Starting Out and Starting Over
photo by sirwiseowl
When I attended my younger sister’s graduation a few years back, I was instantly struck when the speaker informed the entire graduating class to go out into the workforce with high expectations, but to be aware that they would be the first generation that would not be more successful than their parents.
I thought this was an odd comment, and struck me as very different then any motivational speech I had ever heard before. I was waiting for feedback from the audience, but no one said anything. After the ceremony I started talking to my parents about how strange this was, and why anyone would ever make such a non-motivating point at a college graduation. As we discussed the point further, I realized he was right.
My sister & I would never have the ability to buy a house, raise a family in that house and then sell it for a 2000% increase 20 years later. We would most likely never have a job that offered us a pension plan at a mandatory retirement age, and we would see more job changes in 10 years than our parents saw during their entire career.
Unfortunately, the last point is not holding up as well for some of our parents these days. The economy is changing and companies have become efficient at “right sizing” their organizations with the advancement of technology. One of the biggest demographics affected by these changes is older workers.
According to an article by Barbara Rose,
…older workers are typically more susceptible to layoffs because of their higher pay. Employers have been able to justify layoffs of older workers because it is a cost reduction and not discrimination. Unfortunately it can become very difficult to find a new job that is equal in responsibility and pay because companies can now hire younger workers for a lot less money.
In her article How Older Workers Can Rebound From A Job Loss, Eve Tahmincioglu, a contributor for MSNBC, suggests other reasons that older workers may find job hunting difficult:
- Employers fear lower productivity due to health complications
- Older workers typically have a specific skill set developed after years on the job versus a wide range of skill sets developed by multiple career changes
But all is not lost…Thanks to organizations like the AARP & the Department of Elder Affairs, as well as niche job boards like wiserworker.com, there are more resources than ever before to help experienced workers find the perfect job opportunities. Here are some interesting ideas for older workers as they begin looking for a new job or starting a new career.
- Start Looking Before You Get Laid Off: No matter what age you are it is always easier to present yourself as the right solution for an employer’s needs when you are currently working. Sometimes lay offs may be unexpected, but if there is any indication that a downsizing may be coming at least start putting “feelers” out in the market. And never quit a job before you have something else lined up…it’s not going to be near as catastrophic to your employer as you think and the only one who gets hurt is you.
- Do Some Soul Searching: If you have been laid off, now is your time to step back from the craziness of every day life and figure out what you really want to be doing not what you think you need to be doing. Follow that direction…most of us don’t get that chance too often.
- Dumb Down Your Resume: Unfortunately your 30 years of experience may scare off potential employers because they may assume you require more than the job can pay. If they are looking for 10 years of experience, then adjust your resume to include 10-15 years of employment experience. The interview process is the time for both employers and jobseekers to figure out if the fit is right, so use the age old sales trick and save some of your best qualities for the interview to help set yourself apart.
- Put Personal Networking First: 30 years in the business world has earned you much more than a company watch, it has earned you a lifetime worth of contacts. Use these contacts to help secure your new position.
- Target Companies Where the Leadership Skews Older: If the company’s execs tend to be older you may actually have an advantage. It may be difficult to sell yourself as a future leader of an organization to a 30 year old who just received 10 million dollars to start an Internet company.
- Be Patient: remember this is your opportunity to find the perfect job for you.
- Use Technology: Use the internet to search for jobs on sites like www.wiserworker.com or begin social networks on sites like www.LinkedIn.com. Technology can help you connect with people much faster than you were able to even just a few years ago.
So, for older workers that have been laid off and are looking for a new job…Good Luck! And remember you have an advantage that younger workers will never be able to compete with…Experience.
(This article was written by Patrick O’Brien. Patrick is the General Sales Manager of the Orlando Employment Guide. For questions regarding this article or for general questions please send Patrick an email at orlandojobs@employmentguide.com.)