Recently I wrote about how it is not good at all to seem too
desperate when looking for jobs or home employment opportunities. However, job
seekers, especially older ones, do need to be willing to step out of the
familiar comfort zone. Like so many things in life it is all about balance.
There could be any number of reasons why you are looking for
a job, and whatever the government may tell you it is not a crime to be unemployed
in genuine circumstances such as loss of job or illness. You will have your own
reasons for looking for a job or money making opportunity, do not feel that you
have to explain and justify it. Indeed, to say too much at an interview can
cost you the job.
Whether you are going to work for an employer or for
yourself, or work for either from home, you have your reasons why your choice
is right for you. However, especially when it comes to working from home for
yourself, it can be very difficult to convince family and friends that it is a
good idea. They care about you and often worry about the lack of job security
and proper terms and conditions i.e. no sick pay and holiday pay and no pension
scheme, at least not provided by an employer.
I have one elderly friend who does not rate any self-employment I may do
as a job at all, because my tax and insurance are not paid by an employer, yet
this is odd as her husband owned a business. However, The British were long
called a nation of shopkeepers and indeed, he had a shop, so that did involve
leaving the house every day and going to work.
That said, working from home can have advantages and lower
some of your expenses, such as travel costs. To work from home either for
yourself or an employer is certainly a good thing for older and or disabled
people who have lost their job, need to return to paid employment maybe for
financial reasons or indeed have lost disability benefits due to welfare reform
and have the Job centre insisting they are fit enough to work .
Recently I wrote about not looking too desperate in your job
search. An employer can see in your application and interview, whether or not
you really want and have any experience for the job or if you are just going
through the motions to keep the job centre happy and get your Job seekers
allowance paid.
A tip for looking for a job or finding paying opportunities
from home is to explore the niches that you have interest and or experience in,
maybe your interest or experience is in a profitable niche and you could set up
a blog and monetize it with affiliate products. As for looking for a job with
an employer, you are more likely to be successful if you can clearly show on
your CV and at the interview that you have knowledge and experience of the
field the job is in.
It is a fact that through the years the skills sets required
to be employable have changed. This is where being willing to step out of your
comfort zone can be important to success. I know older people who still do not
have the slightest inclination to master computer skills and insist they are
not going to, having had no need for a computer in their lives so far. However,
finding themselves losing their job, physically unable to continue in it or
wanting to bump up a pension and the idea of earning money from home through
the internet may seem more attractive , or being able to prove to a potential
employer that you do have the skills for the current employment market .
Current skills make you more employable and give you more
options, so if you do not have them perhaps needing a job is the motivation for
you to get them. Look to see what jobs are out there and or on the work from
home jobs sites, if affected by age or health issues then see what you can physically
do and what skills are needed and where you can get them.
Doing something new, such as learning new skills is often
not easy, know and accept your limits such as health and time limitations if
you have e.g. home responsibilities, but be willing to step out of your comfort zone.
