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What's Age Got To Do with It?
Thoughts on work for the mature job seeker By Jean Baur '68  As a Lake Forest College graduate from the Class of 1968, I consider myself a “seasoned professional” and a “mature worker.” Since I get to partner with clients about my age in the search process in my work as an outplacement counselor, I see first hand the struggle of what to do when one career has ended (voluntarily or not) and clients are facing the daunting task of figuring out what to do next. This is a critical time to understand how the market sees you and to choose how you want to work in the next phase of your life.
The age issue has three parts: chronological age (can’t do anything about that), how up-to-date you are in your field (or the one you want to work in), and the impression you make (based on appearance, energy and enthusiasm.) Do your best in the two areas you can do something about, and remember that even though there is age discrimination in the job market, it isn’t always what it seems. It may be, for example, more about compensation than age, so if you don’t need to match your last salary, it’s no longer a problem (once you convince the hiring manager that although you’re wildly over-qualified for the job, that it really is something you love to do and that you won’t be bored or leave in two weeks.)
This might be the time to find work that’s still challenging but that offers you a better work-life balance. I counseled a nurse who had commuted from New Jersey to Brooklyn each day — a good two hours each way in heavy traffic, and whose job, as head of nursing, often meant ten hour days dealing with one crisis after another. After she had worked through her anger at being let go, she decided she wanted a job running an out-patient surgical center ten minutes or less from her home. In about two months, she was director of exactly that three minutes from her home and the hours were 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Now, instead of her life centered on an exhausting job, she has an enjoyable position and can take classes, work in her garden, etc. With this radically different work schedule she can consider working well into her 60s.
Another example: an IT client of mine was really worried about his age and decided, before starting his search that no on would hire him. At his first interview with a local company, the hiring manager said to him, “I’m so glad you have gray hair. I need someone to manage the kids in IT.” In the end, he accepted an offer from another company, but this experience gave him confidence and helped him see his age as an advantage.
Whether you want to work part-time, as a consultant, or full time, consider the options before you, don’t get hung up on your age, stay current in your industry and show the young kids you may be reporting to, that you have a lot to offer. We baby boomers are still changing the world.
Jean Baur is a career counselor. For more information, visit www.JeanBaur.com.
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