Careers
Featured Articles:
Over 50 And Changing Careers? You’d
Better Have a Plan
by: Kent Johnson
Like it or not, if you’re over 50 and changing
careers, you’re going to face some challenges that younger workers
aren’t accustomed to. There’s an unspoken bias out there against
older workers – at least in many companies - and unless you plan
ahead and are prepared to meet that bias head on, you could be in
for a long and frustrating job search.
For many employers, “older” workers mean
trouble. The perception is that workers over 50 will have more
health problems, will miss more work days, will be more forgetful
and make more mistakes on the job, and will cost more to insure.
There’s also the belief that an employer will have to pay an older
worker more, and that they’ll get less for their investment when the
worker retires or moves on.
And perhaps the worst bias that older job
seekers have to face is the idea that they’re “dinosaurs,” or some
kind of museum relic that’s out of touch with the needs of modern
business. And what’s surprising is that many of the employers who
feel this way are over 50 themselves!
Now an employer isn’t going to come out and
tell you that you’re too old for the job – that kind of
discrimination is illegal, after all. You’re more likely to hear
something like “Your overqualified for the position,” or “We’re
looking for an entry-level worker to fill this post.”
And this comes at a time when people are living
longer, more productive lives than ever before. A man or woman in
good health today can expect to live to be 76 years old. And with
the elimination of pension plans in most corporations, and the fall
back of the stock market in recent years, many employees will have
to work well beyond the traditional retirement age of 65.
So what are older job seekers supposed to do?
Well first off, you need to acknowledge the challenge but don’t let
it discourage you. Many companies are hiring workers over 50, and
some of them actually prefer “mature” employees because of their
experience and dependability. So you can still find a job, but it
will probably a little longer than you were expecting.
And many older workers are skipping the job
search all together in favor of starting their own businesses or
moving into freelancing opportunities. Some are turning long-time
hobbies into full-time businesses. In fact, a lot of these folks see
a career change late in life as an opportunity to explore their
passions and do things they’ve always wanted to do.
No matter which path you choose to take, you’ll
need to sit down and formulate a plan of action. If you decide that
you want to seek a new job instead of starting your own business,
here are some tips to help you get started:
- Seek out companies that are actively hiring
older workers. One good place to start is on the AARP website --
www.AARP.org --which has links to companies who are seeking workers
over 50.
- Look for openings at smaller companies.
Smaller firms tend to be more open to hiring older workers, and your
experience may be more valuable here than in a larger corporation.
- Network. This is just as important for older
job- seekers as it is for younger ones. Spread the word that you’re
looking to change jobs or careers. Tell family and friends. And
search on the Internet for companies in your area that look
promising.
- Work your resume to your advantage. If you
have college degrees, list them, but don’t give the date when they
were awarded. You only need to go back 15 or 20 years when listing
past jobs, and it’s best to only include experience that pertains to
the job you’re seeking.
- Be positive during your interview. Highlight
your experience and positive attributes. Be sure to tell the
interviewer about your past accomplishments. Project an air of
youthfulness, and make it clear that you intend to work for the
company for a long time.
And most of all don’t get discouraged. Just remember that Colonel Sanders didn’t launch his fried chicken empire until he was 65 years old, and George Burns re-invented himself as a movie actor at age 80. There are lots of opportunities for older workers, you just have to stay positive and keep trying.
About The Author
Kent Johnson - author, publisher, career coach. "Helping people
realize their dreams one career at a time." Your Dream Career.com -
your source for career tips and info
http://your-dream-career.com