Question: I'm 69, eager to work, but getting discouraged, what can I do?
Ellis,
I'm 69, and becoming convinced that there's no way that anyone would hire me for anything. I've put posters up around the neighborhood advertising myself, and asked all of my friends for suggestions and leads. Nothing. I am a high energy person in excellent health and want to work, but...what the hell? I will do practically anything, and will do almost anything to get a job. I'm not nearly ready to give up, and, frankly, I need the money, too. I'm not ready to limit my income to social security yet. I saw a story on the PBS Newshour last night about how good it is for the economy if people work past retirement age. I agree completely, but where are the jobs and how do I find them?
Discouraged
Answer
Discouraged,
This will surprise you, but I'm not going to tell you anything that different from what I tell most of my clients, no matter what the age. First - yes, there are some differences in your potential markets. Fortune 500 companies are not great destinations for you. They want young slave labor, and they'll view you as not malleable enough and maybe too expensive. Whether or not those issues are true is irrelevant. At this point, you don't want to fight widely held perceptions. And, frankly, why would you want to work for someone who doesn't want to hire older people? Would you feel comfortable in those environments? I wouldn't. You want to work where you'll fit in and be appreciated.
The real issue is your targeting, or lack thereof. You can never say to anyone, "I'll do anything," and think that's networking. Think about the response to that kind of self-promotion. Most likely the person hearing you, or reading your advertisement in the neighborhood, wouldn't know what to do with you, or how to help you. Your pitch has been way too nebulous. It's your job to make it clear exactly what you want, or, better yet, exactly what you can do.
A successful job search of any kind, at any age, involves smart targeting. You need to answer questions of what CAN you do, what do you like, and where's the market. That takes research and informational conversations.
I don't mean to make this sound so complicated. It really isn't. But you will need to figure out what a Plan A might be, and what your backup Plans B and C might be as well. Then, you learn how to network, how to market yourself, how to interview - all of the mechanics of the search. I could suggest a good book that will help you...
One other thing. You say you're high energy, which is important. The perception of enthusiasm and energy is going to be critical, at any age.
Hope this helps,
Ellis
To find answers to your questions on job search and career transition, get your copy of In Search of the Fun-Forever Job: Career Strategies that Work
Ellis,
I'm 69, and becoming convinced that there's no way that anyone would hire me for anything. I've put posters up around the neighborhood advertising myself, and asked all of my friends for suggestions and leads. Nothing. I am a high energy person in excellent health and want to work, but...what the hell? I will do practically anything, and will do almost anything to get a job. I'm not nearly ready to give up, and, frankly, I need the money, too. I'm not ready to limit my income to social security yet. I saw a story on the PBS Newshour last night about how good it is for the economy if people work past retirement age. I agree completely, but where are the jobs and how do I find them?
Discouraged
Answer
Discouraged,
This will surprise you, but I'm not going to tell you anything that different from what I tell most of my clients, no matter what the age. First - yes, there are some differences in your potential markets. Fortune 500 companies are not great destinations for you. They want young slave labor, and they'll view you as not malleable enough and maybe too expensive. Whether or not those issues are true is irrelevant. At this point, you don't want to fight widely held perceptions. And, frankly, why would you want to work for someone who doesn't want to hire older people? Would you feel comfortable in those environments? I wouldn't. You want to work where you'll fit in and be appreciated.
The real issue is your targeting, or lack thereof. You can never say to anyone, "I'll do anything," and think that's networking. Think about the response to that kind of self-promotion. Most likely the person hearing you, or reading your advertisement in the neighborhood, wouldn't know what to do with you, or how to help you. Your pitch has been way too nebulous. It's your job to make it clear exactly what you want, or, better yet, exactly what you can do.
A successful job search of any kind, at any age, involves smart targeting. You need to answer questions of what CAN you do, what do you like, and where's the market. That takes research and informational conversations.
I don't mean to make this sound so complicated. It really isn't. But you will need to figure out what a Plan A might be, and what your backup Plans B and C might be as well. Then, you learn how to network, how to market yourself, how to interview - all of the mechanics of the search. I could suggest a good book that will help you...
One other thing. You say you're high energy, which is important. The perception of enthusiasm and energy is going to be critical, at any age.
Hope this helps,
Ellis
To find answers to your questions on job search and career transition, get your copy of In Search of the Fun-Forever Job: Career Strategies that Work
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