Finding work in tough economic times, you can do it!

Finding “rewarding” employment in more sense than one, for someone who has crossed the sixty-year age limit, is already a tough nut to crack. In these tough economic times, it has become almost impossible. Not only do you battle the fact that in all likelihood younger people (most likely your potential employers) think that along the way to maturity you might have lost some of your marbles, or they might feel sometimes rightly that the electronic age has passed you by. Yes, those of us who have reached this actually quite interesting and rewarding age, face this “first impression’ kind of thinking on a regular basis. Mind you, that most of us have had so many jobs, from emptying hospital bedpans to managing a marketing team of more than twenty people, that it is awfully difficult to take this kind of attitude seriously. But reality has a way of taking you down a notch or two.


So how in the “heck” do you fact this situation. After all, food is kind of a necessity for continuing to exist as well as the need to have a place to lay your weary head to rest at night.

First of all, never, ever, take the opinions of others seriously. After all they do not know you, nor would you like them too. No one, except yourself, can change your opinion of who you are, as luckily you are the only one in the know. That alone, of course, does not bring bread on the table, but it goes a long way to keep you sane. Repeat this mantra over and over any time any one makes a comment that might hit you as derogatory

Secondly, do yourself a favor and list those talents you have, even if they are toilet scrubbing. After all it takes guts to do that any time you do that for someone or some ones you do not know. What I mean by this is that you list any activity any thought that empowered you in the past to do what you did and to be good at it. Keep those thoughts handy for those times that you meet people who do not know you.

One of my better points is that I have a lot of energy, not usual for someone my age. So when I come across someone who has not yet broadened their horizons towards respect for those of us who have entered the glorious stage of maturity, I invite them to for a little exercise, and I mean exercise of the body. It has never failed to work, but a bit difficult to do during a potential interview.

The third perhaps most appropriate approach is to address needs and this is at any time during the course you seek employment. What are the needs of this specific job at this particular time? And what are the resources I might bring that fulfill the requirements. Remember that most of us at our particular time of life are usually very responsible and time conscious. We would not dare to leave at five minutes to the hour of the end of our job, actually most of the time staying because something is not yet finished. Well ladies and gentlemen those factors need to be brought up front. Study the need and the job requirements and know where you shine versus any other employee, young or old. Do not be tongue tied when they finally ask and why do you feel that you are the right candidate. Deliver those facts with flair and a smile, knowing inside that regardless of getting the job, you are the greatest and never forget that.