Full Careers

Which one of the career websites is best for a 48 year old job seeker with previous management experience?

I've used careerbuilder.com, monster.com and yahoojobs in the past with some success. But my previous management experience (in human resources & labor relations, specifically in the hotel & cruise line industry) is now 15 years in the past. I know my resume is strong because I was a partner in one of the best resume writing firms in the Washington, DC area in my last professional position. However, I'm a little less optimistic in my employment search now that I'm in my late 40's. I know that younger candidates are often viewed as more desirable from all the hiring decisions I was involved in during my prior HR career. I would network my way to a new job since I know that networking is one of the most effective ways to find a job, but I no longer have any contacts in the HR field. That's why I'm using online career sites. I welcome all suggestions.

Public Comments

1. don't know yar.... its realy horribile to find out...
2. There's a new site which has much more than just tech jobs . It is www.TheLadders.com And then there is ofcourse the monster.com, hotjobs.com and careerbuilder.com for conglomerate of company postings.
3. I would suggest re-thinking the personal contacts and networking approach. The online job boards never work. Try to network do to "informational interviews" - make a goal to do 5 a week, and ask for references along the way. That should open up a good pipeline of contacts in 30-60 day time period. And no matter which way the economy is going, people will always try to help people they know.
4. The biggest question to ask yourself right now is what do you want. It's not clear that you really want to continue working in a resume writing firm. It's not evident that your old career in human resources is what you want. Rather, you're looking to find something that you hopefully have the education and experience to qualify for. You are most valuable to the marketplace when you're doing something you really love to do and if you've never really discovered what that is, isn't now the best time to change that? To discover it, first I suggest you do some soul searching to understand what makes you tick. What are the beliefs,values and fears that most strongly influence your daily experience?What are your individual needs? Do you need structure, understanding, appreciation or do you need recognition, power and independence? Or if none of the above, then what are those needs? Where do you really shine? When have you found yourself totally immersed in a project that was so fun that the time just flew by? What were you doing? What parts of prior jobs did you really love? And what parts did you dread? You don't want to find a job that has you doing what you don't like to do most of the time, regardless of whether you have experience or even skills in that area. You will feel daily resistance to that job and to the tasks and you will dread going back to work each week. Now is the time to seize the day and start getting in tune with what you want. And you know what? As you do, your enthusiasm and confidence will increase and you'll be willing to get out of your comfort zone to go after it. You have an incredible energy source in you that I call your "white hot". It's connected to who you are and it will guide you to your true vocation. The key is getting the clarity to plug into it and the courage to go for it. It will make all the difference for you and for those you love when you are happily and successfully doing what you love. You will be more charasmatic and committed. You won't mind doing what it takes to refine your skills. You will be happier and more helpful to others. You will be your most valuable "you". So now is the time to discover, chart and navigate a career that is purposeful and fulfilling to you.
5. I would suggest that you give Craigslist.org a chance. In addition, I would suggest working on your networking through professional organizations and community organizations. There are groups out there that meet for almost every industry. For me, I belong to the Society of Human Resources Professionals (SHRM) on both a national and local level.The local group meets monthly. I also belong the the Chamber of Commerce (Westchester Business Council) in Westchester. This organization has conferences, monthly meetings and networking events. These are all great ways to network with people who have something already in common with you and then you can take it from there.