Baby Boomers' Retirement Decisions & the Job Market

We know that baby boomers have started to enter their "golden" retirement years. We also know that the impact of the economy on 401(k)s and other investment vehicles have forced many to put off the thought of retiring.

Now the early signs of a possible economic recovery include the climbing stocks. They are far from the heights they had fallen, but if we are in an actual recovery they should continue to climb. As a bit more time passes and if boomers get their confidence back, a continuing mass retirement of boomers could substantially open up the job market at a time when employers start looking to rebuild their workforce. This could lead to a reversal of the scarcity of jobs rather quickly. A note of caution with this optimism though - boomers have been scared and it may take awhile for the confidence to return, and the continued growth of global outsourcing could also have an impact.

We truly live in interesting times with its own type of uncertainty about things. But there is always hope, and a positive attitude will always prevail in dark times.

Resume Branding

These days much is made of identifying your brand and featuring it on your resume. Why is this important? How can you effectively do this?

Identifying your brand can help you stand out from the multitude of other applicants. It shouldn't be lengthy. It should be unique. We all recognize brands of Nike and Harley-Davidson as their unique qualities (and very specific impressions) come to mind. This is a result of effective marketing.

A resume is a self-marketing document. However, with a resume, there's one more thing to keep in mind. Your brand needs to be relevant and attractive to potential employers. First of all use a title at the top of your resume instead of an objective statement. Then identify what you have (through exploring your achievements and strengths) that makes you the best at what you do in your career. For examples of branding, see resume samples at www.aberleneresume.com.