Forties People

Forties People: From jobless despair to a thriving business Jacqy Jacobs founder Forties People 1992. Forties People was founded by Jacqy Jacobs, a worker aged 50 who had lost her job and like many older workers, couldn't find another. Jacqy had previously worked in a high street agency as an employee and had specialised in helping older workers but this company had not survived.

Given the number of agencies, both on and off-line, how do you decide which one to use? Many employers refuse to reveal which consultancies they use for fear of being swamped by unsuitable applicants, so a little detective work is in order. Word of mouth is often reliable but you should remember that your experience may not mirror that of the friend or colleague who passes on the information.

1. Visualise job search success. Create a picture in your mind of your desired job outcome. Visualise yourself working at your dream job and thinking that all the effort you put into finding it finally paid off. The more you focus on the end result, the better prepared you'll be to tolerate the difficulties you face in getting there.

Find a quiet space where you won't be disturbed, close your eyes and visualise yourself being successful in your interview. This technique is used by elite athletes before competitions to improve performance. Reduce stress unrelated to the actual interview, such as uncomfortable clothing, getting lost, or showing up late.

1. Presentation - address the letter to a specific person. If the advert doesn't say their name, ring the company and ask who to send the letter to. Don't forget to put the job title at the top of the letter and reference number where applicable. Avoid long paragraphs, type the letter neatly, always spell-check and never exceed one page.