By Susan Peppercorn, Senior Consultant
ClearRock, Inc.
By the time you get into your 50s, you may feel that you deserve to rest a bit on your laurels having worked for 25 years or more. The reality is that no matter your age, your career is in your hands, and you need to own it.
With rapid changes in markets that used to be rock solid, take publishing and financial services for example, and the continued transition to an information economy, self-reinvention is a requirement, not an option. In the words of Sallie Krawcheck, former president of the Global Wealth and Investment Management division of Merrill Lynch, “With business in certain sectors changing so quickly, you may be taking a career risk by standing still. You may be taking a risk by trying not to take risks.”
If you are in your 50s what can you do to increase your chances of staying employed or finding a new position, if you’re in the job market? Here are some recommendations based on my work with baby-boomer clients:
Get social: The millennial generation is the wired generation. Social media has become ubiquitous in business to drive marketing and client engagement. The fastest way to date yourself is to be unfamiliar with it. Ask a child, grandchild, or colleague to mentor you. You’ll feel a sense of accomplishment from mastering a new skill and your mentor will be proud of showing off their knowledge.
Identify Your Marketable Skills: One of my clients worked for years in the traffic department of a publishing company, managing the scheduling and workflow of print magazines. With print publications on the decline, finding a job in the publishing industry was highly unlikely. After assessing his skills, Joe, my client, realized that he excelled at developing complex schedules, organizing projects, and meeting deadlines. He successfully landed a job in an advertising agency managing the daily workflow of multi-media advertising projects; TV, print, radio, and digital because he was able to explain how his skills translated to online media.
Focus on your ability to get the job done: The purpose of a resume and interview is to convince the hiring manager that you have the skills to do the job. Don’t list jobs you had 20+ years ago if they are not relevant and don’t mention your age during the interview process. Equally as important, don’t comment on the age of a younger manager. Even if an apparent age difference during an interview makes you anxious, try and find a way to relate to the business challenges they face and your enthusiasm for helping to solve them.
Invest in yourself: One of my clients decided to enroll in a certificate program to update his skills. Although he might have gotten a job without the investment in this program, going back to school to refresh your skills or learn something new demonstrates your enthusiasm for learning and not standing still.
Tap your network: Although it’s possible to find jobs online and through social media, having contacts at the company you would like to work for is still one of the best ways to find out about openings and get hired. The most effective way to find a job is through personal contacts. Recruiters and hiring managers would much prefer to hire someone who is willing to vouch for you.
Update your image: Your posture, gesture, voice, and facial expression all contribute to that crucial first impression. Ask someone you trust to give you feedback on your hairstyle, clothes, and other aspects of your appearance. It’s important to look contemporary and age-appropriate. And, if you haven’t purchased a new pair of glasses since Bill Clinton was President, do it now. Nothing ages a person more than outdated eyeglasses.
Mature workers are reliable, flexible, experienced, and have valuable institutional knowledge. You have every reason to believe you can rise above age discrimination and remain as productive as you want to be.
