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Reinvention Review: Turn Prior Experiences into Current
Capabilities |
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Dan Woog |
After three
decades as a radio engineer, a 50-plus woman suddenly
finds herself downsized. With the radio industry in a
tailspin, what are her prospects for continuing the work
she loves?
Pretty good -- if she repositions her skills and
reinvents her experience as relevant to employers
seeking engineers knowledgeable about podcasts and MP3
downloads.
Is she alone in worrying about how to keep working?
Hardly.
Older Workers Face Many Barriers
According to Linda Wiener, Monster's Age Issues Expert
and a workforce consultant specializing in the topic,
"This is huge. I see more ageism in employment now than
in the past 20 years." But Wiener adds, "I don't know if
there will be a worker shortage in the future, but there
definitely will be a skills shortage."
A 2005 study by the Center for Retirement ReSearch at
Boston College found that younger workers were 40
percent more likely to be called for interviews than
those 50 or older. In fiscal year 2005, the federal
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission fielded 10,585
charges of age discrimination, and collected nearly $78
million in settlements -- the most since 1992.
Part of that bias lies with an increasingly younger
corps of human resources personnel and hiring managers
who, in the words of Granny @ Work editor Karen Riggs,
"may have concerns about the ability and inclination of
older people to perform."
Unleash Your Curiosity
However, Riggs -- an older Baby Boomer herself -- says
that her generation has many ways to show potential
employers they are more than up to the task. "Unleash
your curiosity," Riggs says. "Roll up your sleeves. Poke
around the computer to learn more skills. Pay attention
to the technology your kids are using, and learn from
them."
But simply learning new programs is not enough. To
actually reposition yourself in the workplace, you must
first examine your current position.
Understand Your Expertise
"Look at your job description, capture your own
experience," says Riggs.
For example, Wiener knows a 50-plus information
technology project manager who was downsized three times
while caring for her aging parents. She realized her
technological skills could be used in gerontology,
helping elderly people move from one residence to
another. "She overlAid her current skills on her current
life and filled a new need," Wiener explains.
Riggs advises: "If you feel that your skill set no
longer fits with your organization and you have the
luxury of time, go back to school. Take a couple of
classes to recover your skills or get to the next
stage."
Accomplishments, Not Laundry Lists of Skills
Riggs urges older workers who are repositioning
themselves to focus on achievements. "Let's say you've
been a sales representative for 15 years," Riggs says.
"You're an expert in maintaining client relationships
face to face, by phone and letter. But now, through the
miracle of technology, there are more expedient ways. So
look at what you're doing, highlighting the number of
relationships you retain, and how deeply and
successfully they're held, rather than the methodology
of maintaining client relationships. Focus on results,
not how you achieve those results."
"If you helped your division increase sales 20 percent
while you were working, talk about that," she says. "It
doesn't matter if it was 20 years ago; it's still an
accomplishment."
Many hiring professionals now Search online for
background information. To be noticed, create an online
presence. Emphasize your work and credentials, not your
personal life; include links to articles about you or
testimonials from colleagues and supervisors.
The key to repositioning oneself is to highlight skills
and experiences that never become obsolete. A manager in
a manufacturing plant, for example, should look past a
downsized industry and offshore production. Instead,
Riggs suggests, "highlight your decision-making skills
that benefit time and efficiency and supervising people.
These are applicable to any field with products that
must be moved and people who must be handled."
Always think of what you've done, how you've done it and
who can benefit from your talents and experiences today.
"Find the touchstone in your professional career," Riggs
advises. "Don't massage it or doctor it; just formulate
it sensibly. People don't like to connect the dots. Your
job is to connect them for them." |
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This article originally appeared on Monster.com. |
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Previous:
Returning to Work After a Leave |
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Next:
Could Your Hobby be Your Job? |
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