| Maturity
Can Be an Asset in Current Job Market
Are
you frustrated in your current position
and looking for a greater challenge?
Are you 40 years or older? Are you
contemplating a change in career or
industry? Have four or more companies
employed you in the past ten years?
Have you been employed by more than
seven companies during your career?
Have you experienced a period of unemployment?
Are you currently or previously been
self-employed? Are you underpaid considering
your current level of seniority and
responsibility? Chances are you are
a well-qualified mature employee with
qualified job and life experience.
You may feel that you are over the
hill and employers will not be interested
in a candidate such as yourself. Face
it, job searching is stressful enough,
don't make it worse by worrying about
your age. Yes, it may be an issue
for some employers, but not all of
them! In the current job market there
are many employers who value the services
of mature
employees. Some
characteristics of the mature employee
are:
1.
The mature employee shows up for work
on time and puts in an honest day's
work. Employers appreciate this quality.
2.
According to a joint study conducted
by AARP and SHRM, 77% of Human Resource
managers believe that older employees
were far more reliable and committed
than younger employees.
3.
Apparently there is simply no substitute
for experience. You know how to do
the job and get it done properly.
In today’s fast paced economy, this
factor is crucial.
4.
Employers need employees who remain
and grow with their company. Employee
turnover is costly. The mature job
seeker is looking for long-term job
opportunities. This appeals to many
employers.
Unfortunately age
discrimination is also reality, but
it doesn't need to be an obstacle
to your job search. There are many
employers who will appreciate your
services.
It is projected that
eventually, companies will become
increasingly dependent on the quality,
skill and work ethic of older employees.
Some corporate leaders are already
realizing they can act to reduce or
eliminate age discrimination and the
more subtle forms of bias through
effective management.
Large numbers of Baby
Boomers make up the mature employee
market. In 1994, the median age of
workers in the United States was 38
years, and this figure will rise to
41 by the year 2005. There are now
about 16 million Americans-ages 55
and older who are working or seeking
work, and this number will increase
dramatically in coming years.
Economic necessity
will keep many aging baby boomers
working longer largely due to a combination
of positive developments such as:
longer life expectancy, rising education
and improvements in health and fitness.
Additionally there are worrisome factors
such as current trends toward more
limited private pension benefits and
anxiety over potential changes in
Social Security. No fewer than 80%
of boomers say they plan to work at
least part time when they retire.
So before you rule
out the possibility of finding gainful
employment in the autumn of your life,
think again, you’re not just getting
older, rather more marketable.
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