Yes! A few quick suggestions. First your local public community college should have professional development resources available to you that include resume-building. If not then their career center should be able to point you to some helpful resources.

Next, try this site:

http://www.aarp.org/work/job-hunting/info-05-2008/job_tips_for_50plus_workers.html

Most job hunting these days takes place via online job boards and online networking through sites like LinkedIn, and I think even for jobs in the retail sector.

However, for local retail jobs I recommend networking in person and targeting retail shop for which you'd like to work. If they're smaller and locally owned then you may be able to introduce yourself to the owner/manager and express your desire to work for them. In my area people your age are coveted by small retail shops because you tend to be flexible and reliable.

Good luck!

Oh thank you Lisa. Actually there is a locally owned small clothes boutique I would love to work in. The women there are around my age, so it would be a great fit for me.

Then in that case, RoseAbbey, I would ask them if they're hiring and share your desire to work in their environment. I think your enthusiasm would go a long way. Tell them you have an accounting background as these can be desirable skills to small businesses. I also recommend having a list of references on hand. Many employers find references to be too hand-selected and may not bother calling them. But all of this points to your "wanting" to work there and that's very appealing to small businesses.

So should I write up a resume and take it with me? I worked at the same large company (Du Pont) for 34 years so I wouldnt have a lot of references. Most of those people have retired now as well.

I'll let others offer advice, but I would say no, you don't need a resume for a small locally owned boutique. And for references I suggest neighbors, church or volunteer associates or other people who could attest to your reliability and honesty. It doesn't have to be former coworkers. This boutique wants to know that you're friendly and work well with customers, and that you will show up on time and be honest in your transactions.

Editing to add, so perhaps inquire first with the store. If they insist on having a resume on hand, simply reply that you'd be happy to provide them one and then go home and work on it. But initially for a business like that, I would not put time into a resume unless they requested it.

Thank you Lisa for your advice, it sounds very reasonable to me. I will give that a try next week.

Just wanted to say that yesterday I was the first customer (JoAnn's fabric) of a nice lady who just went back to work. She told me she had retired from the banking industry a few years ago after 42 years at the same bank! She was a little nervous and needed some help from the manager who was training her but she will do fine. As will you! Good luck!

Thank you maddielee!

I think I may just write up a letter outlining my job history with some references, just so I may leave something at the boutique in case whoever does the hiring is not there, or if they aren't hiring right now, at least they have something from me.

Rose-- that is exactly what I would recommend for a position with a local, independently-owned retail boutique! In fact, it's just what i did.

I am likely going to start working with a small artisan food business on a very part time basis-- something to balance out the sometimes soul-sucking work that is my career. I approached the owner who I knew was going to open a brick and mortar shop and let him know I'd like to help out. I gave him a copy of my resume and a bulleted list of relevant personal experience-- none of which was unrelated to my resume. I think the resume actually worked against me as he feared I'd want too much money-- or too much "ownership" in aspects of his business. In reality, I didnt want any of that .. I just wanted to interact with like-minded people to talk about and sell his great products (artisan spice blends)!

What I think is important to relay is your passion for whatever you'll sell, your personality/people skills, and your reliability/trustworthiness.

thanks funkyart. It would be great to work at something that doesnt feel like work. Hope if works out for both of us.

RoseAbbey,

Good for you! I have not read all the replies, but I think your accounting experience at DuPont will help you in any retail experience. Yes, do a simple resume and a cover letter.

Most retail jobs at my local mall require that you fill out an application and then schedule an interview. It is at the interview that I would suggest having your resume available. This may set you apart from the other applicants.

Check this out: templates for resume writing:

https://templates.office.com/en-us/Resumes-and-Cover-Letters

Thanks bonnie ann. I tried to open your link but couldnt for some reason.

I want to write a simple resume letter, just a simple paragraph about my work history, and a paragraph about my personal interests and then a couple of references. My problem is I dont know how to start out the letter. There is no job opening that I can refer to. What would be the first sentence of my letter?

I'd try something like what's in this link. At the top, put your name/address/contact information. Then, state an objective--a sentence or two about what your goal is. Then, include a career summary (the link includes examples of that, too). Then, references.

http://www.job-interview-site.com/resume-objective-examples-15-top-resume-objectives-examples.html

So would my letter start out as

I am looking to find part time employment in your fabulous boutique.

I don't know what you did at Dupont, but if you had internal customers....like the departments who used accounting.....you have plenty of customer service experience for retailing.

jmc, I never thought of it that way, yes I had both internal and external customers. I was in accounts payable, and I was very contentious about my customers being paid correctly and on time. Thank you

With an AP background, you are a master at customer service!

thanks jmc, boy you guys are really making me get some of my confidence back. After being retired all these years, I was feeling a little nervous about going back to work.

I'd pop into the local library, you can probably find a lot of books on writing resumes and even books or templates tailored to getting back into the workplace. You can probably even type up the resume on one of their computers and print it out there.