Two important trends are making a big difference in today's work force.
1. More and more people are expressing a desire to continue working later in life well past the normal retirement age.
2. Boomers are starting to turn 60 this year. Many of them are taking advantage of early retirement or looking to make other shifts in their careers. As a result, some industry sectors are experiencing labor shortages. Retiring workers often take with them irreplaceable institutional knowledge and experience.
Increasingly, companies are viewing older employees as a solution to their workforce needs. Many are developing effective strategies for appealing to older workers.
This coincides with the major reasons for working in retirement (according to research by AARP):
--need the money (61%)
--desire to stay mentally active (54%)
--need the health benefits (52%)
--desire to stay physically active (49%)
--desire to remain productive or useful (47%)
Older workers offer a potentially attractive solution to both short- and long-term staffing challenges. Making use of this growing pool of talent, of the collective experience and knowledge of veteran workers, is sound business--a plus for employers and employees alike.
So, what should you do if you're at the point where you're entertaining retirement employment? Here are three important preliminary steps:
1. Take the time to explore all your options. This is the time in your life to think outside the box.
2. Identify a variety of desirable employment opportunities. Don't think only in terms of your resume.
3. Get introduced to decision-makers in those opportunities to discover firsthand what's going on. Those non-interview, informal discussions can lead to job offers.
The final good news is that there is a proven system that can walk you through the job search process step-by-step and have you entertaining your next job in a matter of days. Turn your job search into the career adventure of a lifetime!
Jobs For Older Workers
So if you're looking to come out of retirement, or simply want to switch jobs and are at an age that some might consider older, don't put yourself out of the game. Instead, take on a few of these strategies to help you market yourself so that you can obtain the same great opportunities as your younger counterparts.
Remember, You're Experienced
Everyone knows that as an older worker, you're coming to the table with years of experience that someone out of college could only dream of. But your level of experience goes way beyond just years of responsibility. You also have life experience.
You may have been through difficult periods in your life where your primary goal was to keep a roof over your family's heads and food on the table. So now that a recession is upon us, to you, this is old news – been there, done that. When marketing yourself to a prospective employer, it helps to note the level of work and life experience you hold. Employers can appreciate an emotionally stable mind in the midst of times that can leave fragile souls weaker than ever before.
You're Confident and Self-Sufficient
Unlike a younger counterpart who may just be starting out in the work world and is feeling a bit overwhelmed and under-confident, you have been in the midst of new challenges multiple times throughout your life. You know how to adapt quickly to a new environment, don't need constant feedback and reassurance that you're a good worker, and aren't too intimidated to reach out to people you don't know to ask for help or begin projects. You understand that when the job needs to get done, it needs to get done – and you don't let fears get in the way of doing just that. You've seen too much to have inhibitions at this stage in your life – definitely a great asset to market to any prospective employer.
Learning and Being a Team Player is No Problem
One concern of employers looking at older candidates is whether that candidate will be easy to train and work with, or stuck in his or her ways. It is important to assure any prospective employer that you are incredibly flexible, love to learn new things and enjoy working with others. You can use examples in your resume, cover letter, and interview of new technologies you've used and how you were successful in group environments in the past. You want to make sure the employer understands you will not be difficult as you may be stereotyped to be. Instead, you are the exact opposite and look forward to making a substantial difference in their company.
Applying for a new job in your later years can be as easy as it was when you were young if you market yourself well. So don't be intimidated. Instead, take control and show them what they'd be missing if they didn't hire you.
Both Paul Megan & Heather Eagar are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Paul Megan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Employment, Careers and Job Hunting and Employment. Paul Megan writes for EEI, the world-class pioneer in alternative job search techniques and non-traditional career advancement strategies . . . since 1985. Grab our stunning FREE REPORT: ?How To Lock Up A High-Paying Job In 14 Days (Or Less)!? Click on R. Paul Megan's top article generates over 60500 views. to your Favourites.
Heather Eagar has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cover Letter, Interview Questions and Careers and Job Hunting. Heather Eagar is a former professional resume writer who is passionate about providing working professionals with current, reliable and effective job search tools and information. Need a. Heather Eagar's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.
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