Work Coach Cafe

Hi! I’m Ronnie Ann. Welcome to my new blog about the wacky and oh so frustrating world of work. No matter what you do for a living, Work Coach Cafe is dedicated to helping you make your work life more enjoyable – or at the very least more tolerable!

Whether you’re stuck in a job you hate, thinking about a new job, or simply trying to do the best you can with the job you have, you’ll probably find something here to help. And if not… feel free to ask. I’ll do my best to come up with some ideas aimed at your particular situation.

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Andrea – start here:

Are Those Job Search Baby Boomer Blues Getting to You?

August 11, 2009

I was perusing my latest issue of the New Yorker and was struck by this cartoon. It cuts dangerously close to the job search truth we baby boomers know all too well:

New Yorker Baby Boomer Cartoon

Do Baby Boomers Really Have an Uphill Climb?

In three short words: yes and no. Let me try to explain. But first, I have a story.

A few years back, for the first time in his life, my 40+ cousin went through an agonizing, confidence-obliterating year and a half without a full-time job – and that was before the economy tanked. He’s fairly well known in his field for his expertise and never imagined he’d be in this position. But because of his former career level and salary, he had trouble getting people to believe he would be comfortable accepting less (jobs are rare at his level). Yet he was absolutely willing. He just wanted to get back to work he enjoyed.

While waiting to get someone to believe him, he pieced together some part-time consulting work here and there. This was smart because it kept him active and in the game. Meanwhile, he networked like crazy until he finally was presented with a serious opportunity – granted at a lower salary than before. And even so, he still had to assure his employer-to-be that the salary and title were fine. But with patience and determination he got his foot back in the door and simply did the best he could. Now he’s back back to an executive level job – and an ample paycheck to go with it.

As a fellow boomer, I’ve had my own encounters with baby-boomeritis. A few years back I remember one young interviewer who seemed visibly taken aback by my age (I’m not grandma Moses). But many more have been totally  receptive to my experience and positive, solution-oriented attitude. Now I know there are plenty of potential employers who prefer youth. Younger workers are often less costly and ravenously hungry to show their value; and a good number of employers see that as a bargain-hunters dream for finding new talent.

So what’s a baby boomer like us to do?

Fear not. There are also many employers out there who recognize that more experienced workers are also willing to work hard and, more importantly, bring with them the ability to find solutions that save time and money in the long run. In the fields of education and technology (where I work), I’ve personally seen doors open to talented and committed workers of any age. And, in fact, I’ve gone out of my way at times to look for baby boomer candidates, since I have found they (we) can add organizational texture as well as rock-solid experience to a team.

True…certain industries and companies feel that younger is better – and they’re blatant about their preferences. My take on that is it doesn’t pay to focus on what we can’t get. I just want you to know there are plenty full-time, part-time, and consulting jobs out there for baby boomers no matter what the perceptions may be. You just have to be creative and persistent – and willing to open yourself up to new possibilities.

Speaking of perception and baby boomers, I came across this terrific article on The Interviewing Edge. Definitely worth a read!

Interview Obstacles Confronting Baby Boomers

In his article, Mark Ste. Marie discusses perceptions employers might have about the stereotypical baby boomer and what we as boomers can do to overcome the myths. You’ve probably come across most or all of these boomer myth-perceptions he mentions:

* Overpriced
* Settling for the job (and therefore not going to stay long)
* Not as sharp or hungry as younger workers
* Lacking skills younger folks have
* Not flexible
* Over-qualified
* Wrong image for the company (ouch!)

Pretty scary stuff, no? Well please don’t let them stop you in your tracks. Myth-perceptions like these can be overcome – especially if you don’t buy into them yourself.

Personally, I like to push through the myths by approaching a job interview with good energy, a quick and agile mind, and a confident (but not cocky) presentation of what I bring to the company based on things I’ve actually accomplished in the real world and not just learned about in a classroom. (Sorry recent grads. I can spin your advantages too. Just right now I want to talk to my fellow boomers.  ) And while I think of it, it also helps to show you can listen and you don’t think you have all the answers.

You may of course need to be extra creative when it comes to networking so you can actually get yourself to that job interview (and maybe just a little brave since networking is even more important for baby boomers). But once you get yourself there, it’s all about you. And the perception that matters most at that point is your perception of yourself – since that’s what you project when you interview!

Mark Ste. Marie goes on to talk about a few things that can help you climb over any job interview perception obstacles, including advantages you bring (life experiences, loyalty, connections, etc.) and how you can be your own bff in getting past the job search baby boomer blues (keep your skills current, keep active even while looking, etc.) And while we’re at it…please don’t forget social networking and other current technology that help show you are part of the 21st century!

While we can’t magically shave 20 years off of our ages (as far as I know), we baby boomers have a lot of great stuff going for us.  Sure, you’ll come up against plenty of youth worshippers and you’ll be told lots of scary stories that might deter a lesser person than you.   But it only takes one job and, if you have patience and put your full energy and commitment into your job search – making it in effect your full time job – you’ll get yourself there. Or maybe you’ll wind somewhere else – some unexpected place that will work even better for you in the long run. The possibilities are out there. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise!

What about you? Have you encountered these myth-perceptions? Would love to hear your stories, thoughts, and advice for baby boomers everywhere.

A few related posts from the Work Coach Cafe:

How to Make the Most of Settling for a So-So Job in a Tight Economy

Make Job Hunting a Daily Job. Oh How It Pays Off!

20 Career Tips to Help You PromoteYourself

Job Search: The Simplest Job Networking Tip of All