Technical Skills are Needed

         Countless senior workers are learning that, in order to obtain  a new part-time or full time position, they must develop enhanced computer skills.   This need often presents a challenge in view of the fact many more senior workers were employed for years in traditional employment venues that required little or no computing skills.  Even though the technological age grew up around them, and because they did not find a need, many workers are presently unaware of the most basic operations now required including how to turn on a computer or to how to use the internet.

         Because of this, many more senior workers are finding the on-line job search and on-line application process frustrating.   This is frustration is also brought about because an estimated one-fifth of more senior working or non-working Americans do not have a computer or internet access in their home.  This lack of a home computer may also be partially attributed to the lack of exposure to computing and but can also be cost related because many more seniors are on a fixed budget due to job loss or retirement and cannot afford to purchase a computer even though computer prices have dropped some in recent years.  

           So, why is the need to learn computer skills so necessary to more senior job workers?   Basically, it is because the wait to find gainful employment for older workers has increased from 5-6 weeks to 30 weeks.  Therefore, the more knowledgeable and experienced a worker is in computer usage the better the chance of obtaining a job.   Below are a few locations where seniors can look to get the Computer Training you need:

      City Community Organizations (check with Parks and Recreation, Sr. Centers).

      Local Community Colleges (many offer inexpensive courses on computer usage).

      Local libraries.

© Copyright Vet2Work/Naturallysilver 2010-11. No re-publication of this article is permitted without express permission. This is an excerpt from "Successful Career Moves" by C.A. Stapleton. About the author:  C.A. Stapleton, A.S., B.S., M.B.A., is an experienced, published professional career consultant, mentor, and résumé/ biographical writer.