Career Transition Coaching
Not everyone is interested in retiring at 55 or even 65. More than 1 million people 75 and older are still employed. Some people need to work at least part-time for financial reasons. Many return to work for reasons other than money. They seek structure, connections, and a sense of purpose. Midlife Menu offers transition coaching, training and resources to help older workers make a career change, return to the workforce or explore self-employment options.
FINDING WORK IN THE SECOND-HALF OF LIFE
Are you unemployed, under-employed, empty-employed or non-employed?
Do you suffer from search phobia? Are you feeling stuck, discouraged, or overwhelmed?
TAKE THE RECAREER SUCCESS INVENTORY (RSI)®
Michele A. Nuzzo, M.A. is certified as a ReCareer®Coach. She is trained to administer and interpret the RSI® as part of a comprehensive system of career transition coaching. The RSI is a 120-question ReCareer Success Inventory® that illuminates your search for work that fulfills your ambitions and feeds your soul.
The RSI® was developed specifically for job seekers who are in the second-half of life. Along with a customized 25-page color report, you will receive a copy of RECAREER: FIND YOUR AUTHENTIC WORK by Richard P. Johnson, Ph.D.
Contact Michele to take the RSI® and begin your journey of self-discovery. Together you will explore Powerful Questions and Insight Activities for each of the three core areas:
- ReCareer Self-Assessment
- ReCareer Competencies
- ReCareer Skills
If you want to polish your résumé, cover letter, or interview skills, we're in your corner. In addition to job search basics, you will learn to clarify your interests, skills and values. You will assess your decision-making skills and develop calm and confidence.
It's time to align WHO YOU ARE with WHAT YOU DO.
Take heart. Then take charge.
CAREER RESOURCES
HirePotential, Inc
The National Leader in Integrating the Untapped Workforce
- Placement services for veterans, older workers and people with disabilities through job posting
- Consulting to corporations, non-profit and government agencies on recruiting, training, integrating and retaining the Untapped Workforce
- Staffing and customized recruiting in IT, administration, customer service and more
- Technical accommodation training and integration consulting
- Website accessibility and 508 compliance
About HirePotential, Inc.
Recognizing today's changing workforce, HirePotential, Inc. is a certified women-owned business that was formed by workforce experts to help people with disabilities, mature workers, veterans and other previously untapped resources build rewarding careers and lives by placing and integrating them in top jobs.
To read more about work and career transitions, see Michele's articles below.
« Previous EntriesNew Life at Midlife
Tuesday, April 13th, 2010
Laying an egg–it’s good if you’re a chicken, not so good if you’re a human.
Quick–picture an egg. What came up for you? Did you see a multi-colored Easter egg, a jeweled Faberge treasure, or a cheesy breakfast sandwich? Health-conscious types may think about cholesterol. Self-care advocates invoke The Goose That Laid the Golden Egg as a reminder to relax and renew.
Eggs are a universal symbol of fertility and new life. Then there’s the proverbial egg on your face–not a good thing, and where I enter the picture. Last August, I published a post titled Promises to Keep. I resolved to stop blogging until I finished my book. It’s almost nine months, and I’m still not ready to birth that baby.
During this period of gestation, I contributed to Tips, Tools, and Resources for the Second Half of Life from a Collection of Experts. I’m offering that rich resource as a bonus gift to baby boomers who sign up for one of my complimentary coaching sessions in the following areas:
- Career Transition
- Retirement Lifestyle Planning
- Caregiver Work/Life Balance
- Vibrant Wellness at Any Age
During our middle years, it’s not just our bodies that change. Midlife boomers also experience changes in our roles, our relationships, and sometimes in our sense of self. Darwin said, "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change." To adapt to these midlife changes, we need to cultivate transition hardiness, a positive mental attitude, and resilience.
Smart boomers know that big changes begin with baby steps. On Saturdays, ABC’s Good Morning America broadcasts a segment called Your Week in Three Words. Viewers submit photos which are set to music. Some photos are funny, but I always keep the tissue handy. The April 3 segment ended with a curly-headed toddler struggling to take her first steps. She held up three pieces of paper that said ALWAYS GET UP. The message was both moving and motivational–even before the camera panned back to show that the angel was learning to walk on artificial legs.
As you face your own strange changes, remember the wise words, "Fall down seven times, get up eight." Then remember that courageous cherub who got back up on her artificial legs. Where will your steps take you?
New Job Postings
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009
Calling all members of The Untapped Workforce! Are you looking for work? If not, there’s a good chance you know someone who is. I invite you to check out the recently updated career center at hirepotential.com.
HirePotential, Inc., the leader in integrating and employing The Untapped Workforce, is a gold mine of resources for veterans, mature workers, people with disabilities and members of special niches who are seeking temporary or long-term positions.
You can search current job postings and apply online for positions in customer service, engineering, information technology, finance or administration. Perform a keyword search or submit your résumé for general consideration. Browse current job postings and search by location and category for direct hire, project-based or project-to-hire positions. Save wear and tear on your nerves and the environment by searching for current openings within a 5-mile radius of your zip code.
On their website, HirePotential recently posted direct hire opportunities for case analysts and a case manager at a client’s facility near LAX in Los Angeles. The case manager oversees the case analysts who support clients as they navigate the Social Security disability process. Case analysts answer questions, help complete pre-hearing claim forms and mentor clients to better understand the procedures involved in the application process. Visit hirepotential.com for complete job descriptions, required skills and other qualifications.
If you don’t find job opportunities that meet your search criteria, you can save your searches and have emails sent when postings are a match for you. While you’re visiting the site, explore the other employment resources, including career coaching. I’m honored to be listed there as a referral source for people who are experiencing a midlife transition. Let’s get started with a complimentary coaching session to see if we’re a match.
Inner Critic on Steroids
Wednesday, April 29th, 2009
If beauty is in the eye of the beholder, maybe criticism is in the ear of the audience, even when we’re only talking to ourselves. Many of us pump our inner critic full of steroids until it morphs into a scary monster.
Lately, I’ve been drawn to children’s films as a lighthearted way to beat the blues. I’ve rented Kung-Fu Panda, Wally-E, Prince Caspian, and The Spiderwick Chronicles. Many moons ago, I earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature and I’m well aware that the classics in children’s literature often contain great teachings. Still, I’ll bet that the author of The Spiderwick Chronicles did not envision that I would translate the film into a coachable moment.
In January, I was in the audience when Dr. Bruce Schneider, MCC delivered an inspiring presentation about unlimited potential. Schneider shared his secrets to achieving success. Those secrets included the ability to clear our internal and external clutter. As part of this process, Schneider spoke of the need to clear out the "gremlins" in our lives, including our noisy inner critic.
The presentation was educational and serious. Still, I had to stifle a laugh. All I could picture was a scene in The Spiderwick Chronicles where the children pelt the menacing goblins with tomato sauce to keep them at bay. I’m a firm believer that lessons show up in the strangest places and in that spirit, I offer the following insights.
What I Learned from The Spiderwick Chronicles:
- Secure the perimeter with salt. Life Lesson: Set clear boundaries and create a safe circle that the bad guys cannot cross.
- Sweeten the brownie with honey. Life Lesson: Remember your mom’s advice that you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.
- Throw tomato sauce at the goblins to neutralize the scary monsters. Okay, don’t try this at home. Just visualize this last one.
Now when my inner critic starts to raise a ruckus, I mentally picture myself pelting her with tomato sauce. Sure it’s silly, but it works for me. What works for you?
How Far Would You Go?
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
When I graduated from college, I had to lose the love beads, the bell-bottoms and tie-dye T-shirts in order to suit up for a job interview. I’m glad I’m not young anymore. On March 30, the Los Angeles Times business section reported on young Chinese job seekers who are resorting to plastic surgery to enhance their image in a hyper-competitive labor market.
American baby boomers have been lining up for face-lifts and eye jobs to help them appear younger and fresher for their close-up. It’s bad enough that many of us in the 50-plus crowd feel that we must go under the knife to compete with all the young pups. In China, being young is not enough. Apparently, you also have to pretty and tall. According to the article, Chinese college graduates are forking over cold hard cash in exchange for double eyelids, rounder cheek bones and longer legs to help them get a foot in the door.
In addition to the moral and legal issues related to diversity, disability and discrimination, favoring the fair of face is just plain bad business. What if Albert Einstein or Marie Curie had been rejected for an interview based upon facial features or a bad hair day?
Funny Girl Fanny Brice quipped, "Do you think beautiful girls are going to be in style forever?"
It seems that they are for the foreseeable future. Years ago, I read an article in Psychology Today magazine that documented what we all suspected. Pretty people do better in life. But who decides what constitutes acceptable appearance? I remember an old episode of The Twilight Zone. The doctor peeled away the bandage from the makeover candidate, and the bystanders recoiled in horror as the camera revealed the face of a lovely young woman. Then the television viewers got a good look at the ghouls on the medical team.
Does your job search strategy include a little nip or tuck? What is the most extreme step you have taken in pursuit of a job?
Is Your Resume Bulletproof?
Friday, January 2nd, 2009
Do you know what things you should NEVER include on your resume? You probably know not to list your Social Security number, but do you know some of the other mistakes that can torpedo your chance of landing an interview?
Many employers use document-scanning technology to match job seekers with their current job openings. Even if a company requests that you mail your resume, they may still store the incoming resumes from job applicants in a computer so that they can run electronic searches based on keywords. If they can’t read your resume, you’ll never get the chance to strut your stuff.
These days, you need to have two versions of your resume. Create one in a scannable format with detailed descriptions for the computer to read. You can bring a second resume to your interview. This version can include a more creative layout, but it should still be clean, uncomplicated and easy-to-read.
To prepare a scanner-friendly resume, do not use bullet points, asterisks, italics, boxes, graphics, underlining, horizontal or vertical lines. Line up the points without any symbols. Fancy formatting looks funky, like when you try to disguise a swear word. Be sure to include a keyword summary of your skills.
For articles, tips and links to help you prepare a winning resume, visit the HirePotential.com website and click on the link to Employment Resources. You’ll learn how to make sure your resume is scannable so it does not end up in the circular file. For tips about highlighting your skills and showcasing your relevant experience, read their article on The Effective Resume.
Get That Job
Friday, September 26th, 2008
If you’re serious about finding a job, ABC7.com is a good place to start.
In his informative Get The Job series, ABC7’s Consumer Specialist Ric Romero serves up everything from soup to nuts to whet your job-changing appetite. Whether you nibble a bit or gorge yourself at a full banquet, the show is chock full of savory tidbits to advance your career.
Discover how to give your resume a makeover. Learn how to avoid being branded as "too old" before you set foot in the door. Hone your interview skills to position yourself as the ideal candidate for the job. Develop a strategy to negotiate your salary before you accept that offer.
Go to ABC7.com and click on the tab Get the Job to find the broadcast schedule, watch videos or read transcripts of past segments. On their website, you’ll find resources for Southern California job fairs, one-stop job centers, job search websites, links to government and showbiz jobs and more.
Your competitors are polishing their skills and presenting their portfolio in the best possible light. Can you afford to do less?
How to Stop Spinning
Thursday, September 4th, 2008 
Do you ever find yourself spinning out of control? Technology is what sets me off. We have six remote controls in our house and I don’t know how to turn on the television. I know the only way to grow is to step out of my comfort zone. I just hope I don’t have to dress for the occasion.
For me, setting up an online operation is an endurance test. As soon as I get one thing working, something else goes wrong. I feel like the guy on The Ed Sullivan Show spinning all those plates. Instead of sticking my head in the oven, I do my best to think about Edison and his lesson in persistence. I may not have the quote exactly correct, but supposedly when asked how it felt to fail 999 times, Edison replied, "I never failed. Inventing the light bulb was a 1000-step process."
We all know that what we focus on expands. If I focus on technical glitches, I get more technical glitches. I’ve learned to ask, "What do I want instead and what’s my next right action to get there?"
As a child, I was fascinated by the 4-H Club. Core values notwithstanding, those fluffy sheep and pastoral scenes spoke to me. Today, I have instituted my own 3-F Plan. When faced with a problem that makes me feel like a rat on a treadmill, I either: 1) Fix it; 2) Find out what else I need to know and who can help me; or 3) Forget it.
True Confession: It really is a 4-F Plan. Somewhere along the way, I apply liberal amounts of frozen confections (ice cream), but I can’t really recommend that as a strategy.
Where Did the Time Go?
Thursday, August 21st, 2008 
No matter how many times I practice, I still hate giving my elevator speech. I understand the value in knowing my Unique Selling Proposition. I just wish I could hand people my flashcard so they could read it themselves. I am not the life of the party. At most social gatherings, you’ll find me scanning the bookshelves instead of mingling with the other guests.
As an introvert, I’m what others call a reluctant marketer. I have started to dip my toe into the sea of social marketing. I have made some valuable contacts and learned some useful information from event invitations and discussion groups. I expected that. I didn’t expect to enjoy it as much as I do.
Like email, social networking has the potential to gobble up huge blocks of time. The email avalanche is already reducing productivity, raising anxiety and damaging family harmony. On July 31, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer Leslie Brenner exposed the ways that out-of-control email is ruining our lives. Brenner shared tips from specialists about ways to tame the savage monster. Search for her story at latimes.com/archives.
I have found a happy unexpected benefit from my participation online. It’s somewhat counterintuitive. After spending time buried in email and doing my best to reach on online, I find that I need to step away from my computer. I pick up the phone and call people near and dear to me more often. I never was a Girl Scout, but I can credit them with the lyrics that go, "Make new friends but keep the old. One is silver but the other’s gold."
How about you? Have you set email limits and boundaries? Have you set up profiles on any of the social networks? How much time are you spending? Have you seen this translated into more contact with your "real friends?"
Tilting at Windmills
Thursday, July 31st, 2008Have you heard of The Ugly Law?
Whether it was a law on the books in the early 1970s or only an urban legend, the idea behind it was ugly indeed. The Ugly Law prevented people from going out in pubic if their disability made other people uncomfortable. This delicate issue is handled in a way that is anything but delicate in the eye-opening film Music Within. The restaurant scene rivals the one in Five Easy Pieces.
Music Within, starring Ron Livingston, Melissa George and Michael Sheen, is one of those rare treats–a biopic that is entertaining and inspiring. Filled with dark humor and salty dialogue, Music Within is based on the true story of Richard Pimentel, a passionate advocate for disability rights and jobs for veterans.
From an early age, Richard Pimentel learned to rise above and overcome adversity. In the film, a series of tragedies and his mother’s tenuous grasp on sanity resulted in some of the most bizarre family holidays you’ve even seen. The young boy’s gift for oratory became his salvation as he held his classmates and teachers spellbound with his animated tales.
Returning home from Vietnam with a profound hearing loss, Pimentel suffered a second blow when he was turned down for a job because the government did not want to "waste the GI Bill" on a deaf guy. Pimentel channeled his anger into public speaking and lobbying for the passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
On his glorious quest, Pimentel is joined by Art Honeyman, a beautiful mind and hilarious spirit trapped in a body betrayed by cerebral palsy. Pimentel titled his program proposal Tilting at Windmills. In their zeal and their zaniness, Pimentel and Honeyman bear more than a passing resemblance to Don Quixote and Sancho Panza.
If you’re a veteran or a person with a disability, you owe a debt of gratitude to Richard Pimentel. Actually, we all do.
Resources
Disabled American Veterans: View a list of services to help veterans build better lives. Follow legislation and events. Make a donation at dav.org
HirePotential, Inc.: Resources for employers and job seekers relating to The Untapped Workforce (veterans, mature workers and people with disabilities) at hirepotential.com
Kate Adamson: Inspirational speaker (One Hand Clapping: Appreciation Before Accommodation), author (Paralyzed but Not Powerless), stroke survivor at katesjourney.com
Something About Mary
Thursday, May 29th, 2008 
"Who can turn the world on with her smile?"
If you know the rest of the tune, you’ll know, of course, that we’re talking about Mary Richards, the beloved young journalist played for years by Mary Tyler Moore.
In May, the cast of the long-running Mary Tyler Moore Show gathered for a reunion on the Oprah show. They raised a toast to Ted Knight, who played the hilariously vain but clueless anchor, Ted Baxter. Oprah’s crew transformed her set into the WJM-TV newsroom. They also recreated Mary’s apartment. I didn’t want to leave.
Mary Richards made it all right to be single and ambitious. She had spunk. If you watched the show, you know how Mr. Grant felt about spunk. We loved wise-cracking Murray, caustic Phyllis and naughty Sue Ann. To this day, when I eat a piece of chocolate, I can still hear Rhoda saying, "I don’t know why I bother eating this. I might as well just apply it directly to my hips."
For me, the most heartwarming element of the reunion was hearing Oprah credit the Mary Richards character as the inspiration for her own journalistic career. Oprah even showed early photos of herself dressed in various Mary-like plaid outfits complete with bow-tie scarves. She’s come a long way, baby.
Who were your television models? How have they inspired you to create your own life?
"It’s a long way to Tipperary…Does anybody have a Kleenex™?"
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