Expired Post

Expired Post

I did a career overhaul starting in my later forties by going back to school and graduate school.  Because I had to compete with so many younger students for spots in the graduate school, I must tell you I had to be so much better at every thing from academics to my involvement in community service.  So, pad your resume with all the good you do too.  Don't lie, but if you do things for an elederly neighbor, put it down as you volunteer to assist the elderly who need this or that.  It will show that you are not only a team player but also one who goes beyond what is necessary. 

I may have to do that too because the newspaper industry is going south. I'm also 53 and find I may have to change careers, not just jobs. Don't know what that's going to be right now. I may a job change in the same career in my 40s and was quite happy with that (went from being a writer to an editor) but now don't know where I'm going to go. It's much more difficult in the 50s.

 I turned 60 last Oct.  I was going to go back into the work force again.

 I had two job opportunities lined up, perfect matches.  I procrastinated....  the Economy dropped....  now, my finances changed ( divorce settlement ended).....  there isn't a whole lot available right now.

Going into the traditional work force is no longer an option.  As a "senior" we need to pool our resources and develop a new way of earning....... oh so much easier said than done.

The wisdom of our age needs to be our main talent to offer to those seeking workers.    Hmmm   and here I sit doing volunteer work...  lol

Millie

I believe Marc just went through a job change, maybe he could give some pointers.

Jeane

Well Paul, it helps that you don't look 53. And I found out that its not so much what you know, but who you know that seems to make the difference. I'm saying all things being equal, if you know someone in the organzation that can put in a good word for you it could tip the scales in your favor. What profession are you currently in and where are you looking to go?

Have you contacted any headhunters? Might be your best bet for such a specialized job search.

Did you see that contraption on tv a while back that was built to resue stranded people from tall buildings in a single bound?  Very cool elevator type apparatus that operates on the outside of a building and people can load into it from windows and be brought down to ground level safely. Guess they developed it after 9/11.

My daughter goes to a lot of trade shows. She works in national sales and deals a lot with banking and collections.  She is fantastic at networking. I'll ask her if she has any contacts in that industry. I think she deals more with the company executives. I don't know how much she knows about the people who actually set up the shows. But she's been to plenty of them so she might.

Paul, I've actually found that the employers WANTED me -- since I was seasoned, I've been though lots of situations, I've worked in recessions and in flush times, I've managed all age groups and I am willing to do whatever tasks need to be done to accomplish the mission. (I'm not a prima donna as some are in the current work force!)  We bring things to the table that the younger employees cannot.   I've been headhunted more aggressively since the economy has tanked. 

You just might find that you are just the kind of worker they are looking for!