Over 50 and Unemployed
Over 50 and Unemployed
My husband and I both recently lost our jobs. We are both 58 and unable to retire at this time. I've been in the home building industry for 20 years and really don't know anything else. My husband has been in the grocery business for about 27years. We are both concerned about the possibility of ever finding a job at our age. Please help us determine what we need to do in order to get back into the work place.
Losing a job is a difficult transition and when both husband and wife are in the same situation, it can indeed be a fearful time. You mention that you are both older adults and concerned about finding employment "at our age." Though there are many articles written about the demand for older workers, some people do indicate that they experience age discrimination. However, many, many people are able to continue in their careers, return to the workplace and remain in their jobs for years to come.
So, there are many things you can do to increase your job opportunities. First is to do a realistic assessment of your skills, interest and values. What work were you doing? Do you need to look in a different direction? Can you move forward in that direction or do you need more training to meet the current needs of the workplace? How will you obtain that training, if needed? Are you computer literate? Almost every job today requires at least a basic ability to use a computer. (There are many classes available everywhere!) Do you need to adjust your target - your job objective - to more realistically fit. Are you familiar with the types of jobs available for your skill sets?
How's your resume? Does it highlight your skills and experience well without focusing on age? Does it meet the requirements of the marketplace?
How do you present? Do you look as good as you can? Do you speak with confidence? Have you reviewed your accomplishments so you are able to present them to a prospective employer?
Are you familiar with the current methods of job search? Networking, internet, etc?
Though age is a factor, it is only a challenge, with strong support and a positive attitude you will find work. (You might need to access help from a local agency to help with learning some of these more effective search techniques.)
Just don't give up - understand the market, prepare yourself and focus on success, not on negatives.
The Career Experts @ ChicagoJobs.org
Comments
Unemployment at age
To Whom it May Concern:
I too am looking for employment. I am age 61 and have spent about twenty years in the grocery business as an evening manager. This was bascially a 4PM till 1 AM direct supervisory postion. Here in Mpls, Mn and was a full time postion. Two thirds of the postions are part time and are unionized. My wife is currently employed full time at Best Buy.
I left the grocery business at age 52 and started all over again. I cross trained into the cabinety making and construction industry for about one year and then went full time in the cabinet making industry. Two years later they went out of business.
Since then I have been employed in fields related to the construction industry. My latest position was marketing and selling high end architectural woodworking projects to commercial contractors and indirectly to architects. I brought in appproximately $900,000 yearly and this was 50% over my quota. The company was recently bought out and they brought in their own sales force.
I have also attended workshops here locally set up by the Minnesota Workforce Center (Unemployment Office) on how to interview, how to update my resume, how to look for work after age forty, fitfty, sixty. This last workshop was very helpful in helping me ovecome some of the age discrimination issues I have been worried about. I have also been attending computer classes on Microsoft Word 1 and 2 and Excel 1. One of the concerns of employers working with "older employees" is about us not being technologically current.
I hope this has not been too rambling for you?
If you would not mind could I suggest sales in building supplies in the construction industry at either the wholesale or retail level? When I was up against the wall economically I worked at Home Depot. I enjoyed it but not much money. Here in Mpls, they were looking for outside sales consultants. Maybe they have smiilar positions available in Chicago? Maybe some of the suppliers in residential real estate that you might know might have sales positions open for the commercial building industry side? For example a tile distributor that would sell both residentially and commercially might be looking for a sales reprsentative to market to architects or general contractors? It would be tough lugging large tile samples at our age. But you get the general idea that I mentioned. What area within the residential sales area did you find most interesting from a supply side perspective?
To your husband does he have any contact with any of the sales or brokerage firms he might consider worth pursuing within the grocery industry? How about sales selling for a food supplier?
You pick up alot of incidiential knowledge within the supermarket industry and meet alot of interesting persons. Were there any customers or suppliers he particularly hit it off with?
Can your husband draw early retirement? Are either one of you getting unemployment?
I am looking for an outside sales postion selling a tangible product. Ideally, from a company in Chicago that is looking to increase it sales presence in the Minneapolis area. This might be building and construction supplies, industrial tools etc. I am very good at research, prospecting and new account development.
Good luck in your job search effort! Also try these job search sites that are designed for 50+ job Search Sites:
www. Retiree Workforce.com
www. RetirementJobs.com
www.Seniors4 Hire.org
www.Workforce 50.com
The only one that I have utilized so far is Retired Brains.
Please keep in contact.
Best of luck and effort!!
Carl E. Peters
2609 Burd Place
St Louis Park MN 55426
952-544-1978