SAN JOSE, Calif. – Sept. 29, 2009 – OurExperienceCounts.com announces the launch of the first online community for the experienced job seeker. The site’s exclusive focus is to serve as a learning and mentoring hub by providing tools specific to the needs of the experienced worker to compete successfully in the job market – from maintaining to gaining new skill sets that will enable them to become their own best career coach. The company draws from the expertise of a seasoned management and advisory board with a background in human resources, career counseling, marketing, international business and technology.
Current economic conditions have provided a unique opportunity. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, workers between the ages of 45-54 are becoming unemployed at a higher rate than any other age range. As companies deal with the challenges of recession, older workers are ever more vulnerable, prompting an increased sense of urgency for people in this demographic to update job search skills to compete better in the marketplace.
“In today’s world, it can be challenging for the experienced worker to get help in extending their career in a meaningful way,” said Jeff Winters, chief executive officer of OurExperienceCounts. “There are scarce resources, either physical or Web-based, that serve this audience and their particular needs. The mission of OurExperienceCounts.com is to provide the training, support and encouragement as we mentor skilled workers to manage their job search by becoming their own best career coach.”
The challenges more experienced, mature employees face while seeking new opportunities are distinct and quite real. Some transitioned from school to work and have never had to look for another position. Others haven’t prepared a resume or interviewed for 20 years. They know it’s not ‘rocket science,’ but for people at every level, the employment process can be extremely intimidating. The surprise loss of a job, or having it happen at the worst possible financial time, can add a paralyzing stress. Neither corporations nor existing outplacement services have provided the answers the seasoned worker seeks and requires.
The founders of OurExperienceCounts.com leverage many years of industry experience along with having been through the job search training at NOVA, a non-profit, 25-year old Federally-funded employment and training agency that provides customer-focused workforce development services and shares their facility with the Employment Development Department (EDD).
“OurExperienceCounts is offering training modules in an online environment where job seekers can supplement their learning and markedly improve their skill sets,” said Kris Stadelman, director of NOVA. “We support their training approach and are especially pleased to see their focus on providing information and workshops to the experienced worker, a demographic where there is a real need for in-depth resources.”
The company’s management team and advisory board bring hundreds of years of collective experience plus that specialized NOVA training to the effort. Key management includes:
Ian Zwicker, chairman of the board, Cher Forman, chief content officer, and Deb McClanahan and Denise Pringle, members of the Advisory Board.
OurExperienceCounts.com is launching with a host of resources:
- Workshop Library: 5 free Web-hosted workshops assist job seekers, such as “Get Set-Understanding today’s job market;”
- HR-focused Content: Job search advice column “Ask Cher” written by senior HR executive;
- Situation-specific Content: Blogs offer content from varied perspectives including: a recruiter’s, someone facing imminent layoff, someone who must wind down their career for medical reasons, and someone focused on chasing their dream job; and,
- Job Search Strategy & Action Kits: Information on how to properly use a job board, including reviews on them and job training tips, timely articles; and a free Career Action Planning Kit that is designed to enable the job seeker to effectively manage the job search, plus Self-Assessment Quiz and reports.
“OurExperienceCounts.com showed me how I can expand the breadth of experience indicated on my resume and how to speak them in a way that strengthens my application,” said Scott Sanders, an account executive from Northern California. “I would recommend OEC to professionals who, similar to me, are comfortable responding in an interview setting, but who are also looking to ensure their resume gets noticed by showing varied business situations and being able to respond succinctly to questions regarding them.”
About OurExperienceCounts.com
OurExperienceCounts.com is an online community dedicated to providing the tools and support necessary for mature, experienced workers to extend their careers or make a career transition. By providing tools specific to the needs of the experienced worker, we enable them to compete successfully in a job market that often chooses youth over experience. As our economy seeks to throw off the chains of a recession that has impacted all of us, companies require the expertise and wisdom that come with experience to develop and execute new or modified business plans. Experience will be at a premium, but technology has also brought changes to the job search process since many of us last needed to seek employment. With proper guidance and support from OurExperienceCounts, candidates will be able to develop the personal marketing plan necessary to clearly define how their experience and past successes translate into the talents potential employers are seeking.
Key Facts
- OurExperienceCounts.com contributors offer highly differentiated content to the worker who comes to the table with business tenure, most often with 20+ years of work experience.
- OurExperienceCounts.com is an online community offering industry news, job situation-specific blogs, analysis, tools and tips for the experienced job seeker.
- The site offers a directory of career strategy, job search tools, reports, workshops and resources.
Media
- Tags: career development, job search, experienced worker, OurExperienceCounts.com, employment, re-entering workforce, mature worker, career self-reliance, seasoned worker
For more information
OurExperienceCounts.com Media Contacts:
Renee Maler
Philosophy PR + Marketing
925.968.9495
renee@philosophypr.com
Carla A. Schlemminger
Philosophy PR + Marketing
925.968.9495
carla@philosophypr.com
