Dear Susan: After 28 years in public employment, I am eligible for retirement. I am proud of the work I’ve done, but I’m done with it. Time to move on.
I am not, however, ready to retire. I’ve developed many useful skills as an administrator and have a strong work ethic. In many ways I feel I’ve just hit my stride and am anxious to start something new. And having retirement income I can afford to start out at an entry level salary.
Trouble is, I’m 52 years old and although I’m in good health I can’t seem to compete with the younger applicants. I know I’ve got ten or fifteen good years to offer. How can I break through the age barrier to get to a new career? Would more schooling help? On a resume, how can I ease an employer’s concerns about long term employability?.
Phil
Dear Phil,
Since there’s such a thing as “age discrimination,” I couldn’t get an employer or HR person to say anything to me on the record that was useful. They’re afraid they’ll be accused of being “discriminatory” whatever they say, and I can relate. Okay all you workers out there under the age of 52 – there’s another side to this story, but in this column, we’re focusing on the advantages of hiring workers over the age of 50, and I’m quoting people who actually hire.
First of all, Paul, this is the perfect time to hire a coach. Career transition is important work, and the right attitude, perspective, and tips for your individual circumstances are crucial.
If you think you can’t break through the barrier, you have a serious problem, because it’s a self-fulfilling prophecy. In reality, there’s someone looking for you, whether you’re a star-bellied sneech or not.
I think most employers are smart enough to look at the individual. Those who are not, you don’t want to be working for anyway. Just use your common sense. Have you ever seen anyone over 30 loading a moving van? There’s a reason for that.
I found 4 business owners and 2 HR professionals who told me they preferred hiring workers over 50 and here are the reasons they gave:
Now what can you do?
- Know your strengths and play to them.
- Focus on the “soft” skills and the meta-skills you’ve acquired over the years – how to deal with people, how to cope with change, how to be an administrator, how to focus, stress-management, change-proficiency, how to soothe an angry customer, how to work a team. If you need to increase your EQ, get a coach.
- If you need more education and training, that just takes time and money, and you have both. As these experienced hirers know, those things can be taught and rather quickly, because they’re cognitive.
- People skills and self-management are limbic, take time and practice, and they generally increase with age (Research: Reuven BarOn, Ph.D.).
- Take the StrengthsFinder profile to ascertain your innate talents, and then work with a coach to find out what you’d like to do next, what further education and skills you need, and in what order to do things.
- For many people this is the time they finally get to do what they love to do. I hope you will!
- My hometown (San Antonio, TX) has a lot of retired military. Many of them are directors for non-profits, or teach in the local schols and community colleges. Try these!
It may take you time, but you shouldn’t have any trouble. I’ve worked with a lot of midlife career people and they’ve all achieved their goals.
Medical schools won’t take you after a certain age, but law, business, real estate, beautician, coaching, culinary and massage schools aren’t so picky. Online education is the great leveler. Among my clients – a 58 year old who just got her Psy. D. online, a 59 year old who just started her own web design business, a 45 year old who just started culinary arts school, a 62 year old corporate coach who started 3 years ago, a 60 year old moving from insurance sales to product sales, and a 55 year old non-profit director who changed agencies.
Give yourself every advantage. If you haven’t updated your wardrobe and hairstyle in 10 years, go do it. Make sure your vocabulary and expressions are appropriate for a career change. I once interviewed a retired military officer for a position in a homeless shelter who used the words “insubordination, friendly fire, deployment, logistics, and commanding officer.” His long military career was an asset only if he realized it was over. In a word, yes, you are retiring and done with that field. Don’t be the last one to know it.
Good luck!
Warm regards,
Susan Dunn, MA, Clinical Psychology, THE EQ COACH
http://www.susandunn.cc
Susan Dunn, MA, Marketing Coach,
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