Over 50 And Changing
Careers? You’d Better Have a Plan
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.
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