Baby Boomer Woman: Amy Hoster

by Anne Holmes on May 26, 2010

Need help finding a job? Meet employment expert and NABBW member Amy Hoster, a baby boomer who’s dedicated to providing quality employment opportunities plus resources… and she wants YOU to love what you do.

Using one paragraph, tell us a bit about yourself? I’m a high strung over achiever…. But all kidding aside…I am employed by Dominion Enterprises, publisher of The Employment Guide®, as the Business Development Manager for WiserWorker.com. Dominion Enterprises is the world’s largest publisher of classified advertising material. WiserWorker.com a career resource website with a comprehensive job board, is dedicated to providing quality employment opportunities and resources to the largest demographic group in the country, the Baby Boomers. I’ve been involved in the recruiting industry since 1999 and earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Business Management from University of Phoenix.

Tell us about your family; married, divorced, children, grands, boomerangs or parents living with you, etc. I am single, and when you travel as much as I do, I don’t have anything that requires care, feeding or watering.

What inspires you? Oh that’s easy….but hard to explain. People inspire me; nothing gets me motivated more than when I see someone not only facing but conquering an obstacle. Let’s face it life is hard; and only the people who work hard and have a good attitude make it. Random Acts of Kindness always get me in the soft spot, its easy to take assistance but people who give are the true heroes. I always and I repeat, always root for the underdog. Its easy to win if you have always been number 1; what gets me going is when the 3^rd place person takes home the win.

Do you have any interesting hobbies? My family. I spend all my time what there is left with my family. There is nothing more important in this life as family. Family isn’t just the people who happen to have the same last name as me. Over the years I have picked some very important people who I call family. Nothing is more important to me than spending time with these people because after all, we all know life is short you better enjoy it with the ones who love you!

Do you have a favorite book or movie? If so, tell us why it’s your favorite. I read a lot and its hard to pick just one book, but I will tell you I have read every Evanovich book not only once, but in most cases, twice. I do enjoy the antics of Stephanie Plum.

Do you travel and if so, who are your favorite travel partners and where do you like to go? Southwest Airlines is my best friend…..All kidding aside. When you travel as much as I do for business, the last thing I enjoy is climbing aboard a plane. HOWEVER; I am a sucker for the beach, any vacation that entails a beach, sand, a cold drink, and family; I am always first in line.

Do you practice preventive medicine? Please elaborate. Are you counting the gym as preventive? I also take in a massage once or thrice a month. I am getting ready to take a stab at acupuncture. No pun intended.

What do you stress about? I stress as a form of therapy, it’s a sick hobby; but as the oldest child, I have grown up as the caretaker, and along with that, comes a fair amount of worry. The job market is also a point of stress lately and as a manager for a online job board that frankly lives and breathes on our ability to provide jobs, this time period has been anything and everything stressful.

Is it important for you to retain your youthful looks, and if so, to what degree are you willing to go? Beauty is growing older, I think wrinkles are a sign of experience and should not be messed with. I’m still somewhat young and frankly, any and all “improvements” that involve a surgeon or toxins (botox), make me CRAZY. Really; I have watched my grandmother, aunts, and finally the prettiest lady I know…my mother, grow old with dignity and they are the hottest ladies I know.

Have you re-invented yourself, and if so, how? I think my site is a little of me, and my path in life is all me. I left the organization and returned 4 years later. I know I was brought back to do my passion and create a place in this online world for older workers. I can’t imagine doing anything else.

Do you plan to retire? To soon to tell I love what I am doing…..

Are you doing anything to GO Green? Yes! I bought a Kindle and its my part in the going green march. Small steps.

Can you pinpoint major turning points in your life that led to your life’s work/play at midlife? Believe it or not, our older worker initiative started with a one sales person from the Phoenix Employment Guide. He came into my office one day and said “Amy we need to help older workers re-enter the job market. So I invited the local AARP program participants to the job fair next week”. Great idea, but what I didn’t know was that job fair was going to change our business and ultimately send The Employment Guide down a road that would be full of challenges and in the end, rewards. A week later at that job fair, I met a man in probably his late 60’s who asked if I could help him find a resume. He didn’t know what a resume was but he knew he needed one, and he wanted me to show him were he could get one. Luckily, we had a resume specialist at that event who was able to help him create a resume, but it was that day I knew we needed to help the older worker. That man didn’t know it, but he changed my life. Shortly there after, WiserWorker.com was born.

Do you still have unfulfilled dreams, and are you doing anything to accomplish them? I am sure I do, but right now I am happy with my place in life.

How do you make a difference in the lives of others, your community, your world? By being me, and always keeping my eye out for that person who needs my product or my assistance. I think by being aware that we are only one person and have to do our part in this world, we always will make a difference.

Who has had the biggest influence on your life and why? Its going to sound corny…..but my biggest influence has been my parents. I warned you! They really are the most wonderful people in the world. I am who I am because of how they shaped and guided me. They always taught me lessons that I have taken with me to this day. Not a decision goes by that I don’t think, “What would my parents do?” Love them more than they probably know…They are parents to 7 adopted children, college graduates, and have been married 38 years this year. They are certainly a tough act to follow….oh did I mention they were foster parents for 18 years….they will always have a special place in my heart and mind.

If you were to have a personal mission statement, what would it be? Feel free to be as serious or fun as you choose. Take each day as it comes and treasure it because you rarely get to redo it; make each day important to you and work as hard as you can at what you love.

For more information on how to get the job you love, visit Amy at her website, WiserWorker.com, or drop by her BLOG.