I would like some new good specific suggestions to pursue in my job
search as I’ve come to a dead end.  MBA from Purdue, BS, chemistry,
University of Richmond - I left DuPont in 1987 after 22 years of
marketing/sales/strategic planning/business analysis and started a
small manufacturing company (pre-cast concrete panels for residential
housing) - company went bankrupt due to 1987 market crash.  Took a
business consulting position in Saudi Arabia for six years and
contract ended in 1996.  Since then I’ve lived in Amsterdam for three
years and back in the states for three years.  I’m now 58, have no
network and am fighting ageism and my lapse in work history – and the
fact that I am the penultimate generalist in an economy that worships
specialists.  I have a lot to offer but cannot even get an interview
and have to work a night job at 7-Eleven just to get by.

I’ve tried to give you a short but useful synopsis – I have tried all
the traditional approaches in “What Color is Your Parachute” and
worked with the top outplacement firm here in Richmond.  I am single,
unencumbered, broke - able to move anywhere in the world (preferably
The Netherlands) for a position.  I only speak English.  I am bright,
attractive, healthy, creative and a good communicator.  Please help –
there are so many out-placed middle managers chasing too few jobs.

If you can give me an answer that eventually works, it may give me
back my life – I’m on a tight budget and $25 is quite a lot to me
these days – there is no way I can repay you if you come to my rescue.
 Thanks

Hi Amsterdam!

Your question reveals your extensive education and work history. You
are articulate with useful skills that a future employer will notice.
You are flexible with the desired location of your next job, which
opens the door to opportunity for you wider than if you were
restricted. While you may believe yourself to be at a dead end in your
job search, there is actually another path that, with an optimistic
attitude, may lead you in the right direction.

To get you on your feet again, consider joining a community service
organization. Community service is a great way to feel good about you.
 It is an opportunity to network with community members who may have
insight to an exciting job.  The next interview may come when a
community member recommends your resume to a potential hiring manager,
rather than the potential employer reading it on the Internet.
Action Without Borders is a great place to start. Here you can find
volunteer opportunities, jobs, and resources to get you back on your
feet. This site lists opportunities in Virginia, the Netherlands, and
around the world!
Idealist.org
http://www.idealist.org/

If your previous career counselors have helped you narrow your
interests in the job market, but you are still unsure what to do, then
perhaps you are ready for a career change. You might want to get an
entry-level position in a new field of interest.  If you are
interested in becoming more versed in computer technologies, I
recommend visiting The Senior Net Career Enhancement Center website.
http://www.seniornet.org/php/

Cooljobs.com has links to some ‘cool’ jobs, like seat filler, mystery
shopper, game tester, or rock n’ roll roadie. There are some inspiring
resources on their site.
http://www.cooljobs.com/

Consider an adult training center to develop job-specific skills. The
Employment and Training Administration of the Department of Labor
provides intensive training services for recipients of public
assistance and other low-income individuals where funds are limited.
http://www.doleta.gov/programs/adult_program.asp

Eurojobs.com is a great site to help you understand the requirements
necessary to work in Europe as well as current job listings.
http://eurojobs.com/infowork.htm

Keep your sense of humor! Here are two links to make you laugh while
enduring your job search!
http://www.cooljobs.com/jokes/keys.asp
http://jobshark.tripod.com/

Additional Websites that may interest you: 

A list of over 450 links to job search websites in the Google
directory.
http://directory.google.com/Top/Business/Employment/Job_Search/

"Working Options" is the most comprehensive job search skills for
persons over Fifty years old.
AARP.org
http://www.aarp.org/working_options/

"Older is Better: Late-Career Job-Hunting Advice" by K. Daniel Glover
Careerbuilder.com
http://www.careerbuilder.com/wl_ct_0003_olderbetter.html




Search Terms Used: 

Aging Employment search

“Job Search” “over 50 years old” 

“job search” “over 55 years old”


Remember, you are able and willing to work. Your skills are useful. 
Keep your chin up; the right job is out there for you!

Penguin

You guys are exceptional - I just hope that Google keeps up the
quality of this service - and its reasonable price - just exciting
suggestions you've offered here and a very timely response - will
start exploring them right away - thanks.

I am 38 and just recently went through the job hunting process.  Here
is what worked for me.   Volume, volume, volume.  I sent my resume to
dozens and dozens of places.  I found that you can search for jobs
online through Monster.com and many others.  Just put your profession
in the google search engine along with job search and you will find
many places.  The handy part about this is that all you have to do is
hit "click" to send in a resume.  Saves a fortune on stamps.  Also, my
profession had a trade paper to search and it was online and so I
searched the help wanted ads on line daily and again, when it came
time to sending in a resume all I did was click.
Finally, I searched the local newspapers.  The classifieds are often
on line as well and again, you guessed it, just hit click to send in a
resume.
One more comment.  Think outside the box.  Remember job descriptions
are wish lists.  Pay no attention to them.  I don't care if you are
not qualified.  Send in a resume.  Send in a resume for a job you
could not possibly get.  (I got offered one of those kinds of jobs to
my utter surprise).  Most jobs train you on site anyway.  If you are
generally intelligent you should get the hang of it quickly - or get
fired and then you are back to where you are now.  (With an extra
paycheck in hand.)
Also, try to reframe your experiences.  Do not say you have been out
of the job market, say you have been gaining valuable international
experience.  I don't care if you have been sitting on the beach on the
French Riviera, it is still an experience most people here don't have.
Good luck.
Do not despair. 
Volume, volume, volume.
P.S. I spent around 4 hours a day on line searching for more jobs to
send in a resume.  I found a job in two months.  Well, actually I
found three.  I got all the offers in the same week.

The best advice and instructions about how to find a job is in the old
book "Job and Career Building" by Germann and Arnold, about the
Bernard Haldane methods.  It is out of print but you can find it used
on Amazon.

The primary lessons I remember from it are to determine to keep a
realistic, positive attitude in your actions, to determine rationally
what steps to take, what to expect, and to take them and get the
results.  The initial steps are to seek out people who are worth
talking to, and get the chance to talk to them, by persistently,
respectfully asking for it.  Tell them your situation, what you have
accomplished in the past, ask for their advice, and for references to
anyone else they may know who may be helpful.  Do not ask for a job. 
Offer valuable information (who you are, what you can do) and ask for
valuable information (what they know of the job market, what they
think of your presentation, who they know to talk to.)  Then write
them a thank you letter, contact the people they told about, and keep
them informed occasionally about your progress and anything that might
be valuable to them.

This is the best way.  There are many ways, but like the old saying
about always finding something in the last place you look, everyone
who has ever found a job thinks their way was it.  But most of them
are terribly inefficient and emotionally draining.  Haldane's way is
right, and healthy, and has no negatives.

Amsterdam:  You're missing an incredible universe of available
positions with your credentials.  The *FIRST* place you need to go is
http://www.developmentex.com/ and register (it's free).  You can post
a resume online for employers to view, (it's an arduous, detailed Q &
A process, but well worth the effort), but this site's greatest value
is your ability to seek open overseas positions and contact the
primary and sub-contractors directly.  You can also research new major
international contracts and associate your resume and interest in
them.  My husband works overseas on assignments ranging from 90 days
to 3 years for exactly the same reasons you're having difficulties -
ageism - and these overseas contracts are looking for older, stable,
well qualified candidates.  Your credentials in strategic planning and
business analysis with a manufacturing background are super valuable
these days.  USAID is funding with beaucoup dollars particularly in
Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Egypt (my husband's favorite
assignment) Asia and Africa.  A word of advice about writing a resume
for these positions - Keep It Simple - more like the 'old' way of
writing resumes; just the facts.  Doesn't matter if you use the
chronological method or functional method.  Just the facts with
consise descriptions of your accomplishment(s) and emphasis on LOTS of
overseas work and any foreign languages you might be proficient in. 
(Don't worry if you're not, there are lots of positions that don't
require a foreign language.)  Also, download a copy of the Contractor
Employee Biographical Data Sheet (USAID 1420-17)from
http://www.usaid.gov/procurement_bus_opp/procurement/forms/1420-17/
and complete it ASAP.  All USAID funded contracts require this form
from everyone and most job postings ask for a completed copy.  Last
but not least, these are well paying positions plus cost of living
allowance (hubby lives at the Cairo Marriott and doesn't exhaust his
living allowance!) and in places like Afghanistan, there's usually
hazardous pay/bonuses that increase the longer you're there.  Good
Luck!