Is working late in life good for your health? Yes, says Seniors4Hire.org

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif., --Working late in life can be good for your health which is great news for the increasing numbers of seniors that are opting to remain in or re-enter the workforce. And, this is healthy news for the business community.

Renée Ward, founder of http://www.seniors4hire.org/ says studies show that depression after a job loss whether voluntary or not is a common problem. Older workers who have invested a lot in their careers and identify strongly with their work are at greatest risk. Working can help keep an older person’s mind alert and their self-esteem up while providing a sense of purpose, income and autonomy.

“Rather than being isolated at home, being engaged with the public or a project helps ward off boredom and depression”, says Dr. Vonda Pelto, a clinical psychologist in Long Beach, CA. “Having a place to go and people to see is very important to the well-being of many people. Ultimately, work you enjoy reduces stress and prolongs life.”

Ward says, “There’s the misperception that older workers just want to be greeters at some mall store. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have a great pool of talent among the Seniors4Hire.org membership looking for meaningful opportunities and not just a little something extra to do. Small businesses in particular may want to take a look at our membership to fill key positions. Many members are looking to port their skills in new areas.”

Seniors4Hire.org members are 50 and older and self-categorize their skills and job hunt needs. The 15 most heavily populated categories are:

Accounting & Auditing
Administrative and Support Services
Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations
Biotechnology & Pharmaceuticals
Computer-related Services
Education, Training & Library
Engineering
Executive Management
Human Resources & Recruiting
Insurance
Legal
Operations Management
Sales
Telecommunications
Transportation & Warehousing

“These are folks who want to be gainfully employed and contribute to the bottom line of the business. Work, is sometimes what we live for”, says Ward.

For more information visit http://www.seniors4hire.org/

It’s time for teens and older workers to begin the hunt for a holiday job

HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA., -- Holiday jobs are great for teens, older workers as well as others looking for temporary employment. Teens and workers 50 and older can beat out the competition by following these few tips says Renée Ward, founder of http://www.teens4hire.org/ and http://www.seniors4hire.org/.

Holiday job hunting tips

(1) Visit every place or business in your community that might need some help for the holidays. Internet clicking alone will not help you land one of these jobs.

A good place to start is with your local stores. The retail industry adds thousands of temporary jobs between now and the end of the year. Stores need more people to stock and sell their products. This includes mall stores, grocery stores, fast food and casual dining restaurants, photo studios, and specialty stores like pumpkin and tree lots.

Other places to consider include packing and shipping companies, event planners, catering and house cleaning services, amusement/theme parks, and charitable organizations like the Salvation Army.

(2) Dress for success.

No need for a three piece suit but your attire should be neat, clean and ironed. No perfume, gum chewing or smoking. This just might offend the hiring manager.

(3) Be prepared to be interviewed and/or assessed on the spot.

Many retail outlets now have kiosks in their stores where you can apply for jobs. The way you answer their questions is often being monitored. If you pass their assessment, you may be given an immediate interview. Be prepared to answer why you want the job and demonstrate that you can handle the job based upon your experience and/or skills.

Older workers have a distinct advantage in landing these jobs. Companies tell Ward they prefer older workers based upon their experience, reliability and maturity.

Teens with little or no experience are encouraged to sign up for Teens4Hire.org’s online interactive job readiness and certification program, http://www.teens4hire.org/ready_workplace.asp Teens can earn a validated certificate that they can present to prospective employers as testimony to their self-motivation, preparedness and readiness for work. It will improve their chances of getting hired Ward says.