Seniors

Patron is over forty and/or retired.

• Be friendly and approachable.
  -Help your patron feel comfortable by smiling, making eye contact, and offering assistance.
  
  
• Understand your patron's question.
  -Use open questions, which can't be answered with 'yes' or 'no':
  What would you like to know about opportunities for retired persons?
  What have you found so far about starting a business?
  -Paraphrase or summarize to be sure you understand the request:
  In other words, you're looking for information about teacher certification.
  It sounds like you're looking for courses to help you advance in your field.
  If I understand you correctly, you'd like a list of job openings in the area.
  -Use clarifying questions to generate a choice between options:
  Are you looking for a full-time position?
  Are you looking for a position that utilizes your previous experience?
  -Anticipate potential problems in communicating - Be alert to possible hearing and/or vision impairments in the older patron.
  -Be aware of non-verbal cues and body language - An older patron may worry about taking too much of your time.
  -Listen for cues to adjust or refine your understanding of the request.
  
  
• Respect your patron's privacy.
  -Lessen distractions or move to a quiet area for the interview.
  -Maintain objectivity and avoid premature assumptions.
  -Give your patron the time and attention he/she needs - An older patron may be in less of a hurry, so match the pace of your interview to the pace of your patron.
  
  
• Plan and execute your search strategy.
  -Understand the level and amount of information needed.
  Would you like to stay with online resources, or would you like books to take home, also?
  -Evaluate your patron's learning style, and determine limitations on format or reading level.
  Would you prefer a video about interviewing?
  Would a resource you can use at home be helpful?
  -Ask if your patron has used the source before, and provide instruction on its use.
  Have you used a computer before to find information?
  -Distinguish between advice and information; do not advise on, interpret or apply a decision to a patron's personal situation.
  
  
• Follow up to determine whether your patron is satisfied with the search results.
  -Ask if the question has been answered completely.
  Did you find the information you needed about starting a business /distance education/ volunteering?
  -Check to see that the answer is understood.
  -Encourage your patron to return to you for help, if needed.

Additional help is available on this website:

Use Seniors to locate employment resources and opportunities for Senior Citizens.

Use Assessments for career tests, personality-type assessments, and tools for self-discovery.

Use Business Information for patrons thinking of starting a business. Includes tips for starting a business, a link to the Small Business Administration, and self-assessment tools.

Use Colleges/Universities to locate colleges locally, within NYS, United States and abroad.

Use Explore Careers to find a career to match an individual's interests, and learn what training is required. Includes Career Zone and Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Use Interviewing for information on preparation and technique, and virtual interviewing practice.

Use Internships to locate internship opportunities and to learn how to make the most of the experience.

Use Networking to identify strategies for making and using contacts in job-hunting and career transitions.

Use Research Employers for company information and tips for researching companies online.

Use Resume Help to create excellent resumes and cover letters.

Use Transferable Skills to define transferable skills and learn how they can be used in the job search.

Library Resources:

Harkness, Helen. Don't stop the career clock: rejecting the myths of aging for a new way to work in the 21st century (1999)

Byham, William. Landing the job you want: how to have the best job interview of your life (1999)

Fein, Richard. 101 quick tips for a dynamite resume (1999)

Graber, Steven. The everything get-a-job book: from resume writing, to interviewing, to finding tons of job openings (2000)

Kerr, Cherie. Networking skills that will get you the job you want (1999)

Koen, Deb. Career choice, change & challenge: 125 strategies from the experts at careerjournal.com (2000)

Krannich, Ronald. 201 dynamite job search letters: writing right for today’s new job market (2001)

Whitcomb, Susan Britton. eResumes:everything you need to know about using electronic resumes to tap into today's job market (2002)

Visit Resources Available at the Library for categorized listing of available career materials.

Sue Hermans
Central Reference Library Services Coordinator
Poughkeepsie Public Library District