BOOMj.com is a social networking site geared toward the Baby Boomers Generation (born 1942-1953) and Generation Jones (born 1954-1963). Together these groups consist of almost 80 million people. The website is a destination where people can connect, as well as stay informed about topics ranging from retirement to health.
They have a group of experts on the site that provide articles and answer questions about topics ranging from Financial Planning and Retirement Success to Fitness and Fashion.
Their Retirement Success Expert Bill Losey is also the author of Retire in a Weekend! The Baby Boomer’s Guide to Making Work Optional. On BoomJ, …read more

Studies have shown that more and more retirees and laid off older workers are buying small franchises. For baby boomers who have an entrepreneurial streak, this seems like a good option. The U.S. has more than 850,000 franchised businesses.
Starting your own business is not easy in any economy. But it’s tougher now during the recession. Franchise businesses offer the opportunity to own a businesses that is bolstered by an successful business plan, established brand name, training program, advertising and marketing.
Though owning a franchise isn’t simple, it may be a workable option for older workers who have been laid off and …read more

Me 2.0 Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success by Dan Schwabel is a brand new book released on Tuesday, April 7th. This book explains How College Students Can Use Social Media to Attract Jobs. But here’s a secret, the information that Dan shares will work for any job seeker, so don’t dismiss this book because you have been working for years and years. Social media is here to stay and if you are a savvy Baby Boomer looking for a job in this market, order the book and go back to school. Take some lessons from a Gen-Yer …read more

Are Baby Boomers a special class of people? Ask one, and I guarantee they will answer in the affirmative! Baby Boomers are a very special special class of people in my opinion, but that’s probably because I was born on the tail end of this generation of people. I am proud to be a Baby Boomer. But I digress from my focus. If you are a manager and you are in need of good quality talent, than YES, you should hire a Baby Boomer, but let me say this, I don’t believe you should hire a Baby Boomer just because …read more

Baby Boomers are great people – I know, because I am one.  Baby Boomers are also great employees.  If you are starting your first business, I would strongly urge you to hire a Baby Boomer to help manage your business.  Your first reaction may be “why would I hire someone that’s old?”  Baby Boomers (late 40s to early 60s) may be older, but in this case older is better.  Many Boomers are looking for work now, the victims of the massive dislocations in the auto industry and many other industries.  And you can take advantage of this opportunity to get …read more

The very small business – with fewer than 5 employees and initial capital of $35,000 or less – is the heart of business in the U.S. and the world and it is the future of free enterprise and entrepreneurship.  Often referred to as a microenterprise or microbusiness, the very small business is tremendously important to the prosperity and growth of any nation.  Here is why very small businesses matter:
All Businesses Start as MicroBusinesses. Hewlett-Packard started in a garage in Palo Alto, California in 1939.  Microsoft was basically a two-man start-up with Bill Gates and Paul Allen.  You get the picture.   …read more

In tough times, people pull back.  They pull in their spending and they think carefully before buying anything. Baby Boomers have been particularly hard hit by the collapse of the stock market and layoffs.  If your small business sells to Baby Boomers, you might be wondering if there is any hope.  Well, as a Boomer, I can give you some insight into why Baby Boomers are not buying and how to get them to buy now rather than later.
Baby Boomers are on a “recession diet” (coined by Miranda Marquit of Yielding Wealth) and they are spending less.  Boomers are starting …read more

Let’s step into the world of a business owner who is a baby boomers that uses social media technologies to market their business. According to Jeremiah Owyang, he shared in the graph below that social technology use is on the rise by baby boomers.  The age groups on this graph for baby boomers have been broken down into two groups: younger boomers (ages 43 to 52) and older boomers (53 to 63).
As you can see, according to the graph, older boomers almost doubled in each area from 2007 to 2008 as they started incorporating social technology into their daily business. …read more

Scot Herrick is Founder and Publisher of Cube Rules: Career Management for Cubicle Warriors. Scot provides online career management training for knowledge workers who typically work in a corporate cubicle. Scot is joining Gina and I as we participate in the The Great Blog Off. Enjoy!
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Baby Boomers Face Hiring Hurdles
by: Scot Herrick
When Baby Boomers claim “experience” and “reliability” in interviews, they are reinforcing the hiring hurdles faced by older workers. There, instead, needs to be a new focus to interviews.
Outlining these hurdles is Older Staffers Get Uneasy Embrace:
Employers fear older workers “cost too much, lack current skills and don’t stick …read more