Wise up, employers—older can be better
By George Senkiw
(From The Globe and Mail, Friday March 12, 2004)
Reprinted with permission of the author
When Ontario Power Generation Inc. announced a restructuring and downsizing in 2002, I volunteered to accept early retirement rather than face a grueling daily commute to Niagara Falls from Toronto.
I’d worked as an engineer for more than 32 years---first at Ontario Hydro’s research laboratories and then with OPG’s hydroelectric business unit. After taking some time off to travel, carry out some home renovations and help my family with some medical problems, I figured I was ready to start working again, perhaps on contract or as temporary relief.
Being 56 and with more than three decades of experience under my belt, I figured it would be a breeze—and was shocked to find there isn’t much out there for older engineers.
So many employers are downsizing, restructuring, amalgamating or closing down. Many professionals from a variety of disciplines are losing their jobs of being forced to take separation packages and/or early retirement.
This negative business climate is painful to everyone, but especially painful to 50-plus professionals. These talented and experienced people have dedicated 25, 30 or more years to their companies. Near or at the height of their earning potential, they were counting on five, 10 or even 15 more years of employment.
While they may receive severance packages, it is not enough to cover the heavy financial demands that a 50-plus individual still has—after covering the cost of children’s undergraduate and graduate schools, weddings and caring for again parents, there is little left over to contribute to that all important retirement nest egg.
The results of my search for employment compelled me to dispel several myths that some employers appear to have about hiring 50-plus professionals.Myth 1: 50-plus professionals are expensive to hireEven though older professionals have been earning $70,000, $80,000 or even $90,000, many would be willing to earn less.
Priorities change. If a new job is challenging, technically satisfying, avoids supervision responsibilities and steers clear of internal company politics, compensation can become a secondary issue.
In some cases, avoiding long commutes to and from work every day, or moving the family home to a new city, can be more important issues than receiving a high salary. In addition, because some older individuals already have a pension, as well as good benefits, the new employers can save a substantial amount.
At the 50-plus stage in life, m any professional are looking for a job change with reasonable financial remuneration—a job that offers a mental challenge and satisfies the need to feel productive.Myth 2: 50-plus professionals lack motivationAny person actively searching for work is already highly motivated. Most human resources personnel will tell you that placing a professional in today’s job climate takes time (up to a year), research and organization. Huge amounts of motivation are required to locate companies that are hiring, prepare resumes and cover letters and undergo demanding interviews which sometimes can number as many as four per company. Most older workers do have the energy and motivation to go through this onerous process and , when successful, they apply the same energy and motivation to the new job.Myth 3: 50-plus professionals are over the hillOn the contrary, over the years, older professional have had to keep up with ever-changing technologies. They have learned to use computers and a host of basic management or technical applications software. Many professional are even fascinated with new technology at work and are avid consumers of new technologies at home.Myth 4: 50-plus professionals are inflexibleSeasoned professional have been through many hoops in their careers.
They have adapted to constantly changing management work philosophies. A large number of senior professional have worked in teams with various other disciplines and have developed a broad view of their profession.
Some have crossed from one discipline to another.
Because of this experience, senior professional can hit the ground running in a new job with very little training.
They have a vast network of colleagues in many disciplines and know hot to use this network to solve problems quickly and efficiently. Wide networking has exposed many professional to new ideas, which they can successfully apply to problems at work.Myth 5: 50-plus professionals are slow and lack focusDon’t be deceived by he physical appearance of older professionals. Over the years, almost everyone puts on a few extra pounds and walks at a slower pace but the mind is as sharp as ever, finely honed over time.
Mature people have more time for themselves and can focus on their work exclusively. Their personal responsibilities are lighter than those of younger individuals. Their children have grown up and are independent, mortgages are almost paid off and most marriages have settled into a comfortable relationship.
Older professionals focus on the work at hand, unlike young recruits, who tend to focus on moving up the ladder of success, frequently transferring to new and higher paying jobs.Myth 6: 50-plus professionals have difficulty fitting into a new environment.A new job in a new company is stressful for anyone. Younger people may often take less time to adapt to a new environment, but older professionals have extensive experience to fall back on. Most have been through many company reorganizations, where they had to adjust to a new location, new co-workers and new management.Myth 7: 50-plus professionals lack creativity.During their careers, older professional have developed many new ideas to solve problems. Because of this experience, they become skilled at thinking outside the box.
Age is not a barrier to creativity. Some of the greatest scientific discoveries have been made by inventors in their mature years. Archimedes, Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Edison all made important discoveries in their mature years. Michelangelo, for instance, was commissioned to build the Dome of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome in 1546 when he was 71 years of age.Myth 8: 50-plus professionals are difficult to work with.Young, inexperienced recruiters often overlook the mature professional’s people skills. The invaluable ability to work well with colleagues is a skill set that is not taught at university but acquired throughout the years by on-the-job training. The mature professional’s resume is a proven track record of successful long-term interactive work with people.Conclusion: Mature professionals make excellent employees.Employers need to keep in mind the imminent change in demographics. The retirement of baby boomers is just around the corner and companies will need to fill many vacated positions quickly. Senior management will be well advised to direct their HR department to seek out senior professional to solve the coming staging problems. Companies should realize that it might be their own experienced staff (some who took advantage of voluntary separation/early retirement packages) who could be the most qualified to step in and solve the critical staff situations. Otherwise, these senior professional could take their expertise to the competition.
These senior professional can do an excellent job: They are experienced, highly motivated, focused individuals on top of modern technology. They also have flexible skill sets, exceptional people skills and adapt easily to new environments. As an added bonus, they are usually not expensive to employ.
George Senkiw is still searching for work and volunteers with several organizations, including the Etobicoke chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario.
Current Edition:
Wise up, employers—older can be better
(March 15, 2004)
Previous Articles
|
|
