I was just offered a job in my field starting at $100k with full benefits. I am truly happy and so is my wife for obvious reasons. I am just a bit scared as I am not the same man I was 5-6 years ago nor am I in shape. At 49 years old this is going to be the fight of my life to succeed. Thx all for your support.

Today is a good day. Think about all the things you have versus the things you don't. Be strong and don't give up. Keep going until what you want is YOURS!

I am a retired navy Veteran of 20 years! I know things are very tough out there right now. I would like to share some positive motivation with all of you! I learned the power of continued PERSISTENCE! The power to make things happen. When applying for a job, try to physically be seen by your potential employer. Display enthusiasm while in the building, smile! Do you realize how powerful a simple smile is? It actually produces a positive, happy environment! Try it and see what happens! Tell them how wonderful it would be working with them! Do not be afraid to be different. This is how i got hired with a security company after i retired from the Navy. This will not work all of the time. This is where continued PERSISTENCE plays it's role! Wait a few days and repeat the same above steps. Yes, go back again! And again! 2 possible outcomes. You will be hired, or told not to come back. Repeat until hired! I guarantee you will be noticed! SMILE, ENTHUSIASM, CONTINUED PERSISTENCE! Now get out there and take it!

If you’re unemployed, now is the time to do something! Volunteering allows you to network and potentially get your foot in the door with a future employer.

Try volunteering for a nonprofit organization or do pro-bono work in a job that uses your skills. It will build up your resume with current experience. It also fills in gaps of time that you've been out of work on your resume. You also never know, you might just meet someone who will lead you to a job opening elsewhere.

According to a study conducted by LinkedIn they revealed that, 42% of hiring managers say they view volunteer experience as equivalent to formal work experience. So head out there and volunteer!

To search for a volunteer position near you use the 4 easy steps below:

1.Click on “Jobs & Companies” at the [top of the page] (http://www.jobcase.com/jobs/search) 2.Enter the word volunteer into the search field that says Job title and then enter your location 3.Click on the blue hour glass symbol to search 4.Once the list is up, click on “View Job" of any you are interested in and then apply.

Happy volunteering!

The first step to getting hired is to LAND that interview! To help avoid any bias in the recruiting processes, you should always review your resume carefully. It is the first thing they will see, and the deciding factor if they will bring you in for an interview or pass you by.

Take a look at your resume and ask yourself; Does my resume emphasize my key experiences and achievements, OR my age?

Younger workers today are more likely to viewed as innovative risk-takers with the latest skill sets. Make sure your own [resume] (https://www.jobcase.com/community/topics/resumetips) captures your innovativeness, knowledge, and the strengths you would bring to that company. When in doubt have friends and family look over your resume and provide feedback!

Helen Dennis, (a specialist in aging, employment, and retirement) says to, “Focus on selling your skills, and abilities to create, solve problems, and innovate. Older workers need to think in terms of the competitive edge, not only for themselves, but how they can make their employer more competitive, and what they can add to that company."

You can find some other great informational posts and support for those [over 50 here] (https://www.jobcase.com/community/topics/Over50andAmazing).

Good luck, you can do this!!

Someone shared this to my FB page this morning and I wanted to send it out to all my fellow Jobcasers. I loved it. Don't give up....take this as a sign to give yourself that little extra push that you need. #YOUgotthis

Worried about how to avoid the age questions that may come up? Try the following 3 things!

1- Re-state the question. If they ask for your high-school or college graduation dates simply say, “I went to the University of...., and it was a very successful time for me because..." and then immediately mention something you accomplished there. You could say for example, "I had a 3.8 GPA" or a club you belonged to or lead for example. You don't have to answer that question with dates specifically.

2- For online applications, try giving vague dates. While some online applications cannot be submitted unless all fields are completed, you might be able to generalize the info to a decade. If not, you might contact the company's HR department to point out the issue; it's contrary to [fair-hiring laws] (https://www.eeoc.gov/laws/practices/), and it might be a part of the online application process that HR is completely unaware of. If they ask for your photo ID and/or your SS number before you are hired, you could express your concerns with identity theft. These are not items that need to be provided until you are hired (typically used for background checks).

3- Be aware of questions that could lead you to reveal your age. These questions could be as innocent as, "Are you over the age of 18?" and, "What are your long-term career goals?" Be cautious about what the interviewer is really asking. An interviewer might leave a bit of silence after you answer; it doesn't mean you need to fill that silence with more detail. Make sure to stay focused and on track and don't offer more than is necessary.

Be sure to showcase your skills in person during the interview as well as on your resume. Remember, a good company will see past your age and not view it as an obstacle. You are just as valuable as a younger candidate. Now get em!

I recently went to an open call interview, they called it a job fair, but it was only one company Family Dollar. Anyway I applied for the assistant manager position so they said I had to do a second interview with a different manager. No problem. Then a 3rd. Ok cool I say. Then a 4th. Now all these interviews are held in the back of this Family Dollar store one after the other btw. Then they said I had to interview with the DM. Now I’m a little shaken but still calm. Well he never showed up so the sent me for a drug test. The store manager where I applied called me a week later saying the dm would set an interview with me the following week. The interview was set for the following Friday at 9am and I was there 15 minutes early but he was 3.5 hours late. After the interview he said I should know something in a couple days. I’m confused at this point. I’m thinking they are just wasting my time. Today the DM called me to meet him at the same store which I did then we got in his care and drove about 15 minutes to another store that wasn’t open yet. He then looked at me and said this is yours if you accept. They hired me as the store manager not assistant with a very nice salary. I have no retail experience unless you count kfc from high school. I have a criminal record. I’m Black. And I didn’t even ask for this. This was just going to be a second job for me but now it looks like a replacement career.

Jean Miller is a cloakroom attendant at the Vidal Sassoon hair salon, drives the 25 miles from her home to get there, and is 92 years old with no plans to retire anytime soon! Here is her story from The Guardian.

"When I first came here, I thought, 'What on Earth am I doing in among this young crowd?' But I’ve been here 17 years now and I love it. They are quite a cheeky lot sometimes. There was a rule made: 'Don’t swear in front of Jean.' Half the time now, I don’t hear what they’re saying, but when they say, 'Oh, sorry Jean,' but I know.

My husband Johnny was the district manager for a household supplier, and I was a sales representative there for 29 years. I retired at 60, in 1993, but I couldn’t stand it. I now work three days a week, from 9am to 4.30pm. I am included on all the nights out. They are absolutely hectic. It starts off nice and calm, and before the end of the night everybody is swinging about. I’ve been at every night out they’ve had since I started.

Lots of people say I am youthful. I don’t know about that, but I have looked after myself. I take cod liver oil tablets every morning. I had bowel cancer 10 years ago and the surgeon said to me I had five years. I said to him: “Five years! I am expecting to live much longer than that.”

If you’ve got an interest in people, that’s what gets you out to work. I know I will need to stop some time, but it will be when I really have to. There’s no way I am sitting in a chair."

Go Jean!!! Remember, age is just a number.

-Would you rather be actively working at age 75 OR be retired?

As an older job seeker this made me feel good. According to a study I found it said older workers are as productive as any other age group, and that statistically older worker tends to be more loyal and stick around longer than the younger worker. YESSSSS!!! I personally think the younger worker likes to move around so they can acquire new skills...and I can’t blame them. It’s good for their resumes.

I think a lot of employers feel that older job seekers expect higher salaries or are overqualified, but I for one am happy and willing to go back to a position I had a few years ago! If it gets me back to doing the work I am qualified for and that I actually WANT to do why not? There are so many stereotypes out there, but you know what? I push against them because I know that I am worth way more than my age!!!