9 Ways to Profit From Your Professional Expertise in Retirement

9 Ways to Profit From Your Professional Expertise in Retirement Much of what I write about here is geared towards people interested in doing something new and different during semi-retirement.  But of course, not everyone wants to do a 180-degree change in their second-act career. Some people really love their jobs and would like to stay connected to their professions on a part-time basis after retiring from their full-time career. If that sounds like you, here are nine ways to work on a more flexible basis during semi-retirement  while still using your professional expertise: 1. Talk to your employer about a flexible work schedule: Want to work  for your current employer on a flexible basis after retiring? Ask to set-up a meeting to discuss  options (you never know until you ask). It might be possible to downshift into a part-time or seasonal schedule, work as a consultant, freelance or be on-call as an in-house temp. RESOURCE: For tips on how to discuss and secure flexible work options, see the excellent guides and articles on workoptions.com. 2. Work for a competitor on a flexible basis:  If your  employer is unable or unwilling to offer you work on a flexible basis, take your skills to a competitor. Other companies and organizations in your field might be delighted to hire you on a flexible basis. RESOURCE:  The best way to find flexible opportunities is through networking. In addition to networking via sites like LinkedIn, take advantage of networking events offered through industry-related meetings and conferences. 3. Transfer your skills to the non-profit arena:  While nonprofits depend heavily on volunteers, most have at least a few paid staff positions. In addition to charitable organizations, you might be able to find work at educational institutions, industry associations and local government agencies. RESOURCE: If youre interested in exploring nonprofit options, be sure to check out my nonprofit resource list. 4. Temp as an Interim Executive: Life as an interim executive gives you the opportunity to work on interesting assignments, earn a professional salary and participate in high-level projects. Its a great option if you still crave the prestige and pace of the executive life, but also want the flexibility to enjoy time off in between assignments. 5. Consult: Working as a consultant allows you to capitalize on your work experiences, contacts, and expertise, while enjoying the benefits of being your own boss. Many new consultants start by consulting to their former employer on a project-by-project basis. RESOURCE: Alan Weiss has a number of outstanding books about consulting. 6. Coach: Enjoy mentoring and teaching people in your industry? Consider becoming a coach. One of the great appeals of coaching as a semi-retirement career is the lifestyle it allows: you can set your own hours, work from anywhere and enjoy the satisfaction of  helping to mentor people in your profession. RESOURCE: There are numerous coach training programs. You can search for a suitable match online via the International Coach Federation. 7. Speak:  There are many different venues where you might be able to share your expertise as a paid speaker including trade shows, business retreats, industry conferences and company sponsored events. RESOURCE:  The National Speakers Association has a number of helpful resources for budding speakers. 8. Teach: You might want to consider sharing your expertise as a classroom teacher or adjunct professor. While adjuncts dont typically earn a lot, working on a college campus can be a very rewarding and enjoyable way to experience working during retirement. RESOURCE: The Chronicle of Higher Education is the premier site for information about jobs in the university world. 9. Online Trainer: Many entrepreneurs are generating significant income by creating their own online training programs, formatted as videos, webinars, and multisession e-universities. RESOURCE: Sites like Teachable.com    make it relatively easy to create and market your own online courses. Related articles that you might also enjoy: Love Pets? 6 Ways to Profit From Your Passion 5 Ways to Find Second-Act Career Options 4 Ways to Profit From Your Love of Travel 10 Questions to Help You Find Fulfilling Part-Time Retirement Work Options Fun Ways to Mix Work and Travel in Retirement

Office Knowledge You Should Definitely Have

Office Knowledge You Should Definitely Have Everyone knows what street-smart is.  But check out these tips to keep you office-smart. A little practical office knowledge can go a long way! Use your holiday allowance wisely There are only a very limited amount of weeks in the year where you can escape work and are completely free to do your own bidding. Use this time wisely to visit friends and family, go on adventures and really make the most of your life. This does not include taking precious holiday days because you anticipate being hungover, or because you really need to paint the fence. Plan ahead, and be smart about how you take your holiday. If you don’t ask you wont get It may sound clichéd, but actually asking for what you want â€" be it a promotion, a raise, or simply a clearer explanation of a task or role you’ve been asked to take on â€" is the most likely way to get what you want. One of the reasons men tend to succeed to positions of power and higher salaries faster than female counterparts is because they’re unafraid to actually question their superiors as to how and when they will advance. Your co-workers are not automatically your friends Whilst it would be lovely if you could walk into a new office and straight in a group of new mates, it doesn’t quite work like that. Remember that your professional relationship with colleagues, especially your superiors or those operating at a higher level in general, will come before any personal attachment you may form. Don’t assume that just because you go out for drinks with Lauren or Jia once a week she has your back if everything goes pear-shaped from a work perspective. If something looks or sounds too good to be true, it probably is Whether this is an extra day off on the schedule, an extra amount of money gone into your account with your salary or collection of brilliant projects all headed your way at the same time, things which look a little too good to be true usually are. Whilst you should always be optimistic, don’t be naïve, and always ask if something looks amiss rather than blindly assuming the best. Office politics exist and you will be drawn into it No matter how hard you try to adopt the moral high ground and rise above the catty insults and scheming which is present in every office, you will inevitably be drawn into it at some point. Be aware of where the current tensions in your office lie and how best to avoid the battle zones. Make sure, however, that should you fall prey to the office gossip, or become a scapegoat in order to get someone above you off the hook, you have allies and friends who will stand their ground and defend you, even if it is over the pettiest coffee mug argument. You should only offer to do extra work if it will help you to get ahead. A kind, alturistic mindset is all very well.  But in the office â€" and the corporate work especially â€" generosity ought to be rationed, and used sparingly where you boss will appreciate it. Otherwise, you’ll soon find yourself buried in a pile of other people’s work, and your help will be expected rather than appreciated. Alexandra Jane writes for Inspiring Interns, a graduate recruitment agency which helps career starters find everything from project management roles to marketing internships.

Stop Putting That on Your CV 10 Things to Delete Right Now

Stop Putting That on Your CV 10 Things to Delete Right Now Your CV is the first thing a potential employer will see when glancing over your resume. And first impressions are everything â€" they can land you a job. The problem is that many people put irrelevant, unnecessary items on their CV that simply doesn’t pique the interest of the potential employer. So, your resume goes back to the bottom of the pile. If you’re putting these 10 things on your resume, you need to delete them right now in an effort to boost your chances of being hired. 1. You Added Your Photo I am sad to say this, but you need to know: the recruiter does not want to see your photo. One study showed that adding your photo reduced your chances of being interviewed because the employer will view you as not being serious. 2. Too Many Personal Details Do you think youre being hired because of your marital status or your beautiful children? Providing too many personal details is a big “no, no.” 3. Negative Wording Negative wording doesn’t scream “hire me!” You need to rephrase negative facts to put a positive spin on them. Your employer doesn’t need to know that you had a bad GPA if you successfully completed your degree. 4. Providing a Non-Personal Email Address Everyone has a “cute” email address when they’re younger. The issue is that your employer doesn’t want to see KanyeWestFan01@yahoo.com as your email address. Instead, create a professional email address. 5. Facebook and Twitter Profiles Social media links are important in some fields, and irrelevant in others. A good rule of thumb is to only add in your LinkedIn profile (complete and professional of course), and disregard your other social profiles unless they’re professional. 6. Lying There is a difference between not including information and lying. If you were to say “I helped program Minecraft” and you’re fresh out of college, you’d be telling a lie that could ruin your chances of landing a job. 7. Salary Expectations Adding your salary to a CV can damage your chances of employment. You may price yourself outside of the employer’s budget or you may price yourself far below what the employer is willing to pay for your skillset. 8. Reasons for Leaving a Past Job Many people dedicate paragraphs of their resume to the reasons why they left their last job. Honestly, the employer doesn’t care. If the employer does care, they will ask you during your interview. 9. References The job posting may or may not mention references. If no references are mentioned, remove them from your CV. Why? Your references may be called even if you have a low chance of getting the job, and listing references takes up too much valuable space on your CV. If your potential employer wants references from you, they will definitely ask. 10. Slang/Unprofessionalism Slang is unprofessional â€" plain and simple. You’re applying for a job at a professional company, and adding slang to your CV will result in you losing many job opportunities. If you have a tendency to use slang or even abbreviate words, take the time to revise your CV immediately. About the Author Helen Evans, Marketing manager of JobTonic.in, has been in the career development field for 5 years. She likes to share interesting tips to help people find their dream job. Her goal is to share what she has learned about searching job. Dream job is closer than you imagine!

How to Set a Rookie Recruiter Up for Success

How to Set a Rookie Recruiter Up for Success Its your recruitment consultants first day as the newest hire in the office and youre left wondering how you are going to get them to from zero to hero as quickly as possible. Make sure you put time aside to sit down with your new consultant and break down what to expect from them each week. Make sure you are clear form the outset  from your side and explain to them how you expect these actions to develop their skills month on month. Beyond them making their first placement, there are a number of steps which you can take together, to ensure that they develop into the best recruiter they can be: Take the emphasis off a quick deal This is the best thing that happened to me as a new recruit I felt like there was so much pressure to do a first deal, by hook or by crook! As soon as the pressure was taken off me I focused my efforts onto really developing a business. I did this by implementing good practise I met candidates and clients, had good conversations with them which had purpose and properly mapped out a business with a solid list of target clients. Those that do deals quickly dont necessarily materialise into the best recruitment consultants. Those consultant which concentrate on a structured business development plan will, eventually yield consistency by building a solid business  correctly. Put in place smaller targets To encourage the above point, put in place smaller targets which can be reviewed daily/weekly. Start with simple tasks like composing a really good template for a follow up email, gradually build on the complexity of the targets. Good development points can include: Calls to relevant clients Commitment for future action Meeting candidates Meeting Clients Make sure that these are recognised as milestones and reward them for their effort. This will help  to build up their confidence (lets face it, many sales people are confidence players!) Take them along to events They can easily find networking events and hangs-outs in their area by scouring Google/LinkedIn and asking candidates in their network. This is a great way for them to meet and engage with relevant people in their space and they will quickly pick up the lingo as well as  warm leads/candidates which will materialise further down the line. Get them to present on their market This is a great way of making sure that the consultant has got to grips with the market which they are recruiting in I would always recommend candidates recruiting into targeted markets so they get to understand the space really well. This will ensure  that when they are in conversation with candidates they are easily able to speak about the job roles and work out how suitable a candidate will be. Setting up an informal presentation in which the consultant will present back to the manager/team will mean that the consultant will be required to put some real thought into their market, learning any market terms. The team can fire informal questions at them so that when they are in front of clients they will be fully prepared. Stage mock meetings Whether this is an office wide roll out for every new starter to make sure they are up to scratch or something you do in a one on one environment its great practise! Set them up with a scenario either by email or a follow up from a mock phone call. Make  sure you throw some realistic objections at them and create a score sheet. From here you can give the consultant some constructive feedback to help develop their skills! Get them to lead an office  project Whether its a Monday morning song playlist or organising an office wide sales day, its a great way to get a recruitment consultant brought into the company culture and settled into the company.  Some things you can try could include: Office music playlist Sales days Incentive role outs KPI boards Pair them with a buddy Ideally this will be a senior consultant or somebody that has done particularly well that they can sit next to. Make sure they catch up with their mentor at least daily (ideally after lunch/half way through the day) and get them to listen into particularly important phone calls.Having a hands-on mentor to speak to on a daily basis about their  queries will take some emphasis off the amount of time which you will need to invest into management and it will also help the more senior consultant to develop their skills. For a rookie recruiter to fully develop into the superstar you know they can be, its important to strike a balance between hand-holding and letting them sink or swim. Whatever you do, dont leave the new recruiter to their own devices, and have them suffer in silence try to remember what it was like on your first day you were probably nervous, just like they are! Be sure to create a bespoke development plan and framework for their first week, month, six months and so on, so you can  continue to track their progress to becoming a fully fledged consultant.

Choosing the Right Accounting Resume Sample

Choosing the Right Accounting Resume SampleAccounting resumes should be carefully chosen to get noticed by the hiring managers in all the organizations. This is the first step in attaining a well-deserved career.Accounting resume samples should focus on providing your personality and the track record of service in the financial industry. If you go in for these samples, the decision can be taken after researching a little bit about you. These records must also contain your background, experiences and qualifications.It would be wise to know that there are no organizations that do not have the need for resume writers. You cannot easily get a job without a resume. It is essential for you to ensure that your resume reflects your real worth.Today's law dictates that anyone who wants to be a lawyer or any other professionals have to prove his expertise in his field. This means you have to be able to produce documents that will highlight the significant qualities that you possess, as well as what qualifications you have been awarded.It is necessary to write a detailed work history that includes everything you have done. It would help if you use both your resume samples and a template that are easy to follow. It should have the information you need to present your skills and achievements.The resumes should be able to prove the required skills in a particular field, whether it is accounting marketing, human resources, project management or a type of technical field. Your previous experience and accomplishments are very important for consideration in all these fields. Here you should include all the details of the positions you have held such as the level you hold, the period you were employed, the company or organization you have worked for, and the work hours you have worked.Always use your accounting resume samples to highlight your strengths, abilities and your specializations. A well-crafted resume should be able to describe your job objectives and be able to find ou t the nature of the organization where you would like to work. Make sure that it states the positions you have held at the same time giving your relevant responsibilities.Accounting resume samples are meant to present yourself, and it is not necessary to be perfect. You can always add or take away information that you feel would make your resume flawless.

The Long Road Back - 5 Links for Starting Your Job Search - CareerAlley

The Long Road Back - 5 Links for Starting Your Job Search - CareerAlley We may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners. Losing your job sucks. Theres just no other way to put it. Whether you are part of a downsizing, merger, job mismatch or plain old going out of business, there is no worse place to be than on the unemployment line. Ive seen all of the variations of job loss from all different angles. And whether you are an observer or a participant, it is one of the more unpleasant facts of life. After it happens, it no longer matters how it happened, the end result is the same. How you react to your job loss will very much impact how quickly you will bounce back. Regardless, you will need and should allow for your mourning period. And then its time to look forward and not back. Become fully engrossed in your job hunt. Read on about the road back to a new job and a new beginning. Whatever your journey, you will end up in a better place than you where when you started. I Lost My Job The topic and steps required to start your job search are never out of date (although some of the tools may change). Understanding what you need to launch your search is the most important part of the process. Whether this is your first job search or you are revisiting the topic today, making a job search planshould be yoursecond step (after applying for unemployment benefits). So, assuming that getting organized is the first step, this is what you need to know: Planning for Your Job Search Planning your search is probably the most important part of your search. There are many things you need to consider when planning your search career goals, occupation profile, your network there are a lot ofresources with great advice and links to get you started, a few are listed below. Resumes Cover Letters Your Network Companies where you would like to work Recruiters References Insiders Guide to Writing a Cover Letter If you think you dont need a cover letter you are wrong. And if you were in doubt, this article Reasons Why You Wont be Hired, this is a must read for the serious Job Searcher. . 36 Beautiful Resume Ideas That Work The most difficult part of starting your job search is updating or writing your resume. This article was posted on JobMob.co.il and it provides lots of great ideas for your resume. You know how it goes, it is much easier to start with something and change it than it is to start with a blank sheet of paper. Take a look at this post. Find Your Dream Job by Targeting Employers Research, research, research need I say more? Sometimes finding any job feels more important that finding the right job or employer. Well Im here to tell you that you are wrong. Finding the right job and company are the two most important parts of your job search. Take a look at this article from the Rileyguide.com. Build Your Job Search Network Leveraging your network to help you get your next job is key to success. It is often who you know that that gets your resume seen buy the right person. This article provides good advice on how to leverage your network as well as ideas to a long list of you to build your network. We are always eager to hear from our readers. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or suggestions regarding CareerAlley content. Good luck in your search,Joey Google+

To Cover Letter or Not Cover Letter, That Is The Question

To Cover Letter or Not Cover Letter, That Is The Question To Cover Letter or Not Cover Letter, That Is The Question || Are Cover Letters Still Relevant? Job search March 9, 2018 13 CommentsIf I had a dime every time I hear the question “should I create a cover letter”, I would be a happy person with a great passive income (a very specific example, I know.) In my personal experience, I have not done a cover letter in the last 3 years and I have definitely managed to get not only interviews but job offers. However, this has been my personal experience, and a part of me still wonders if I simply got lucky. So, I consulted with a talent acquisition professional who is an industry expert experienced in evaluating talent and extending interviews…I present you Virginia Lloyd and her perspectives on whether or not we should still do a cover letter in 2018.Skip the Cover LetterApplying for jobs has become increasingly easy, in most scenarios involving a single click to submit your resume. Although this makes the job applicant’s life much easier, it makes the recruiters’ jobs much harder. Countless hours are spent scanning through re sumes with very little return on the investment. For this reason, recruiters spend more and more time actively looking for and engaging with passive talent rather than sitting in an applicant tracking system waiting for the right person to apply.We all have incredibly short attention spans nowadays, and recruiters are no exception. Recruiters usually don’t spend more than 10 seconds skimming through a resume. When applying for a job, the application’s first and most important function is to catch the recruiter’s attention. So, focus on your resume and forget the cover letter. Cover letters tend to be a distraction or in most cases are not even looked at. They’re too often obviously templatized mass produced (e.g.  Dear Hiring Manager  or  To Whom It May Concern) or have clearly not been updated with the correct job title or company name or include spelling and grammatical errors. You probably hate creating a cover letter as much as the recruiter dreads reading it. Ultimatel y, a cover letter is more of a liability than an asset.A Resume Is Your Most Valuable Real EstateRather than spending time on a cover letter, put the extra effort into perfecting your resume. Resumes should convey your elevator pitch at the top and showcase the impact you’ve made.  For example, if you work in marketing, describe the value you added in different roles. Perhaps you created a plan that increased the company’s web traffic by X number of unique visits. Or you developed a campaign that improved inbound sales numbers by X amount. These are important data points that tie into the company’s bottom line and give a better indication of the value you will add to your next role.Putting an objective at the top of your resume with what you are looking for is almost as bad as including a cover letter. It tells the recruiter nothing about your experience and what you have to offer. Consider instead adding an impact summary. List relevant projects and the business impact you’ ve made in past positions. Ultimately, driving impact is what matters.Listing side projects can also be valuable to include. They demonstrate passion and allude to the fact that you enjoy learning and take ownership of your own growth. These points can greatly increase the chances that you’ll grab the attention of the recruiter and  they’ll continue reading into the details of your resume. Even if they decide you’re not the right fit for the role, the odds are better that they will spend time reviewing your qualifications background.Network, Network, NetworkTo really set yourself apart, take the time to find a recruiter or hiring manager on LinkedIn and send them a connection request with a personalized message. Personalized and intentional networking offers the highest  chances of getting a response to your job application. Once you’re connected, send a quick note and express how excited you are about the role and company and let them know you’ve applied. This approach w ill greatly increase the chances that someone will review your resume.As recruiters focus more time on hunting for talent, they spend less and less time on reviewing applications.  Unfortunately, it’s common for resumes to sit in an applicant tracking system and never be looked at. This is especially true for large companies with high volumes of applicants. More often than not, the right candidates come through employee referrals, networking events, company-hosted events, and customized outreach.  In other words, you have to set yourself apart as a job applicant. Any good recruiter will respond to a candidate and  personally sends them a message expressing interest. If they don’t respond within a week, consider sending a follow-up message to reiterate how interested you are in the role, or try contacting someone else at the company instead. Although it can get frustrating when you don’t hear back, try not to be discouraged. This approach takes more time, but your success rate and the odds of talking to a hiring manager are much higher.So, if you are actively job searching, forego the cover letter unless the job application specifically asks for it! Let me know what your experience is in trying this method if you decide to adopt it today. Or, if you’ve gotten interviews without cover letters, let us know too!One exception (edited 3/14/18):  Wisely noted by my good friend Sergio Sanchez, PhD  (see his comment by scrolling to the bottom of the blog post):Networking is the way to differentiate yourself and get ahead of the bot because the hiring manager knows s/he wants you before they even post the job. A cover letter (or a modified, less formal version of one) is a helpful way to introduce yourself to individuals that don’t yet know you but you want to network with. Whether it is a cold contact or an introduction through a mutual acquaintance, folks at the receiving end of networking requests want to know a little bit about you before they decide to sh are 20-30 mins of their busy time with you. They are going to have to stop doing something to talk to you! So that brings us back to the original question … Are cover letter still required? For the one-click applications … definitely not. For networking and introducing yourself … I think the answer is yes.  Funny thing is, this is exactly why cover letters were first created: to introduce yourself to a PERSON and create demand for you as a candidate. It all comes back to the beginning, doesn’t it! : )Virginia specializes in talent acquisition ranging from hands-on recruiting to building out best practices and processes, as well as leading small teams at high tech companies. She is an alumnus of Google, SONOS, Red Hat, and Spotify, and is currently the Director of Talent at  White Ops, an  NYC-based cybersecurity startup.