Break: Internship Tips.  A recording is available on our YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/5auWZ0mUS1M To reiterate, the top 10 tips for Internship Success: (1) Learn about the Company; (2) Manage your Time; (3) Ask Questions; (4) Accept all Assignments; (5) Have a positive attitude; (6) Know the Expectations of the Internship; (7) Seek Feedback; (8) Take Notes; (9) Develop your Skills, and (10) Dress Appropriately. For more information on Rise Above Foundation, visit their website: https://weriseabove.org

Transcript: Since founding Tailored for Success, my motto has been “Give a man a fish, and he eats for a day”, but “teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime”. Which is why I really like the book, I’m reviewing today – Get Hired Now by Ian Siegal, CEO of Zip Recruiter.  This book teaches the job seeker to fish metaphorically in the job market. Although it is a thin book – less than 200 pages, it’s not a book with “5 latest tips to get job” or a book with hundreds of pages that take you through step by monotonous step in the job search…it’s for people who don’t have the time, patience or luxury of taking months to learn how to find a job.  The book give practical, well researched information on what you need to know if you are in the job search process.  The layout of the book is with short but specific chapters on that I believe every job seeker should know regardless of where they are in the job search.  For example, the book teaches you: 1.   How to find the right jobs to apply to (emphasis on jobs plural). Gone are the days where you apply to a few jobs and hope for the best. 2.  How to stand out from your competition by creating a memorable moment 3.  How to be great in any interview – whether it’s a prescreening interview, in person or video. And the most important aspect in my opinion – how to follow up after the interview. 4.  The art and science of salary negotiation – According to a 2018 survey of more than 50,000 job seekers on Zip Recruiter, 64% reported accepting the first offer they received. Remember, the first offer from an employer is most likely priced with the knowledge that negotiation is expected.  And just in case you are worried, employers do not rescind job offers because you ask for more…they want to fill positions not get mad at prospects for acknowledging their worth. 5.  And much more Basically, the book is broken down into three parts, which corresponds to the three main phases of a job search: 1.  The first part is on Getting Prepared – covering resumes – side note: according to CNBC 75% of resumes are never read by a human; polishing your online brand and how to build relationships with networking side note: 85% of jobs are filled by networking. 2.  The second part is on How to find the “right” job – reviewing job search sites – not surprising Zip Recruiter is the best, and he tells you why, but he also reviews the book reviews LinkedIn, specific industry job boards, and how to use a recruiter.  The book also includes in this section on how to find the right job, the tools you should have, how to determine which jobs to apply to, and interviewing (including how to ace a prescreen interview). 3.  The third part is on Getting the job – why it is important to know how to negotiate, and an important element not often talked about – how to quit your current job (i.e., how not to burn bridges). My favorite part of the book has to be the summary pages of each chapter at the end of the book.  So, if you need a quick answer, on a particular aspect of the job search – that’s where you will find it. If you are looking for a quick reference guide, because maybe you’ve been laid off or fired. This book is a great place to start. In fact, it even gives you information on what to do if you were laid off or fired to make sure you are taking the right actions to secure your rights.  Or perhaps you recently graduated, are coming out of the military or returning to the workforce after a gap in work history; there is valuable information in Get Hired Now to help you. Get Hired Now, Ian Siegel, CEO ZipRecruiter

Getting ready to start an internship or almost finished with one?  Learn what you need to do to make the most out of the experience. For additional information on the subject: 1.  Indeed- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/starting-new-job/internship-tips 2.  Workitdaily - https://www.workitdaily.com/how-to-be-good-intern/2-walk-in-like-you-have-something-to-lose 3.  YouTube (The Intern Queen) - https://youtu.be/VNSe2kcqO9w