Podcast #155 – 50+ Job Fairs: Expectations of Employers and Candidates with Executive Director of Austin UP Teresa Sansone Ferguson

Description:

Teresa Sansone Ferguson built a career in marketing and public relations while working at state associations, technology consulting firms and law firms. She also worked at KUT public radio in Austin for more than 20 years, where she produced and hosted KUT’s Femme FM (a music show featuring female artists) and the Austin Music Minute.

Teresa now serves as executive director of non-profit organization AustinUP, which was formed as a result of the Mayor’s Task Force on Aging – based on the fact that the Austin area has one of the nation’s fastest-growing populations of older adults. AustinUP works with local and regional business and civic leaders, entrepreneurs, non-profit service organizations, boomers, seniors and caregivers on issues related to the future of aging in Austin.

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Key Takeaways:

Marc welcomes you to Episode 155 of the Repurpose Your Career podcast. If you are enjoying this podcast, please share it with other like-minded souls. Subscribe on CareerPivot.com, iTunes, or any of the other apps that supply podcasts. Share it on social media or just tell your neighbors and colleagues. The more people Marc reaches, the more people he can help.

Repurpose Your Career: A Practical Guide for the 2nd Half of Life Third Edition is available at Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, Powells.com, BooksaMillion.com and many other fine online retailers. The book has 30 reviews on Amazon platforms. Marc thanks everyone who has taken the time to review it.

Marc will publish only 2 episodes in the month of December. In two weeks, he will interview Maddie and Jordan from Tangerine Travels. “Less than 2 years ago, Jordan and Maddie quit their careers in the US and sold nearly everything they owned to travel through Mexico. With no prior video-production experience, they started making videos about their travels, and today their YouTube channel has more than 100,000 subscribers.” This will be only the 3^rd time in over 3 years where he will be speaking with a millennial. However, Jordan and Maddie are doing what many of you would like to do – travel and make the travel pay for itself.

Now on to the podcast…

AustinUP is a 501(c)3 that was formed as the result of the Austin mayor’s task force on aging in 2010 after it was discovered that Austin had one of the fastest-growing populations of older adults.

Jobs for older adults were identified as a key component. Older adults are typically over 50 years of age but increasingly agism is creeping into younger age groups.

Employer expectations – Home healthcare and call centers want over 50+ workers.

Austin is #6 on the baby chaser index.

AustinUP still working on the diversity of employers.

The types of people who come to the 50+ job fairs:

There are those that are just curious
Those that tried going on their own but are now applying at Home Depot
Those that want a flexible work schedule where they can take time off to travel
Unfocused job seekers who have a wide variety of skills
The online job seekers who have looked online unsuccessfully

Businesses in Lakeway are starting and closing due to so few candidates.

Working in retail can be a good choice if you are looking for flexibility.

High tech and manufacturing have not caught on. Caroline Valentine of Valentine HR said that high tech is the diehard and Teresa is working to get them to see the light.

The message is not to hire older workers but conveying the importance of creating a multi-generational workplace.

Volunteering is a great way to develop new skills and a great networking opportunity to learn a new community.

The career Pivot Membership Community continues to help the approximately 50 members who are participating in the Beta phase of this project to grow and thrive. This is a community where everyone is there to help everyone else. Marc is recruiting new members for the next cohort.

If you are interested in the Career Pivot Membership Community and would like to be put on a waiting list, please go to CareerPivot.com/Community.

Marc invites you to connect with him on LinkedIn.com/in/mrmiller. Just include in the connection request that you listen to this podcast. You can look for Career Pivot on Facebook, LinkedIn, or @CareerPivot on Twitter.

Please come back next week when Marc will interview Maddie and Jordan from Tangerine Travels.

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