Five Keys to Success for Older Workers (Part 2)

Last week I wrote about a report from the MetLife Mature Market Institute® that said there are several assumptions that the older job seeker has about the job search. They call them the Significant Seven, or “Seven Mistakes That Keep Aging Boomers Unemployed”. The same report says that there are five “keys” to success for older workers. They are:

1. Acknowledge the new realities of the job market: Yes, there is age discrimination but deal with it. Realistically assess the local employment market and go from there. Identify the growing or stable industries (food, transportation, energy, healthcare, and accounting do well during difficult times). Look for organizations that are respectful (check retirementjobs.com and ARRP Best Employers for Workers Over 50). Research small and medium sized companies as these will value your experience and skill set.

2. Reframe your expectations to demonstrate your future value: Identify and articulate the specific value you can bring to the workplace while simultaneously recognizing that your underlying skill set must be constantly evolving. Most importantly, be aware of your skills, values and passions and be able to articulate how these can have an impact on the future of the company.

3. Nurture your network: Nurture your network to cut through the electronic application process and the age bias. Align your passions and skills to similar people, volunteer, or speak at various events in your field. Realize that networking isn’t always about finding a job; it is about developing relationships. Spend time with people in their twenties and thirties.

4. Update your computer/technical skills: Catch up on technology and update your relevant skills. Not doing so gives hiring managers another reason to screen you out and supports the fact that you will not fit into the culture.

5. Do the Math then manage your ambivalence: Consider your future financial needs and as they relate to your “need” vs. “want” to work. Some people in this age group have a waning urge or ambivalence to work but this must be balanced by understanding and seriously planning for the future. The article states that older job seekers may be more successful if they are absolutely clear about their financial needs.

You can read more of the study at Buddy, Can You Spare a Job?

Becoming Socially Connected For Your Job Search

If you are reading this, chances are you are somewhat technically savvy and I'm just preaching to the choir.  If you know someone who is not socially connected, perhaps you can point them to this article or at least print out it for them.

I've been giving a lot of training sessions for the age 40+ job seeker lately and the folks in these classes have to be some of my favorite people.  Still, when I mention social media, many of the aged 50 and over in the crowd freeze, roll their eyes or poke the person sitting next to them.  I can understand as I was in their shoes just a few years ago.  Other than opening a LinkedIn account using my name and position, I let it sit there and well, do nothing.  It wasn't until I was released from my former position that I learned the value of diving head-on into social media. 

Now, most of you reading this don't know me.  If you did, you'll know that several years ago I wasn’t interested in the internet. I didn’t really use it much at work except as a research tool and at home, I didn’t bother with it.  Well, times have changed and I have become a full fledged fan, especially when it comes to helping people find jobs.

After using the worn out phrase, "Google yourself at least once a week", at a Job Search for the Age 40+ Seeker the other night, some of the people started snickering.  Of course a few years ago, if I had said that, I might have blushed. It hit me then that for whatever reason; they too were not connecting (no pun intended) with the value of this remarkable technology.  Unfortunately, they will be left behind unless they catch up.

The bottom line is this.  Research shows that in 2011, many companies will move away from recruiters and job boards to list open positions and find prospective employees through LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.  If you don't have a strong presence in these groups then your chances of finding employment will start to decline.  Where should you start?  I would suggest you start by creating a LinkedIn profile.  Here are a couple of ideas:

1.   Follow the directions on the LinkedIn profile page to create a profile. Take a tutorial if you're uncomfortable just jumping in or read an article about creating a strong on-line presence.   About.com has some good, easy to follow articles.

2.  After creating a profile, look for personal contacts and let them know that you want to connect.  In your invitation, explain how you know each other and modify the standard LinkedIn greeting to reflect how you know one another. 

3.  Join groups representing your interests and experience.  You might also want to join some of the job search groups and perhaps a group representing another area of interest.  The other day I joined a Sales Training Group.  I don't know anything about sales training but thought I might learn something if I joined.  Finally, join a group where you can learn how to use LinkedIn properly.  I suggest the group called, Linked Strategies.  It is excellent.

All it takes is for you to make the first move and get started.  You’ll be amazed at the information and people at your finger tips and you will be creating a social presence.   There will be more to learn but this is a good place to start.

New York Times Series on the Older Unemployed Population. Stunning Statistics!

The New York Times has been following the plight of the age 55+ unemployed population in a series of articles. The statistics are disturbing.  A link to one of the articles can be found here. Once you open the link, you can easily find the other related articles.

Teaching Old Dogs New Tricks

When I was 25 years old I bought my first new car. It was a Toyota Celica and it was beautiful although I couldn't afford air conditioning or an automatic transmission. It had a manual transmission and since I didn't know how to operate a stick shift, my dad drove it home from the dealership. I bought it on a Saturday and I had to drive it to work the following Monday. What was I thinking? I spent the weekend practicing in the parking lot of Saint Michael's Church. The lot had a slight incline so I learned to change from first to second gear by going up and down that incline. Come Monday morning I drove from my home on the Jersey shore to Westchester County New York. I sailed through the toll booths in second gear, threw my quarter blindly and hoped it landed in the basket.

I thought about that time yesterday after purchasing a Blackberry. I wanted one for the convenience of scheduling and checking my business email while away from my office. When the salesman started throwing acronyms at me about the phone I challenged myself to get with the program. It took me 24 hours to figure out where my email contacts are and I mistakenly called my daughter as she was welcoming her group of first graders to their first day of school. Still, I am not going to let this uneasy bump in my learning curve get to me. I am still figuring it out and tonight plan to run over to Borders and pick up a copy of Blackberry’s for Dummies.

What's this have to do with the job search? Lots. Older (over 40) job seekers need to always stay on top of technology and be willing to learn about it even in their off time. Reading, classes, and practice are the keys to staying fresh in the business. This isn't hard for those who are technically savvy but it can be challenging for those of us who use the other side of our brains. Don't throw up your hands and say it is too difficult; don't let a position turn you off because you feel it might be too complicated. Stay fresh, stay optimistic and don't ever let yourself become untrainable. Like the pleasure I felt shifting gears on the Garden State Parkway all those years ago, it is just another obstacle conquered.