As much as my work as a career coach allows me to teach others, I’m grateful for how much I learn.

Yesterday I had the privilege of having three great conversations with three different people going through job transition.  The common link: all were over 50.

As we talked about their experiences, I was struck by the similarities in the messages that they expressed.  And while I’ve seen plenty of experts warning job seekers in this bracket of discrimination and helping them to divert attention from their age as they pursue job opportunities, I’ve seen very little that talks about what it is to be unemployed in that stage of life.

If you’re over 50 and in job search, you may find the refrains familiar.

Challenges for job seekers over age 50

• Being perceived as overqualified. To dumb down or not to dumb down, that is the question.  Many older workers legitimately want to take a step back in their careers, reducing their stress and allowing them more time to pursue other interests, including entrepreneurship.  But employers fear turnover, and therefore fear hiring those that can get better jobs in better times.
• The pressure of oncoming retirement. Sure, we all know we need to save for retirement, but the closer that retirement gets, the more it enters our day-to-day thoughts.  Rather than feeling a decreased financial burden as one might expect as the nest empties, you may feel more pressure to make up for  lost time in your savings, creating financial requirements that can be limiting to your career options.
• Corporate fatigue. Younger workers think the career Holy Grail is the management-track position with Big Corporate.  But many workers more advanced in their careers are tired of the bureaucracy, politics and inflexibility of the corporate world.  You many not be able to  imagine going back to corporate life, but also not see any other option.
• An increased need to do something meaningful. One woman I met with today talked at length about a fantastic idea that is both a unique offering and an expression of her personal purpose.  And she shared that she finds herself in a place in her life where it’s now-or-never — where if she doesn’t devote time to her passion now, she may never be able to fulfill her life’s purpose.  This feeling makes it difficult to compromise on her next position.  You may also feel like your career has been “missing something,” and wonder how to roll that “something” into your next role.

Opportunities for job seekers over age 50

• A better perspective on their needs and wants. The reason that so many of my clients are in this age bracket is that at this stage in their lives, they recognize the importance of finding work that capitalizes on their natural talents and are willing to invest in themselves and their career options.  Having “been there, done that,” they’re actively aware of the things about their career history that worked for them, and the things that didn’t.  This perspective can help you focus your job search efforts and identify those roles that are great fits for you.
• The kind of experience that can take you many places. There are needs for the things you know.  You can use your wealth of experience in new ways, such as mentoring startup companies or training executives on management competencies.  You can bring big company perspective to a small company, or help larger companies find a startup’s enthusiasm.  Your knowledge is hard won, and very valuable.
• Long lists of contacts. You’ve worked with many successful, driven people in your career, and although you may not currently be in touch, they remember you and your work.  New networking tools, like LinkedIn, allow you to find and reconnect with those people so that you can help each other professionally.
• A willingness to try something out of the box. You may be considering starting your own company, or you’re already working on it.  Maybe you’re freelancing, pitching a product to potential employers, or changing careers entirely.  You know you’ve made it to the top before.  You know you can do it again.

How to succeed as an over-50 job seeker

So how do you limit the impact of age-related  challenges?  How can you maximize the wisdom, perspective, and drive to make a difference?  Here are some good first steps to weather the storm called “transition”:

• Get support. Support comes in all forms.  It includes trusted advisors, sounding boards, and people who will listen to you vent.  It’s community resources, financial assistance, and professional counseling if your situation warrants.  You cannot advance yourself professionally if you don’t have a positive mindset, so take advantage of everything available to reduce your stress and increase your confidence.
• Know your value. You are more than the sum of your experience.  You are the answer to an employer’s  problem. What problem can you solve?  Get clear on what you have to offer.
• Practice your story. If you want an employer to believe what you have to say, you have to believe it, and then state it with confidence and authenticity.  So, if you want an employer to understand that you truly want a step back in responsibility, you need to be crystal clear on why that’s what you need and have a nicely packaged explanation to share.  If you believe that a shift into a new industry is the right move for you as well as the employer, be ready to convince them from the bottom of your heart.  Hesitation can be read as lack of conviction, so delivery counts.
• Revamp your network. Rekindle old friendships, reach out to former colleagues, renew your memberships to clubs and societies, and network with everyone that you can.  Don’t start your messages with “I’m looking for work.”  Start with “I was thinking about you.”  Make the contact about them.
• Leverage your knowledge. Understand how to sell yourself to a potential employer, and use your knowledge to make the sale.  Position yourself as an expert in your field.  Create a professional portfolio (or a VisualCV for extra impact).  Find ways to capitalize on your experience, including public speaking, training, and consulting.  The new contacts can help you find your next full-time role, if that’s your goal, and you might make some money while you’re at it.

How do you leverage your expertise in your job search?

photo credit: Daquella manera

Related posts:

1. Are you the phoenix? Coping with career challenges
2. The secret of success: Make your job search very part-time
3. The “What if?” factor
4. The job search accountability group
5. Your personal “best”: Authenticity and your job search

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