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» Advice for Older, Bolder Job
Seekers
Approaching retirement age doesn’t mean an end
to your career. In fact, as a professional with decades of
experience under your belt, you may have more employment opportunities
today than ever before.
The greying of the population will soon
place strains on the labour pool, but it will also create unprecedented
opportunities
for older workers.According to the Hudson Institute, a nonprofit
research organization, by 2020 there will be a 60 percent
increase in the number of people 65 years of age or older.
By contrast, the 18-to-44-year-old population will likely
increase by just four percent during this time frame.
As retirees outnumber new employees entering the workforce,
a labour shortfall is predicted. But a shortage of bodies
is not all businesses can expect. There is also the potential
loss of the institutional knowledge from the largest generation
of seasoned professionals ever to leave the workforce. This
situation, along with continued business expansion, has caused
many companies to put increased effort into recruiting and
retaining highly skilled professionals who can guide critical
initiatives. If you are an older job seeker looking for a
second career, that means more employment opportunities from
organizations that seek individuals with deep expertise like
yours.
But you won’t have to wait until 2020 to reap these
benefits. In fact, the burgeoning need for qualified talent
is already at hand. And it is especially acute in the accounting
and finance field. In this environment, highly skilled and
experienced professionals are sought for compliance initiatives
stemming from the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other new
accounting regulations.
Strong demand also exists in the healthcare field, as hospitals
and medical centers face a critical labour shortage due to
changes in regulations and the need for greater levels of
service and efficiency. Many organizations are offering flexible
work schedules, part-time opportunities and job-sharing arrangements
to attract skilled employees.
Examine your objectives and
the market
If you are looking for new opportunities, it’s important
to first examine your professional objectives. Do you want
to remain in the field where you’ve made your career?
Would you like a job similar to those you’ve held before?
Are you considering switching fields?
Many individuals who
search for jobs late in their careers focus their efforts
on opportunities that align with their
hobbies, interests and passions. For example, an individual
who locates and restores classic cars in his spare time might
decide to begin a new career in auto sales or parts distribution.
Find
out who’s hiring
If it’s been many years since you last looked for a
job, speak to those you know about changes that may have
occurred in the search process. For example, the Web is increasingly
used by job candidates to locate and apply for openings.
Friends, family and members of your professional network
may also be able to alert you to job vacancies, recent developments
in your chosen field and skills today’s employers seek.
The Internet can be a great source of information about companies
that are looking to recruit experienced workers. By visiting
an organization’s website and reading articles and
opinions about it on business sites, you can determine which
employers to target. Organizations such as the American Association
of Retired Persons (AARP) publish lists of the best employers
for older workers and run career websites specific to this
demographic. While an American site, it also offers excellent
resources for Canadians.
Check with your local chamber of commerce and professional
organizations for additional job leads. Also focus on networking,
especially if you are looking for a senior-level position;
these roles are the least likely to be advertised.
You might also consider “boomeranging,” or returning
to work for a former employer. Many firms, including IBM,
GE, PepsiCo and Lockheed Martin, invite retirees to return
to work, often on a part-time basis. If you left a previous
job on good terms, this might be an attractive option for
you. Remember, however, that the management structure, company
objectives and corporate culture may have all changed since
you were last employed by the firm.
Prepare your application
materials
No matter how long it has been since your last job search,
updating your resume is a must. Your experience, well-developed
technical and soft skills, and ability to hit the ground
running are the qualities that attract employers’ interest,
so be sure to emphasize them in your application materials.
Keep in mind that being viewed as overqualified is a risk
many older workers face. While it’s important to ensure
the job opportunities you pursue are challenging and rewarding,
there are ways to combat this obstacle. The simplest, perhaps,
is to “soften” your job titles. For example,
instead of referring to a previous role as “vice president,” consider
changing it to “senior manager.” Just be careful
not to misrepresent yourself.
You also may want to reduce the focus on your work history
by eliminating from your resume positions you held more than
15 or 20 years ago, which often hold little relevance to
the job you seek today. In addition, you could submit a functional,
rather than chronological, resume. A functional resume lists
your relevant professional skills and career accomplishments
in great detail, but includes only a bare-bones section about
companies for which you’ve worked, employment dates
and roles.
Consider consulting
Older job seekers should also consider temporary and project
work. These arrangements provide exposure to a variety
of corporate environments, positions and technologies.
Individuals are able to work on the assignments that interest
them most and, in many cases, can take risks that they
were unable to take earlier in their careers. Seasoned
professionals often can use temporary or project work as
a way to explore new fields and industries.
Perhaps the most attractive benefit of project work is greater
control of your work schedule. As a consultant, you can frequently
arrange for time off between engagements and take advantage
of flexible hours and telecommuting options.
By working through a temporary staffing firm, you can receive
resume and interview advice, insight into the latest technologies
and trends, and leads about employers who may be targeting
professionals with your skill set. Many staffing companies
offer professional development and training opportunities
as well.
Approaching retirement age doesn’t mean an end to your
career. In fact, as a professional with decades of experience
under your belt, you may have more employment opportunities
today than ever before. Research potential openings, target
employers who can benefit from your extensive skill set and
consider temporary or project work so that your next job
search is a successful one.
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