Are you over 50 and considering a new career? This course, based on research and programs developed by AARP, is a guide for people over 50 looking to make a career change, find employment opportunities, or learn strategies that give them the best chance of getting hired. You'll find out how to plan your job search, build your resumes, get ready for interviews, and take maximum advantage of job openings and offers.

We'll begin by taking a realistic look at today's job market to help you identify where your skills and experience will fit. Then you'll focus on yourself—assessing your skills and interests to see how you could use them most effectively as you zero in on job opportunities. You'll use the AARP Foundation's exciting new interest and skills-assessment WorkSearch tool to guide your self-assessment and highlight your best job matches. Then we'll switch gears and start working on your resumes—the critical tool that gets you in the door for an interview. We'll cover all the ins and outs of interviewing, including what questions to expect and what questions you should ask.

By the end of the course, you'll know how your work and life skills can meet the needs of employers who are hiring today. You'll be fully prepared to begin your winning job search!

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Syllabus:

A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two months apart.

All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such, we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.

The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work, including the final exam.

Week One

Wednesday - Lesson 01

For those of us over 50, the prospect of looking for a job can be daunting at best and terrifying at worst. In this first lesson, we'll take a realistic look at today's job marketplace to see how it has changed in the last few decades. Then we'll debunk some common myths about older workers, such as how we're resistant to change. To wrap things up, we'll reveal the difference between ageism and age discrimination. Knowledge is power, and this lesson is packed with information to make you more knowledgeable.

Friday - Lesson 02

Planning your job search begins with an important step: self-assessment. In this modern age, we're lucky to have accurate assessment tools—like the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator and the Strong Interest Inventory—to help you pinpoint your interests and strengths. Today, we'll talk about these assessment tools as well as a few others. You'll also have the chance to begin working with WorkSearch, the online interactive skills and self-assessment tool developed by the AARP Foundation. You'll open your own WorkSearch account to give you access to the many features that will help you find just the job you want.

Week Two

Wednesday - Lesson 03

Where are today's jobs, and where will they be in the next decade? That's our topic for this lesson. We'll dissect a few numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to get a sense of what the job picture looks like overall. Then we'll see where you fit into the picture and what your opportunities are now and in the future. You might find that you need some help sorting out all the data and details, so we'll end with a discussion of the most reliable sources for help and information.

Friday - Lesson 04

It should be no surprise that many of today's jobs require up-to-date technology skills. The more computer-savvy you are, the more job opportunities will be available to you. Many jobs have other specific educational requirements, too. So in this lesson, we'll use WorkSearch to find out what your targeted job might require. Then we'll talk about the various ways you can go back to school: community colleges, distance learning, online classes, and certification courses, to name a few. We'll pay special attention to computer courses because this is where you might find a few holes in your skill set. By the end of the lesson, you should know exactly where the gaps are in your education and how to fill them.

Week Three

Wednesday - Lesson 05

It's time to start working on your resumes. That's right; the all-important picture of you that will get you in the door for an interview. Today, we'll take an in-depth look at how to assemble a basic resume that will highlight your many accomplishments and that can be adjusted to target the different positions you'll apply for. We'll go over the basic appearance of a resume as well as what to include in it. You'll learn how to document your skills in a way that makes you attractive to potential employers. You'll also find out how to put together a skills portfolio and a career map—two tools that will present your achievements and career history in a visually professional manner. By the end of our discussion, you'll be ready to choose the resume type that's just right for you!

Friday - Lesson 06

In this lesson, we'll continue our discussion of resumes. In addition to showcasing your accomplishments and skills, another critical requirement of good resumes for those of us over 50 is that they be age-neutral. That's what we'll focus on first, and then we'll turn our attention to electronic resumes. These days, you often have to submit resume online or by e-mail, and that demands a shift in your approach. You'll see how to adjust your basic resume so you can quickly turn it into an electronic document. We'll round out the discussion by examining the ins and outs of an effective cover letter. By the time we're done, you'll know how to create resumes and cover letters that show you off to your very best advantage.

Week Four

Wednesday - Lesson 07

As you prepare for interviews, there are a number of steps you can take to help you be sharp and to present yourself well. The first step to gaining an interview is to hone your networking skills and use them to spread the word about you. Today, we'll cover imaginative ways you can network. Then you'll learn how to research your target companies so you'll be knowledgeable and prepared on the day of your interview. Finally, we'll take our first look at the interview itself. There are some questions you can expect interviewers to ask you. You'll learn how to answer them in a way that shows employers you're the best candidate for the job.

Friday - Lesson 08

In this lesson, we'll take a more focused look at the interview. During an interview, you can expect some tough questions that go far beyond a simple assessment of your skills. We'll examine these difficult questions, including the type of question frequently asked these days: the behavioral question. We'll also talk about how to make a good impression in the critical first five minutes of your interview. And you'll learn about some common interview mistakes to avoid. With the information, you'll be able to face the toughest interview and emerge as the top candidate for the job.

Week Five

Wednesday - Lesson 09

In this final lesson on interviewing, we'll switch perspectives and talk about the kinds of questions you should ask the interviewer. It's essential for you to show that you're savvy and interested enough in the company to ask a few pointed questions. You'll see several examples of the very best kinds of questions to ask. Then we'll talk about what to do after the interview. Follow-up is the final piece of the interview. By following the advice in this lesson, you'll know how to make a positive closing impression on your interviewer with your follow-up communication.

Friday - Lesson 10

Today, we'll take a careful look at the benefits that come with job offers so you'll know how to negotiate the best salary and benefits package. We'll review how Social Security and Medicare could affect your retirement and health benefits. And we'll examine retirement and medical plans.

Week Six

Wednesday - Lesson 11

Not everyone with a job is an employee or works at an employer's workplace. Increasingly, workers work at home, either as telecommuters or by running their own business. It might surprise you to learn that the main reason many people choose to work from home is that they have caregiving responsibilities. In this lesson, we'll explore the impact of caregiving on work. We'll discuss work-at-home alternatives that can help keep you working if you're a caregiver or if you have a disability that makes working from home a better choice for you.

Friday - Lesson 12

In this final lesson, you'll put all your newly acquired tools together to target some actual jobs you can apply for. We'll return to AARP's WorkSearch site and use your account to select your best job match. Plus, you'll be dipping your toes into the world of virtual job seeking—the hottest new way to match your skills with the perfect employer. And since sometimes, despite your best efforts, you won't be the person selected, we'll talk about how to handle rejection in a positive and productive way. By the end of this lesson, you'll have everything you need to make age an asset in your job search!

This course includes a knowledgeable and caring instructor who will guide you through your lessons, facilitate discussions, and answer your questions. The instructor for this course will be Linda Gravett.

Dr. Linda Gravett is a performance coach and a nationally recognized authority on helping people of all ages unleash their potential and present themselves to employers in ways that highlight their skills and talents. Linda has a Ph.D. in Human Resource Development and Industrial Psychology as well as degrees in labor relations and accounting.

Requirements:

Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader).

Student Reviews:

Reviews coming soon! Please check back next month.