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Second Acts
You’re back in the job market. Maybe you’ve been laid off. Or you test-drove retirement and found it to be lacking. Or you need to find work because of economic necessity. No matter the reason, job-seekers aged 55-plus are faced with both opportunities and challenges. The challenges may include ageism, along with the need to recast your resume, and revise your expectations. But the opportunities are vast, according to Kim Kirmmse Toth of Positive Aging Inc. (www.positiveaginginc.com), a Littleton, Colo.-based career coach, who works with clients over the age of 55 making transitions in their lives and careers. Though employers are enthralled with the notion of youth, Toth points out that baby boomers show up on time. They’re also mature, responsible and have a lot to contribute. Moreover, several recent surveys suggest that companies are facing a “brain drain” with the exit of so many baby boomers from the work force, and some employers are looking for strategies to retain and attract those with a deep well of experience. For instance, nearly 30 percent of employers said they’re concerned over the loss of intellectual capital at their organizations as large numbers of boomers approach retirement age. That’s according to CareerBuilder.com’s "2008 Job Forecast," that was conducted by Harris Interactive. Twenty-one percent said they were likely to rehire retirees from other companies during this year, and another 14 percent had planned to provide incentives for workers at or approaching retirement age to stay on with the company longer. But it doesn’t mean that landing a job is a cinch. As you ponder opportunities and search for your second act: Fine-tune your resume: You don’t want your resume to scream old and out of touch. In addition, humans may not be doing the first read-through of your resume. With dated words and phrases, a computer program may scan your resume for keywords and eliminate you from the candidate pool even before a person lays eyes on the document. Eliminate references to outdated technology and industry terms. “You really need to go through your resume with a fine-tooth comb, making sure the format is current, using the right keywords, and emphasizing your strengths and not just your 30 years of experience,” comments Toth. For resume advice, see, “Get Your 50-Plus Resume Right How Older Workers Can Balance Experience with Relevancy” http://career-advice.monster.com/resume-writing-basics/older-workers/Get-Your-50-Plus-Resume-Right/home.aspx. Be a realist: Though it’s good to muse about your dream job, be realistic about your prospects. One recent career-related story, for instance, suggested retirees could re-enter the work force as a professor. The truth is, such jobs are hard to come by and major universities and colleges typically seek full-time faculty who have a Ph.D. Close the digital, generational divide: Staying up to date on changes in your field, thorough reading, classes and seminars is critical. Equally important is adding new technology skills to keep a brutal reality at bay. “If you’re not current, you’re out,” observes Toth. As an example, she notes a 50-something lawyer friend who wisely taught himself to use a Blackberry and who can text message as quickly as a teenage. Consider taking seminars and do some continuing education to ensure you have the right skills. Network: Let everyone—friends, family, neighbors, dentists, and former colleagues—know you’re looking for opportunities. And attend meetings and events sponsored by professional groups, tap your alumni network and volunteer for local organizations. Don’t miss out on online social networking sites, such as LinkedIn and Facebook. “Those online sites are used like crazy and are wonderful for networking,” comments Toth. “And using them helps make you look like you’re keeping up with trends and technology.” Blogging about your area of specialty is yet another way to showcase your industry knowledge and illustrate to prospective employers that you’re up to date. Outline your parameters: If you’re returning to the workforce after a period of retirement, know how much you really want to work, be it three days per week, 12 hours on weekends, or five mornings per week. “Flunking” full-time retirement is a common problem, says Toth, and most people just can’t stand the prospect of fishing and golfing everyday for 20 years. Most need a balance between work and leisure to have enough intellectual challenges and fend of boredom and depression. Perform some pre-retirement planning: If you’re still working and pondering retirement, Toth suggests thinking about several issues before making a move to full retirement. First, do you even want full-time retirement? Or would you prefer to work in some capacity forever? If so, can you negotiate a more flexible work arrangement or a phased retirement strategy with your current employer? If you’re self-employed, can you figure out how your business can run without you at the helm all the time? Can you reduce your client load to allow for some additional leisure time? If you want to make a career switch, what new skills will you need and how will you obtain them? “People tend to focus only on their 401ks when they think about retirement but rarely consider what they’re actually going to do for the rest of their lives,” observes Toth. “It’s better to figure out the life and work balance before you retire.” Additional resources: -Challenger Gray and Christmas, Inc.—The outplacement firm’s guide, “How To Find A Job In An Economic Downturn,” offers some insight specific to 50-plus jobseekers. http://www.challengergray.com/press/Challenger_Guidebook.pdf -50-plus job boards—There are numerous job boards, including Retiredbrains.com, www.Retirementjobs.com and www.workforce50.com that connect 50-plus workers with jobs and volunteer opportunities. Most also provide resources, articles, and employment education. -Monster.com—A special section, http://career-advice.monster.com/get-the-job/older-workers/home.aspx, devoted to 50-plus job-seekers, features articles, tips, and advice on everything from resume and interviewing to leveraging your age and experience to compete effectively in the job market. -YourEncore.com—Retired and veteran scientists and engineers can connect with companies seeking expertise in life sciences, consumer sciences, food sciences, specialty materials, and aerospace and defense industries.
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