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.

Image: BoomJ.com

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, he provides a variety of interesting articles that help make your retirement planning and success a little easier. Here are a couple of his recent pieces that are good reads.

• Retirement Income Shortfalls
• The Real Financial Crisis in America
• The ABC’s of Mutual Funds - Part 1
• The ABC’s of Mutual Funds - Part 2

Check out BOOMj and leave a comment here and let us know what you think.

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.

Image: istockphoto

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 those of retirement age who can’t or don’t want to retire.

Some franchisors actually actively recruit for owners who are 50 and older. People of this age group often have the business experience and money necessary to be successful. Both BabyBoomer-Magazine and MSNBC offer additional information on the topic.

If you are interested in learning more about franchising, turn to Franchise Pick right here at Bizzia, where Sean Kelly offers his daily thoughts and insights.

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 and employ them in your job search.

Who is Dan Schwabel? Dan is the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Y. As well as the publisher of both the award winning Personal Branding Blog and Personal Branding Magazine. If you want to know about personal branding, check out both his magazine and his blog! I promise you it will be well worth the read and might actually get another diploma if you can successfully use the tips and tools Dan recommends!

Here is the Press Release for Dan’s new book:

BOSTON, April 7 /PRNewswire/ — In the past few years, the competition for entry-level jobs has increased substantially, and the 1.4 million college graduates this year are about to face the toughest challenge to date. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) reports that companies are hiring only 1.3% more graduates in 2009, which is down from 16% in 2008.

The way we manage our careers is changing and the Internet has become the new ticket to post-graduate success. In his new book, Me 2.0: Build a Powerful Brand to Achieve Career Success, Dan Schawbel explains how anyone can become successful by using social media tools, such as blogs, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, in order to stand out and make a name for themselves. Me 2.0 is the first book about personal branding written for the millennial generation by a millennial, that bridges the gap between the current business environment and the progressive best practices of the future. “In a tough employment environment, it is absolutely essential to move past old rules and embrace job hunting 2.0 — Dan Schawbel’s new book will show you how,” explains Sydney Finkelstein, Steven Roth Professor of Management, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth.

“If you want to get a job out of college or succeed in the job you’re currently in, you have to be the commander of your career, which means that you’re accountable for your own destiny,” explains Dan Schawbel, the leading personal branding expert for Gen-Yers. Me 2.0 teaches you how to use social media tools for personal empowerment, confidence building, and professional networking that can actually result in attracting jobs directly to you, without applying! Recruiters will find you.

“Not only do you have to aggressively promote yourself, but you also have to protect your brand, by claiming your domain name and actively grooming your Google results,” says Dan. A recent Careerbuilder.com survey showed that one in every five hiring managers used social networks to conduct background checks on candidates.

Highlights from Me 2.0 include:

* A 4-step proven personal branding process for career success.
* Over 40 expert quotes from leaders, including Don Tapscott, Guy Kawasaki, Penelope Trunk, Chris Brogan, Laura Ries, David Kirkpatrick, and Steve Rubel.
* More than 70 research reports, three personal case studies and examples to offer a broader perspective on the topic.
* Tested advice on how to create an online and offline presence for career protection and self-promotion.

Today’s business world is filled with economic uncertainty, no job security and relentless competition. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the US shed 3.6 million jobs since the recession began, which is the most since 1945. Economists state that another 2.5 million will be lost in 2009 (1.8 were lost by March 2009). Me 2.0 is the handbook for surviving and thriving in the digital age, and the recession.

Image Credit: PersonalBrandingBook

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 he/she is a Boomer. Hire them if they are the most qualified for the job you seek to fill. That being said, why should you hire a Boomer?”

According to my colleague, Jean Murray these are some of the reason:

1. Work Ethic. Baby Boomers know how to work; they have been doing it for many years. They know how to keep a job, show up on time,  and follow directions.  They didn’t get where they are without that work ethic.

2. Dependability and Reliability. Baby Boomers are reliable; they don’t take time off to care for young children.  They come in early and stay late and they understand responsibility.

3. Skills and Experience. They know their fields well; many have been working for 20 years and more. They aren’t over-qualified; in fact, they have the qualifications you need to help you.  Carol, for example, can help you hire employees, keep your finances in order, and provide you with reports and analysis.

Here’s a an interesting story from Careerbuilder:

Clarence “Nic” Nicodemus, 64, is living proof. At the ripe age of 61, Nicodemus graduated from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM) and was preparing for a one-year internship, according to a 2004 press release from Michigan State University. Nicodemus joined COM at age 57, after spending a decade teaching classes and doing orthopedic research at the University of Texas. He said going to med school was the next logical step in his career and a lifelong dream.

“I feel like I can relate to patients of any age,” he said. “A patient can bring up any subject — grandchildren or a death in the family or a disease in the family — and I can relate to them.”

Like Nicodemus, many baby boomers - the chunk of our population born in 1946 through 1964 - haven’t been able to work in highly fulfilling jobs. Working lackluster, draining, even hazardous jobs just to bring home a paycheck was the norm for boomers just trying to get by. But times, they are a changin’.

With the changing times, I agree that it may be challenging for Boomers to find a job. But over the next week or so, I will spend some time discussing the unique challenges that Boomers face in their attempt to be employed.
Image Credit: sxc.hu

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 a Baby Boomer to work for you.

Case in point: My friend Carol took early retirement from her employer, a large university.  She was the administrator for a department, and her work included administration, personnel,  and financial management;  she also has a PhD.  She is looking for work, but she is finding many people who say she is “over-qualified” and they are afraid she will get bored. Carol needs to work for her own self-esteem and to keep busy.  Carol and other Baby Boomers like her could be a great asset to your  small business.

Work Ethic. Baby Boomers know how to work; they have been doing it for many years. They know how to keep a job, show up on time,  and follow directions.  They didn’t get where they are without that work ethic.

Dependability and Reliability. Baby Boomers are reliable; they don’t take time off to care for young children.  They come in early and stay late and they understand responsibility.

Skills and Experience. They know their fields well; many have been working for 20 years and more. They aren’t over-qualified; in fact, they have the qualifications you need to help you.  Carol, for example, can help you hire employees, keep your finances in order, and provide you with reports and analysis.

Carol and others (yes, me too) are just what you need.  In my case, I was ready to leave the stress of a management job for a quieter life working from home.  Like Carol, and me, Baby Boomers can be a huge benefit to your new business.  Don’t count them out.

Image source: Newscom

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.   McDonald’s was a little hamburger place in California when it was discovered by Ray Kroc. Any big company you see today probably started as a Very Small Business.

MicroBusinesses Employ People.  Microbusinesses represent 87% of U.S. businesses.  This alone doesn’t mean much, until you see that:

• One out of every six U.S. private sector employees works for a microenterprise,
• More than 4.5 million new jobs were created in the US by microenterprises between 2000 and 2005,
• On average, microenterprises are responsible for 900,000 new jobs created per year.
• In 2002 when the US saw record high unemployment of 5.8%, microenterprises created close to 1 million new jobs.

MicroEnterprises are Necessary for Future Economic Growth. With even higher unemployment today and little prospect for regaining those jobs, many people will be turning to the creation of a Very Small Business as a way to make a living and provide a better way of life for themselves, their families, and their employees. Baby Boomers in particular, who have been the victim of downsizing, have little prospect for new careers except as business owners.  For us, it’s either find a way to own your own VSB or sign on as a WalMart greeter.

As you can see, whatever you call them - MicroBusiness, MicroEnterprise, or VSB - these businesses are an important factor in the success of business enterprise in the U.S. and ultimately the world.

The statistics on MicroBusinesses are from the Association for Enterprise Opportunity.

Image source: sxc.hu

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 to retire and their incomes have been cut significantly.  This “diet” they are on includes very little discretionary spending. Even younger Boomers are on a diet, concerned that they will run out of money.

Boomers are waiting to see what will happen next before they spend money.  They are holding on, hoping the market will increase.  If they don’t have to buy that appliance or Hi Def TV, they won’t.  If they don’t have to take that vacation, they won’t.
Some Baby Boomers are borrowing for living expenses (10% at one count), so they don’t have money for much of anything.

But, having said that, there are some ways to get Baby Boomers to buy now:

Lower your prices. I know this is difficult but it worked for the cruise lines. Carnival Cruise Lines had its best month ever in February by lowering prices.  Go as low as you can to get the business.

Outsmart the competition.  I talked with a Bed and Breakfast owner who said, “Room nights are a perishable commodity.  Once they are gone, you can’t get them back.  And you have to be competitive with your prices to get people to come to you.  B&B’s used to say, “We’re not competing with hotels.”  Now they are and they have to figure out ways to give potential customers something that the competition doesn’t have.

Concentrate on value. Think about benefits, not features.  Features are gadgets, things you think are cool about your products or services.  But benefits are what make people buy.  If you can find a way to get people to see the value in what you are selling, they will buy.

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).

Image: www.SXC.hu

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. The only area that decreased were the Inactives (see the legend below for more details). What does all of this mean in today’s business environment and economy?

• Many major companies are starting to recognize that reaching this age backet now includes social websites such as Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.
• Create an interactive way for baby boomers to be attracted to your website through the use of videos or audios.
• Incorporate marketing plans that reaches out to baby boomer online communities such as:
  • www.BoomJ.com: The name BOOMj derives from the two primary audiences we serve: the Baby Boomers Generation and Generation Jones - both born during the big 20-year, post-World War II boom in births from the mid-1940’s to mid-1960’s.
  • www.Senior.org: The Seniors Coalition is the nation’s leading free-market senior education and advocacy organization with a membership of more than 4 million seniors.
  • www.TBD.com: or TeeBeeDee is a social network that allows people at midlife to exchange information and experiences, learn from each other, and connect to like minded people. Membership is free.
  • www.AARP.org: is a nonprofit, nonpartisan membership organization that helps people 50 and over improve the quality of their lives.

Each section is divided up into different types of Social Technology or Internet users as followers:

• Creators: those who are actual producers of web content or websites that interact with others via the Internet
• Critics: those who provide feedback regarding web content
• Collectors: those who gather information via the Internet
• Joiners: many who feel that uniting with others via social media is their way of connecting via the Internet
• Spectators: usually have limited interaction with others socially via the Internet
• Inactives: not actively interacting with others via the Internet.

Image: Flckr.com account for Jeremiah Owyang

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 around long,” Ms. Munnell and co-author Steven Sass write. Wages tend to rise with seniority. Health costs for older workers are higher. Older workers are viewed, rightly or not, as less supple in dealing with new technologies.

Claiming experience and reliability in the interview misses the mark. There are three real issues in an interview and Baby Boomers need to nail each one to get over these hiring hurdles.

Job Skills

Identifying and showing current job skills are critical. Attacking the job skill hurdle early on is necessary to get the position. Addressing your current job skills, including technical skills, for the position will get you over one of the hurdles.

Job Performance

Saying you have current job skills is one thing, showing what you did with them is another. Tally your measurable accomplishments about the business need before going on the interview. Once in the interview, weave these accomplishments into your story during the interview.

Your “fit” with the group

Business is social. You have a manager. You have a team, whether for a special purpose or formal. Having the social skills to work with your prospective manager and team is critical to hiring you. This is especially true if there are multiple candidates with the skills and performance necessary for the position. Interestingly, the higher you go in an organization, the more critical the need for good social skills.

Baby Boomers should focus on these three areas to overcome the stereotypes that too often prevent getting the next job.

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