• Dress for the job you are going for, but take it up a notch. In other words, if your position is very casual and you’ll be wearing jeans for the most part, wear a pair of cotton or wool slacks.
• Even if you’re dressing casually for an interview, a jacket is always a good idea. It shows a certain amount of professionalism and projects an aura of confidence.
• Wear conservative jewelry and accessorize accordingly—same with makeup.
• Make certain that your outfit is clean and pressed and that your shoes are polished.
• Be sure to wear your very best asset—a warm, friendly smile!

For more tips that are guaranteed to help you make a great first impression and ace the interview, be sure to check out the latest, updated version of Land the Job You Love. For the same low price, you’ll get 18 more pages filled with all of the tools you’ll need to approach the job market with confidence, present yourself as a winning candidate, and create the success you deserve. And that’s a winning combo for sure!

It may not be sexy, but today’s economy calls for practicality and, if she’s unemployed or underemployed, I have the perfect solution! I’m thrilled to announce I’ve just updated Land the Job You Love to incorporate even more cutting edge techniques, proven success strategies, and methods that are guaranteed to make a positive difference.

With a full 18-pages of new exercises, tools, and strategies, this hot-off-the-presses version boasts:

• The latest (yet easy to follow) tips for using social media to full advantage
• Surefire ways to break through to the hidden job market using innovative and guaranteed techniques
• The best methods for preparing for webcam interviews (a quickly growing trend)
• And many more tools that won’t be found in other job search books

Job search has changed tremendously—even in the past few years—so the recipient of this special gift will be well armed with the tools to handle any situation she’ll encounter in the marketplace of today.  At the same low price of $12.95, you can give the woman in your life the means to distinguish herself from the competition, present her skills with confidence, ace the interview and land the job of her dreams.

And, in my book, that beats a box of candy any day!

But what do these messages do to your sense of self-esteem? Constantly being told your age is a giant turn-off to most employers can’t help you feel good about yourself. Moreover, having confidence in what you bring: your skills, experience, and your added value as a unique individual of talent and energy is the cornerstone to mounting a successful job search campaign. If you can’t believe in your own merit as a viable and attractive candidate, how can you possibly convince an employer you’d be a worthwhile addition to their team?

Therefore why not choose to focus on the advice that supports you and your efforts, and ignore the rest of the discouraging chatter? Why not concentrate on all of the advantages age brings and present yourself as a winning candidate of maturity? There are plenty of ways you have it all over your younger counterparts—so why not conduct your search from a position of strength and confidence in all you have to offer?

Here are just a few of the attributes of maturity that will help you start thinking of ways your age is to your advantage:

• You have market knowledge and a well-honed skill set gained over years of experience.
• You have an extensive network of clients, customers, coworkers, colleagues, and friends—and, because many people in your network are older, they’re more likely to have connections with senior-level contacts.
• You are liable to be more flexible and can present yourself as a full or part-time employee, or as a consultant.
• You are not necessarily assertively climbing the corporate ladder so you won’t pose a threat to the more aggressive up-and-comers.
• You have the knowledge and ability to mentor younger workers and teach them the valuable techniques and tools that translate into ongoing success for the organization.
• You have life skills gained over years of experience dealing with people. You can get along with others, know how to manage your emotions at work, and you realize the importance of being a contributing team member.
• You have a mature work ethic. You understand the value of being responsible, showing up on time, and following through to complete assigned tasks.
• You have the experience and knowledge to handle most any situation that arises because you’ve handled just these types of encounters many times before. All you need to do is compile a list of winning examples and have them on the ready to illustrate your skills and accomplishments.

Your age has gifted you with several additional positive attributes—too many to mention in this article. For now, consider the findings of a recent survey reported by CBS. More than a quarter of the women surveyed reported that they’d trade in IQ points for a larger chest. (It goes without saying these women were not on the far side of fifty!)

So, if you were an employer, which segment of the population would you want on your team?

For the tips and tools you’ll need to turn your age into your advantage, be sure to check out Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50. It’s packed with most effective ways to market yourself as a mature jobseeker and give you that needed edge over the competition!

Recent advances in brain imaging have produced several surprising new wrinkles to the great gender divide. It goes without saying that those of us who lived through the women’s movement are especially fascinated by the topic of nature versus nurture. In fact this particular conundrum laid the foundation for many a heated skirmish at the height of the battle between the sexes. Now it looks like nature plays an even greater role than we’d thought—especially when it comes to the human brain. One of the most striking differences between the brains of men and women involves the ability to process language.

To the utter dismay of many a long-suffering woman, it appears that men do not listen well! One cause for this phenomenon may come as a result of their lower oxytocin levels. (Oxytocin is the hormone involved in bonding—sometimes dubbed “the cuddle chemical). Unfortunately, the lack of the cuddle chemical makes our guys likely less inclined to want to bond and connect—especially through conversation.

However, hormones aside, the main culprit for their turning a deaf ear to us is that their brain is actually “deaf” on one side.  When brain images of live subjects were taken, they showed the neurons on both sides of a woman’s brain were activated while she listened to the voices of the researchers. However, in males, only one side of the brain displayed activated neurons. And, when verbal tasks were given, women showed higher blood flow to various areas throughout their brain. They could remember what was said and, therefore, recall what they were told to do. No surprise, this increased activity did not occur in men.

Consequently, it seems a biological determinate that when you have a need to send a verbal message to your male partner—especially when it concerns a task you want them to do—you’ll need to be extra certain that your message will actually sift through to the side of his brain where he’ll hear it.

As many of us will attest, dealing with guys can prove challenging… and this frustrating brain-fact makes Tammy Wynette’s words even more on target: “Sometimes it’s hard to be a woman!”

Kate Forgach submitted this special guest post that will definitely give you some food for thought in the romance department. Kate is a  

So you think marriage is for the young? Check this out: As of the 2010 U.S. Census, more than 16-million unmarried Americans were 65 and older. But these single seniors aren’t willing to sit on their laurels; Between 2006 and 2007 there was a 140-percent increase in senior online dating.

Clearly the message that marriage makes you live longer has made its way to the over-65 crowd. Seniors also have learned the effectiveness of online dating sites. According to a2011 international study conducted by the Oxford Internet Institute and funded by eHarmony, middle-aged men and women were the most likely people to use online dating sites, a statistic that particularly holds true for seniors.

With these glaring statistics to back up entrepreneurs, many new businesses have arisen catering to seniors interested in relationships. Here’s a sampling.

1. Dating Sites
Let’s see; There’s SeniorMatch, SeniorPeopleMeet, DatingforSeniors, SeniorFriendFinder, PrimeSingles, SilverSingles, DatingForSeniors…pant, pant, pant. And we’re just getting started. More commonly known sites, like Match.com and eHarmony, also appeal to the over-65 crowd. And let’s not forget AgeMatch, which targets cougars and sugar daddies seeking companionship out of their age range.

An interesting aside to this category is the research findings of two Bowling Green State University professors of gerontology. In the early stages of the study, they’ve found indications that seniors market themselves different on dating sites than their youthful counterparts. Appearance and status drop to the bottom of profiles while compatibility and self representation are priorities.

2. Gift Registries
Soon-to-be-wed seniors likely don’t need another blender, so alternative registries are proving just the ticket. CardAvenue is a wedding gift registry that lets them register for desirable gift cards, including those for stores, airlines, gas, etc. Cloud9Living allows couples to register for desired experiences, like hot-air ballooning in the Rockies, taking gourmet cooking classes in Houston, race car driving in Las Vegas, and much more.

3. Wedding Websites
Personal wedding websites are the latest rage, and WedShare.com in particular has reached out to seniors with it’s easy-to-use message. The company provides a free domain name, customizable website themes and matching eCards, a monetary gift registry with PayPal, and much more. Other similar sites include MyWeddingHosting.com, eWedding.com and Momentville.com. To comparison shop, check out WeddingWebsites.com.

4. Therapy for the Kids
Roughly 500,000 Americans over the age of 65 remarry each year, and most already have adult children, according to Grace Gabe, a psychiatrist and co-author of “Step Wars: Overcoming the Perils and Making Peace in Adult Stepfamilies.” Remembering their parent’s former spouse, the kids may have trouble accepting a new relationship. This has opened up an entirely new species of therapist. While many cater to younger audiences, there are those who provide assistance to both young and old alike.

5. Prenuptial Agreements
No longer a legal document solely for the rich, lawyers are creating prenuptial agreements designed specifically for seniors looking to protect their children’s inheritances or not interested in once-again paying alimony.

Those of us gals who attempted to join the workforce in the 1970s could expect certain questions at each and every job interview. Whether or not there was a B.A. after your name, the primary question remained: “How fast can you type?” And, if the lady candidate sported a wedding ring, the next question was always: “Does your husband mind if you work?” Meanwhile, male college graduate applicants of the time were swiftly enrolled in the firm’s management training program and were never questioned as to their typing speed or their wife’s concern regarding their employment choices.

Moreover, if a woman already had a family and decided to go to work because she was widowed, divorced, or otherwise needed an income; she was generally viewed as an aberration—someone who was out of place in the business world. In fact, the term applied to such females was “displaced homemakers…” not exactly a sign of respect for their business acumen!

Nevertheless and despite the enormous odds stacked against us, we feisty gals pushed hard to gain a semblance of parity with our male counterparts. And we succeeded! Granted, major inequities in compensation, seats in the boardroom, and in a thousand other ways still exist—but our struggles made a difference for our daughters and ourselves.

Yet it goes without saying that the younger generation tends to want to shock and surprise their elders. We certainly outraged our parents with our long hair, protests, and fondness for pot. But this latest news is almost too much to bear: A brand new survey found that more than 25% of women would trade in IQ points for bigger breasts. I’m speechless!

I do try to adopt a positive outlook in most things but this one is challenging me—big time. What could they be thinking? I’ve always considered the triumphs of the Women’s Movement to be one of our lasting legacies that will forever change the lives of future generations… but maybe not.

Is it possible to feel feisty, frazzled, and dumbfounded all at the same time?!

I’ve just experienced one of those special events—both personally and professionally. I’ve enjoyed the immense pleasure and real honor of interviewing one of our nation’s great statesmen, Senator Adlai Stevenson III. As you’ll immediately recognize from his name, this well-known gentleman descends from a long line of statesmen who’ve left their indelible imprint upon our nation’s history. Until our interview, however, I hadn’t realized how long that line really was.

Senator Stevenson came to Feisty Side of Fifty Radio to discuss his insightful, wide-ranging, and wonderfully humorous work, The Black Book. This is the story of five generations of the senator’s family—from his great, great grandfather (who was instrumental in securing the Presidency for Abraham Lincoln) down through his own career in politics.

But the book is much more than a family memoir; it’s a treasure trove of historical references, anecdotes, sayings, and laugh-out-loud quotes. It’s also rich with behind-the-scenes politics that will inspire, amuse, and sometimes outrage the reader but will always have you turning pages with anticipation of what’s to come.

I invite you to take a listen and hear Senator Stevenson share his personal and surprisingly tongue-in-cheek story of American political history from an insider’s point of view. It’s 15-minutes that will both engage and inspire you as this man of wit and wisdom imparts his unique take on where we’ve been and where we’re headed as a nation.

Moreover, for a wonderful read that will give you a statesman’s perspective on life, politics, and the human condition, be sure to check out The Black Book. The author’s goal was to “draw lessons for the future from a rich past.” And, from this reader’s perspective, Senator Stevenson has done just that—this is one book that belongs on everyone’s nightstand!

There are tons of reasons why this is true. Some of these causes for celebration, like the social influence and clout our numbers provide, are legendary. With a grateful nod to our population bulge, we boomers continue our revolutionary ways: shattering outmoded social norms, molding the culture to our liking, and reinventing the role for what it means to be a post-50 citizen. (Which other generation could boast of forgoing the rocking chair in favor of the rock concert?)

But my thoughts are of a personal nature and I, for one, am grateful for the small things. Here is my list of seven reasons why I consider myself blessed to be a boomer:

1)     I’ve never had to consider piercing anything on my body beyond my earlobes.

2)     For much of my life, when I phoned customer service, I immediately spoke with an actual, flesh and blood person! Plus, (and big bonus here) they were trained to be polite and helpful.

3)     When I was young, there were no entertainment centers—no multiple switches, remotes, wires, and unintelligible manuals. There was a TV with rabbit ears, a dial, and one, elegantly simple, on/off switch.

4)     I’ve never had to deal with the heartbreak of a full-blown Internet addiction.

5)     I remember when people used real words and not just unpronounceable acronyms.

6)     Sixties’ and Seventies’ rock ‘n’ roll was the BEST and I know, without a doubt, that we boomers have never lacked for cool.

7)     We continue to be the grooviest generation on the planet.

So, what do you think? What are the ways you express your boomer bravado? How are you putting gold into your golden years? Whatever you’re doing, you can be grateful for being born into a remarkable generation. Let’s let those whippersnappers know we’re not about to drift silently into the margins of society. To the contrary, let’s shout it loud and proud: boomers forever!

In How We Love Now, Suzanne Braun Levine writes of longtime friendships and the special bond of reconnecting with people who “knew you when.” The joy of sharing mutual memories of early fashion statements gone awry, excruciating first dances, and the pains and pleasures of adolescence is a treasured experience for each of us who’s is lucky enough to connect with a childhood friend.

But even with the best of friends, things can happen. We get our feelings hurt, our interests change, or we simply drift apart. Sadly, some friendships can even turn toxic. Suzanne and I explored the multi-layered topic of female friendship on Feisty Side of Fifty radio. Always insightful, Suzanne gave me more than a few “aha moments.” I invite you to take 15-minutes and listen for yourselves.

Suzanne will be making a number of appearances in the next several weeks. Be sure to check her website to see when she’ll be in your area. Her presentation will be one you won’t forget and she welcomes connections with new feisty friends so be sure to say hello.

Also be certain to take a look at “The Conversation Continues” an article about Suzanne’s presentation at TedxWomen. Describing The Fertile Void, Suzanne hit all the notes (high and low) about this major transition and had the audience laughing with recognition as well as having several of their own aha moments.

Celebrating the feisty side of fifty is all the richer with good friends beside us. And it’s great to have a special friend, Suzanne Braun Levine, along to give us a roadmap of all we’re experiencing now and the many good things to come.

However, as with all great movements, there is still a long way to go. I recently had the opportunity to interview one of my favorite activists for women’s rights, Gloria Feldt. This feisty woman is on a mission to empower us even further. Gloria proudly wears her substantial personal power and is helping us to grab onto our own by writing her riveting and life-altering book, No Excuses: 9 Ways Women Can Change How We Think About Power.

No Excuses is one of the most important works I’ve read in a long time. But, true to its author’s style, it’s far from a dry and lecturing tome about what women “should” do. Rather the book is an exhilarating call to claiming your personal power—not only for yourself, but also for the wellbeing of all women. Gloria defines her nine “Power Tools” in engaging and often wryly humorous terms citing stories from the many women (and men) she’s interviewed and observed. Believe me, as a boomer woman especially, you won’t be able to put this book down!

My favorite power tool was the one dealing with a definition change: transforming the definition of power from “power over,” (the hierarchical, masculine version) to “power to,” (the ability to claim your right to be accountable for yourself, take action, and make things happen). As Gloria puts it: “Power-over is amoral. Power-to is responsibility.” You can check out each of her power tools on Gloria’s website.

Moreover, with the election looming, Gloria’s words take on even greater meaning. It’s difficult not to notice that this power-wielding landscape remains loaded with testosterone… and that, of course, means more of the same.

So let’s take a listen to Gloria’s advice, recognize some of the ways we might be abdicating our personal power, and start claiming our female power-to. As Gloria points out, it’s valuable for us individually and vitally important for the sake of future generations.

In fact, she’s presenting a special interactive chat on her Facebook page this Sunday, (3/25) from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. ET. You’ll want to be there and learn what you can do with your own powerful presence. There’s no better way to celebrate the Feisty Side of Fifty than by becoming a united force—and one that’s powerful enough to change our world for the better!