6 Job Myths Boomers Should Stop Believing
If you were born between the early 1940s and early 1960s, you are considered a baby boomer. That means that in 2017 you are nearing the end of your career.
But as we all know, times have changed. Few people can expect to enter a company at 20 and retire at 60 with a gold watch. Layoffs and layoffs are commonplace. However, along with these job insecurity, there is also a myth that many baby boomers still firmly believe. It's time to smash them once and for all.
But as we all know, times have changed. Few people can expect to enter a company at 20 and retire at 60 with a gold watch. Layoffs and layoffs are commonplace. However, along with these job insecurity, there is also a myth that many baby boomers still firmly believe. It's time to smash them once and for all.
1. Once you hit a certain age, you're unemployable
Let's be clear, it's much easier to get a job in your 20s and 30s than it is to get a job in your 50s and 60s. Paychecks have certain expectations, and as we age, we have more health concerns and less energy than we did when we started our careers. However, there is a difference between difficult and impossible. If you have the skills, the drive and the right attitude, you will be recognized and offered a job.
The point is, stop shooting yourself in the leg believing it was because of your age. Every stage of our career has its pros and cons. At first, I am too young and inexperienced, but the wages will be lower and I would like to work longer. At the peak of my career, I sacrifice time with my family to climb the ladder, but it always pays off. It may be too expensive to find vacancies later on, but we have the experience and wisdom employers crave. It's all give and take. Market yourself by leveraging the strengths you've gained from a long and successful career and how those strengths will benefit your new boss in the future.
2. You are too old to retrain
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but that's completely false. In fact, continuing the same analogy, an experienced pet trainer can transform an older dog with behavioral problems into a loving, family-friendly pet. It's true that acquiring certain skills later in life is a little more difficult, but it's not entirely unmanageable.
As The Telegraph reported in 2014, middle-aged workers are increasingly switching to new jobs because their old jobs are running out or because the jobs are physically demanding. And in 2013, around 12,000 people over the age of 50 underwent medical and civil service training in the UK. In 2015, Time magazine reported that the job market was hot for workers over the age of 50.
Let's be clear, it's much easier to get a job in your 20s and 30s than it is to get a job in your 50s and 60s. Paychecks have certain expectations, and as we age, we have more health concerns and less energy than we did when we started our careers. However, there is a difference between difficult and impossible. If you have the skills, the drive and the right attitude, you will be recognized and offered a job.
The point is, stop shooting yourself in the leg believing it was because of your age. Every stage of our career has its pros and cons. At first, I am too young and inexperienced, but the wages will be lower and I would like to work longer. At the peak of my career, I sacrifice time with my family to climb the ladder, but it always pays off. It may be too expensive to find vacancies later on, but we have the experience and wisdom employers crave. It's all give and take. Market yourself by leveraging the strengths you've gained from a long and successful career and how those strengths will benefit your new boss in the future.
2. You are too old to retrain
They say you can't teach an old dog new tricks, but that's completely false. In fact, continuing the same analogy, an experienced pet trainer can transform an older dog with behavioral problems into a loving, family-friendly pet. It's true that acquiring certain skills later in life is a little more difficult, but it's not entirely unmanageable.
As The Telegraph reported in 2014, middle-aged workers are increasingly switching to new jobs because their old jobs are running out or because the jobs are physically demanding. And in 2013, around 12,000 people over the age of 50 underwent medical and civil service training in the UK. In 2015, Time magazine reported that the job market was hot for workers over the age of 50.
3. Older workers are not as valued as their younger counterparts
You've probably heard the following demeaning statement in the office (or even used it yourself early in your career): "That guy is a dinosaur, what he says or "She's been here for decades. She doesn't know the latest news. That's utter nonsense."
As you grow older, you gain experience and wisdom, and your ability to solve problems much faster than someone just starting to climb the ladder. Consider the history of Picasso. One day, while he was painting in the park, a young woman approached him and asked him to paint a portrait of him. With just a few seconds of pencil strokes, he captured her image perfectly. When she asked how much she owed, he said $5,000. She was stunned and asked why she would charge so much for something that only lasted a few seconds. "Ma'am, it took me my life to do this."
That also applies to the experience you bring. You spent decades learning how to do things, how not to do things, and how to sum it up. Time is valued by employers and age is just a number if you can prove your skills can save you time and money.
4. You will not be rehired if you take a leave of absence or resign.
Retirement is not forever. Perhaps you've decided to retire, but still want to be part of the workforce. Don't think that a few years gap at the end of your resume will ruin it. In fact, the break between career and new company is viewed positively by employers. You know you've spent some time rebooting, clearing your head, relaxing, and thinking about how you want to spend the next ten years of your life.
So take a break and recharge your batteries. Spend time finding what you really want to do. Maybe retirement is what you want. Maybe you want to try something completely different. Search again and you'll have a choice.
You've probably heard the following demeaning statement in the office (or even used it yourself early in your career): "That guy is a dinosaur, what he says or "She's been here for decades. She doesn't know the latest news. That's utter nonsense."
As you grow older, you gain experience and wisdom, and your ability to solve problems much faster than someone just starting to climb the ladder. Consider the history of Picasso. One day, while he was painting in the park, a young woman approached him and asked him to paint a portrait of him. With just a few seconds of pencil strokes, he captured her image perfectly. When she asked how much she owed, he said $5,000. She was stunned and asked why she would charge so much for something that only lasted a few seconds. "Ma'am, it took me my life to do this."
That also applies to the experience you bring. You spent decades learning how to do things, how not to do things, and how to sum it up. Time is valued by employers and age is just a number if you can prove your skills can save you time and money.
4. You will not be rehired if you take a leave of absence or resign.
Retirement is not forever. Perhaps you've decided to retire, but still want to be part of the workforce. Don't think that a few years gap at the end of your resume will ruin it. In fact, the break between career and new company is viewed positively by employers. You know you've spent some time rebooting, clearing your head, relaxing, and thinking about how you want to spend the next ten years of your life.
So take a break and recharge your batteries. Spend time finding what you really want to do. Maybe retirement is what you want. Maybe you want to try something completely different. Search again and you'll have a choice.
5. Only part-time work is available for older workers
Again, this is not the case in the current climate. In 1995 we had such a discussion. At the time, about 56% of people over the age of 65 were working part-time, and 44% were working full-time. But by 2007, the numbers had completely reversed, with 56 percent of those over 65 working full-time and only 44% of him working part-time. So what kind of work do you have? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the majority of people over the age of 55 work in managerial, sales, and clerical positions. Next comes the service industry, manufacturing industry, transportation industry, construction industry, and maintenance industry.
Again, this is not the case in the current climate. In 1995 we had such a discussion. At the time, about 56% of people over the age of 65 were working part-time, and 44% were working full-time. But by 2007, the numbers had completely reversed, with 56 percent of those over 65 working full-time and only 44% of him working part-time. So what kind of work do you have? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the majority of people over the age of 55 work in managerial, sales, and clerical positions. Next comes the service industry, manufacturing industry, transportation industry, construction industry, and maintenance industry.
The last two may seem surprising, but think about how we're living longer and how medical care has advanced. It is now possible for men or women over the age of 55 to enter the construction and maintenance industry and achieve great success, even if they consider themselves too old to do manual labor.
6. There are only certain jobs available to me
Grocery store greeter. fast food server. Shopping mall security guard. deliver the newspaper Driving a taxi or school bus. The list goes on. These are the professions that many believe the baby boomers have a future.
These jobs are available to those who really want them, but the options are much wider and more attractive. One of the most popular options right now is to retrain to become an interior designer. With insight, you can make a ton of money with a schedule that works for you. Other options include work on cruise ships, wedding planning, speaking, casino work, consulting, and seasonal work at ski lodges and resorts. The world is at your feet, especially when you want to travel or take a little leap.
As a baby boomer, you may have fewer careers ahead than you do now, but remember, that doesn't mean there are only a few paths to take. With drive, enthusiasm, and a willingness to retrain, you can achieve almost anything you set your mind to.
Grocery store greeter. fast food server. Shopping mall security guard. deliver the newspaper Driving a taxi or school bus. The list goes on. These are the professions that many believe the baby boomers have a future.
These jobs are available to those who really want them, but the options are much wider and more attractive. One of the most popular options right now is to retrain to become an interior designer. With insight, you can make a ton of money with a schedule that works for you. Other options include work on cruise ships, wedding planning, speaking, casino work, consulting, and seasonal work at ski lodges and resorts. The world is at your feet, especially when you want to travel or take a little leap.
As a baby boomer, you may have fewer careers ahead than you do now, but remember, that doesn't mean there are only a few paths to take. With drive, enthusiasm, and a willingness to retrain, you can achieve almost anything you set your mind to.