How will you navigate the job market in 2026? What issues — from inflation to tariffs to artificial intelligence — will affect your career in the new year?
In a changing economy, many of us are stressed about our current jobs and long-term career prospects. Are we, along with our spouses, children and grandchildren, getting good employment advice? What worries keep you up in the middle of the night?
Manpower executive Phil Blair will answer your questions in a new biweekly column, drawing on his decades of experience in hiring. In this inaugural post, he answers four of the most frequent questions.
Please send your questions and concerns about today’s employment landscape to jobwon@timesofsandiego.com for Phil to answer.
Q. The facility I worked at for five years closed six months ago. I am 65 years old and am having a devil of a time getting work. I keep applying but get no response, or if I do it’s a don’t call us, we’ll call you. Money is very tight and I need to work. I’m getting very worried if I can ever work again. What should I do?
A. I understand your situation and you are justified in being worried. Let’s talk about some options and actions you can take. Polite persistence is a thing. Employers want to know that candidates want their jobs and are concerned about short termers. If there is a position you really want, you need to show them you really want the job and why you are the best candidate. Show it with action and enthusiasm.
Call and confirm they received your application, email the decision maker, if possible, drop by the facility and make nice with the receptionist. They can move mountains in a company. Be bubbly and enthusiastic — someone everyone would want to work alongside.
When looking for work you have a job, and it’s finding your next job. Focus on setting aside 4-6 hours a day for proactive and reactive job search activity. Be aware of ‘hiring” signs in windows. Retail surprising is a very active job area. Network like crazy going to events and meetings you never would have thought of. Eighty-five percent of jobs are found through networking.
Your next job is out there, and they are lucky to be able to hire you. Now prove it!
Q. I am 55 years old and need to find a new place to work. I am getting no traction. My fear is that they can calculate my age very quickly and pass me over as too old. What can I do?
A. First, everything I said in the first answer applies to you, and everybody else who is in a job search.
Remember that the average permanent job in America is now slightly over four years. Companies are not hiring you for life. As an old boss of mine said, “We hire people; we don’t adopt them.”
As long as the company needs your skills for the foreseeable future, they will hire the best candidate they can find. Make sure you convince them you want the job and are the best person for the job. You’d be surprised how many interviews end with the decision maker not knowing if the candidate really wants the job. Be sure to say so at the end of your interview.
Q. How do I know what to wear for an interview?
A. Dress is surprisingly important, mostly because it shows you have done your homework before the interview. The easiest way is to drive to the company location and check the vibe. You can even go in and ask the receptionist if they have a dress code, and if so, what is it?
Absent that look at the people coming and going from the company. That’s always a hint. If the company does not have a local presence, maybe the job is remote, so check out their website. There are usually photos, or stock photos of employees, that can give you a sense of formality.
Always dress one step up from what you see, as a sign of respect. But never wear a suit or heels to interview at a surf magazine! Close is good enough, especially via video. A solid white shirt or blouse with minimal accessories will always work.
Q. Can I take notes during an interview and even ask questions?
A. Absolutely. Taking notes is a sign of respect. I kid in my book Job Won! about wanting to see the notes an applicant took during an interview. I might be surprised to see it is their grocery list. But it makes the interviewer feel like they are saying something important.
You can confirm that you got a point correct by reading a note back to the interviewer. It shows you are into accuracy and are paying attention. Your notes will also give you ammunition for the polite follow up, and an effective thank you note.
Phil Blair is one of San Diego’s most respected business leaders. Since 1977, he along with partner Mel Katz, have built Manpower of San Diego into the largest Manpower franchise in the U.S. with annual revenues exceeding $125 million.
