Make Room for Change: A Story for the Older Job Seeker

We bought a new car last week. It’s beautiful, sleek, and clean, smells good and has a great sound system. I love it but it scares the hell out of me. It has a back-up camera that makes it easier to see behind me when I put the car in reverse and I hate it. Every time I put the car in reverse to leave my driveway, I still look over my shoulder to the road. The car has a narrower back window so looking over my shoulder isn’t as safe and practical as it used to be. I'm supposed to look at a panel in my dashboard instead. It also has different temperature and radio settings that without my glasses, make it difficult to read. I can’t drive with my reading glasses so I need to figure that out too. I have to or I can't go anywhere.

My new car and my complaints of why couldn’t the manufacturers just leave things the way they were had me think of some older job seekers that I’ve worked with. Sometimes they get stuck in a cycle of “It’s too hard to change”, “Why should I change?”, “I’ve only got a few more years of work, why do I have to change” thinking. 

The other day I met with a very pleasant man who wasn’t comfortable with using any Microsoft Office tools. In his old job his assistant did that for him. When I explained that using MS Office is so expected and common now that companies assume that everyone uses it, he looked annoyed. When I asked him to check his local library, evening classes, community college or even YouTube for some instruction, it seemed like a chore. He also doesn’t have a LinkedIn profile. Today, that too is essential. 

Here are a couple of tips for the older job seeker or for anyone who doesn’t like change:
1.      Learn the skills needed to do the types of jobs that you want to pursue.
2.      Understand how your own computer works. Learn how to save files and pictures and learn how to download them into applications.
3.      Write a complete LinkedIn profile and include a photograph.
4.      Network. Use your contacts and make new ones.
5.      Update your look. Get honest feedback from a true friend or family member about your interviewing clothing and style.
6.      Update your resume to a newer format.

While these tips may seem bothersome they are essential for today’s marketplace. It’s easy to complain about a younger hiring manager or a complex hiring procedure when sometimes all it takes is a few changes to our own style and ways of thinking.

Here's another thing about my car's back up system.... when I told a friend about it she said that her in-laws feel the same way that I do. My friend is in her 50's and her in-laws are in their 80s. I'm not going to go there.

The Plight of the Older Worker

Over the past 24 hours I have worked with two women who are in their late 50s and who work at a couple of well known corporations. Both women asked for some job search advice because both may be on their way out.

One woman works as an executive assistant for four company directors.  She is bright and has great interpersonal and organizational skills. The other woman works as a technical manager within a group of 15 project managers.  She has excellent technical skills including project management, negotiation and she too has excellent interpersonal skills. 

Both women have managers who need to learn how to be better leaders and managers.

Before I go on, put yourself in either one of their shoes.  Imagine being in your late 50s and knowing that you could lose your job at any point.  Imagine thinking that not long ago you were thinking about retiring with the company and now you think that you may have to work way into your late 60s.  Imagine the hours and blood, sweat and tears that you have given to a company only to be coldly dismissed. Imagine worrying about benefits, mortgages, college payments, and savings plans while in the latter part of your career.  Imagine the panic and worry and stress. Imagine finally earning a six week vacation and then having to go back to two weeks.

Imagine walking on eggshells everyday as you wonder,"Will today will be it?”

Both women are planning to reimagine themselves.  They both have good, solid transferable skills. They are aware that they need to continue to be technically astute and stay on top of the technology in their respective fields. They will have current, focused resumes and LinkedIn profiles. They don’t want to but know that if the time comes, they will have to network and start all over. Neither of them want to think about the possibility of working a couple of jobs just to make ends meet. Both of these women are staying ahead of the eight ball because neither of them want to become part of the current and very frustrating job search statistics.

How many others are just like them?

A Celebration for Many

This past weekend my sister and I traveled to Massachusetts to attend a bridal shower for my daughter. It was hosted by her future mother-in-law and was a delightful celebration for family and friends. It was a warm, beautiful day and springtime was on display both inside and outside of the house.

After an amazing lunch, we moved into the dining room for coffee, tea and the most beautiful celebratory cake that I have ever seen. I joined a small group of new friends and someone asked me about my profession. When I said I was a job search trainer and coach, the conversation turned to unemployment and underemployment and how difficult it is for “older” job seeker. What were the odds that of this small group of women chatting around the dining room table, 75% of us had been released from our former companies later on in our careers? Luckily we have all moved on and found other meaningful work somewhere else or in another field. 

I am proud of the resilience of the Baby Boomer generation and how a job loss at an older age didn’t break any of us.  It only made us stronger.  That was another reason for a celebration!

Jay Leno and the "Older" Worker

Jay Leno’s exit from his 22 year stint on the Tonight Show reminds me of something that has been happening a great deal throughout America; many of our older workers are being pushed out by younger staff. 

It used to be that an employee was true to a company and stayed with them, many times throughout his or her entire career.  The company, in return, treated him or her fairly well and appreciated their service and dedication. Not any more.

When Jay Leno ended the show in tears and said that this has been the greatest job of his life, many of us nodded our heads in agreement.  We felt that way about our jobs too. When he said that he’d lost his mom, dad and brother while he was working with the show, many of us were of the same mind. When he said that the cast and crew had become his family and that he took pride in their accomplishments, it brought many of us back too.

A company is a living, breathing organization and it has a personality not unlike the people it hires. When the times dictate changes and the older staff are pushed out it’s painful for everyone; even the staff that gets to stay.  Motivation plummets and uncertainty reigns.

The times have changed and this new approach to hiring and firing has become the norm. Unfortunately, the warmth and personality that were once hallmarks of an organization have disappeared in the name of good business sense.  May all the older causalities of workforce reductions be as graceful and humble as Jay Leno.

Helpful Links for the Older Job Seeker

As I sit here preparing for a Job Search for the Age 40+ class next week, I figured that I’d share the wealth with you. Today I don’t have any short “how to” job search paragraphs but I do have a number of excellent links for the older job seeker.

1.  http://www.aarp.org

2.  http://seniorliving.about.com/

3.  http://www.careeronestop.org/JobSearch/SpecialTips/for-older-workers.aspx

4.  http://internsover40.blogspot.com/

5.  http://www.linkup.com/

6.  http://www.retiredbrains.com/

7.  http://www.maturityworks.org/

8.  http://www.seniorsjobs.com/

9. LinkedIn Tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3AtjaSqB5w
10. http://www.seniorjobbank.org/
11. https://www.livecareer.com/quintessential/mature-jobseekers
12. https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2017/04/10/the-problem-with-job-boards-for-older-job-seekers/#4e31fa232075

Do you have any suggestions for helpful sites for the mature job seeker?

Jobs and Politics

A friend of mine posted an article on Facebook that explained how the Eastman Kodak Company has asked a bankruptcy court judge to allow it to end retiree medical benefits at the end of the year as part of its plan to restructure. I agreed with her that it is appalling that a company can do such a thing to the loyal staff.  I also mentioned that a public company can eliminate positions “at will" and that the number of people over the age of 50 whose positions are cut is enormous!  It’s especially nasty when the cut comes at a time when people are beginning to think about retirement.  It is very difficult for someone who is that age to find a comparable position with a comparable salary. She then asked my opinion about the Presidential race and how as a business executive, the "challenger" eliminated or outsourced positions and didn't really give a hoot about the repercussions.

This is my response:

 I am not a big political debater but here goes. As a job search instructor and resume writer I am constantly in the trenches with the unemployed and the underemployed and what I have seen these past 4 year is heartbreaking. I have seen people looking to take in boarders just to keep their homes, people dumbing down their resumes just to get an entry level job, people taking crappy jobs that pay minimum wage just to eat. I have seen and heard a killer story with every resume that I have written. I have a very hard time charging people to write their resumes because I know that they can’t afford it. I can’t tell you how many times I have given away my services for free.

I have also seen a ton of people who would rather live off unemployment than take a job making way less than what they were used to making. I don’t blame them - years ago that would bother me but now it doesn’t. It kills me to see the vacant buildings and closed up shops up and down the roads I travel. So, in answer to your question, it is absolutely awful now (and I coming from the private sector where nothing was ever guaranteed and a company can replace anyone without blinking an eye). As a small business owner, I would rather see a successful business person step in just this once. I am not a political animal but I am living it every day and when our current President makes speeches about accepting a mediocre existence, I have to disagree with him. 

What’s your take on the state of the economy and the employment situation?

Times Continue to be Tough for the Older Applicant

Every day I hear of another older job seeker feeling as if he or she has been pushed aside for a much younger applicant. It’s a common occurrence and because of the times, it’s happening everywhere. We all know why but is there anything that we can do to change the perception that many companies have about job seekers? I don’t think that we can change a perception but perhaps once we start talking, we can start turning things around.

Businesses are interested in money. Everything revolves around “youth” including profit, salaries, tenacity, branding/marketing and company face. We live in a youth-focused world and frankly, anyone over the age of 40 is viewed as out of touch. What can older job seekers do to possibly be considered for an opportunity? Well, unfortunately, one thing we have to do is lower our expectations.

1. Many businesses may not consider you because they are afraid that once they have invested in you, you will leave for something better. Will you? Can you articulate why you will stay?
2. Expect a lower salary. Younger applicants are cheaper. Do you want a position badly enough to accept the salary that comes with it?
3. Technology is changing as quickly as ever. Identify your strengths and your skill gaps. Learn something new. Look for opportunities for free or low cost training.
4. Don’t expect that your experience speaks for itself because if you do you are going to bruise your ego.
5. Take a look in the mirror and ask yourself if you need to refresh your appearance. Get a new interviewing outfit (even if you have to borrow it) and make sure your hair/makeup is current. Haircuts are pricy but the local vocational schools or community college students offer very good rates.

These steps won’t guarantee you a job. They can however allow you to feel a little bit better about yourself and know that you are doing something to keep up with these very turbulent times.

Another Look at the Overqualified Question

Since it is illegal to infer that someone is too old for a position, many hiring managers wonder out loud if a candidate may be overqualified for a particular position. In other words, “Why would you want this job when you are clearly three levels above it?” Some responses that I suggest are:

1. Ask for clarification. What do you mean? How do you define overqualified? Once you get a response, you may be better able to respond.

2. Expect it and be prepared. What is it about this job that you like or can compensate for a lower salary or lessened responsibilities? Is it closer to your home? Can you telecommute? Do you admire their corporate responsibility? Can you work an eight hour day rather than a ten hour day? How can you contribute your knowledge and background to this company in a lesser role? Can you be a mentor? Do you really mind having a lower role in the organization/how does this align with your work values?

3. Match your skills and accomplishments to the position. Focus on how your past accomplishments can align with the department/organizational goals.

Do you have any responses that have worked for you?

Discouraging Statistics for the age 50+ Worker

I have been giving job search trainings for almost two years now.  Of the seven topics that I present, the most requested is Job Search for the Age 40+ Worker.  I have also noticed an increased number of people aged 50 and over attending any of the job search classes.  As seen in many of LinkedIn discussion groups, unemployment continues to be a  growing, emotional issue.  The stories that I have read are heartbreaking and so discouraging and many of these people are over the age of 40.  Their skill sets are remarkable and their willingness to get back to work is fierce.  They are also some of the most compassionate people that I have ever "met".

It is for these reasons that I wasn't surprised when I read the statistics in the recent Human Resources Executive Online newsletter.  The statistics correlate with my unscientific data.  What do you think? What suggestions do you have for the unemployed job seeker who is over the age of 50?

Article About the Overqualified, Older Job Seeker

I will get back to my own blog writing soon. I had a bit of surgery and it seems to have zapped some of my energy. In the meantime, I thought this article from the 7/25/10 Newark Star Ledger aligns nicely with some of the tips for the older job seeker that we've talked about in the past. It was written by Lee Miller.

Asbury Park Press Article - Unemployed Can't Find Jobs

I was interviewed for this piece on unemployment for the Asbury Park Press. No matter what part of the country you are from, the feelings, frustrations and financial hardships are the same.
It is especially difficult for the mature, older, over age 40 job seeker.

The Lament of the Older Worker

For months I’ve concentrated on the job seeker. Today I would like to turn to the organization’s that those people are hoping to work for. Last night I gave an Interviewing training session to a group of people. It turns out that everyone there was older than 50. Since it was a small group, I let the conversation turn to the questions and concerns that many, if not most, older job seekers have.

Questions like this came up:
1. Why bring me in for an interview if you are hiring internally? (Is it because I am too old?)
2. I have good, solid skills and I make a good impression. Why don’t you seem interested when you interview me? (Is it because I am too old?)
3. You aren’t interviewing me. Why don’t you respond to my resume? (Is it because I am too old?)
4. What is it about my resume that turns you off? (Is it because I am too old?)
5. You have asked for my salary requirements and then you don’t respond to me. Why? (Is it because I am too old?)

You get the picture. These people are discouraged. They have kid’s in college and mortgages to pay. They can’t decide which credit card bill to pay this month and many have lost their health benefits and can’t afford COBRA. Let me tell you something that these folks wish that they could scream from the top of the mountain, “Give me a chance! I will not leave you when the economy turns around!” Of course they would like to work at something that they love, are skilled in and have a passion for, but they aren’t being given that chance to soar.

I heard it at an anniversary party this past weekend. I was talking to a man I haven’t seen in years and he confessed his frustration with the lack of employment possibilities for the 50+ worker. He said, “I am a 50 year old male and I have become face in the crowd. There are lots of other guys walking around with the same problem. I am working two part time jobs to make ends meet. I’m not looking to rush into another aggressive work environment. I just want to work, make a decent wage. What do I have to do?"

I can’t answer him or anyone with the same concerns. Their resumes look pretty good, their interview skills are fine. I just don’t get it. Maybe they aren’t working the networking angle.

Call me an idealist but quite frankly, I think it’s rude that corporations don’t respond to people. I realize that they have a lot going on and way too many people responding to one job posting. I think they are using the economy as an excuse. I also think requesting salary requirements and then not responding to the appplicant is just as inexcusable. The applicant is left wondering if their resume was poorly written or if their skill set wasn’t right. There is no reason to ignore the people who took the time to respond to the job postings. It sure seems like a waste of heartache ( and talent) to me.