With company layoffs and cutbacks, workers across the nation are struggling to navigate a tough economic landscape. As 401(k) accounts tank, many older Americans, particularly, are considering their options, either delaying retirement or re-entering the workforce. According to a recent Gallup poll, for the first time this decade, 52% of non-retired Americans doubt they will have enough money to live comfortably when they retire, compared with 2002, when confidence was much higher.
In today’s climate, a good game plan is key, and as we celebrate seniors during Older Americans Month, Cpt. Karen Kahn is one figure who has sought to help motivate older Americans toward success.
Actively involved in the aviation industry for more than 35 years, Kahn is a professional speaker and has presented career workshops and professional aviation events helping audiences from all age ranges reach their career goals. Through her firm, Aviation Career Counseling, she also provides professional advice, personal resources management, and airline interview coaching. She is also the author of Flight Guide for Success: Tips & Tactics for the Aspiring Pilot.
BlackEnterprise.com talked with Kahn about how retirees can adequately position themselves, how confidence is a winning strategy for those reentering the workforce, and how younger people can learn a wealth of knowledge from their elders.
BlackEnterprise.com: With today’s tough landscape, how can retirees sell themselves as great job candidates when approaching a job interview?
Cpt. Karen Kahn: Unlike younger applicants, retirees offer a wealth of professional and life experience to a prospective employer. To sell themselves well, they need to focus on their key assets that differentiate them from their younger competitors, such as maturity, which substantiates their experience and credibility. Flexibility and a willingness to do whatever is needed are traits often viewed by employers as ones most associated with youthfulness.
Therefore, it is critical that mature workers prepare themselves with specific and current examples that show how they have stayed current with technology and other modern business methodologies relevant to their career. For example, retirees can demonstrate that besides a great history of work experience they too have skills with online social networking (i.e. Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin) and/or are up-to-date with the current computer programs and online knowledge that younger candidates may have grown up using.
If you are someone who retired with plans to change careers, what are some key things you should do or know before taking the leap?
Starting over is never an easy prospect at any age. To successfully penetrate and succeed in a new career, one must start with a realistic plan with goals, tactics, and timelines. The development of such a plan requires the returning worker to do the necessary research and complete any necessary supplemental training and/or education, including certifications or apprenticeship programs.
Moreover, when entering any field, the job seeker who has the greatest chance for success is the one who develops and cultivates a supportive network and mentor relationships. These relationships are critical to helping the “trainee†work his/her plan, stay the course and find the hidden job market where the best opportunities exist. Additionally, returning workers should practice patience, taking the necessary time to learn what the new career entails.
What tips do you have for someone who might feel deterred by their age?
No one can tell by looking at another whether he or she is not a seasoned professional. Returning workers should learn all they can by attending various events and seminars, showing their passion and volunteering to be there when the going gets tough.
Because a more mature candidate will likely have more real-world wisdom and often more business experience than their younger competitors, it is easier for them to demonstrate how they can be an asset to an organization. They can bring new and/or time-tested ideas and team building skills that are likely to unite both generations of workers. Being too old is mostly a state of mind.
Candidates should scrutinize their available resources and determine what they are willing to sacrifice to realize their life-long dream. They should focus on impressing prospective employers with their maturity, good sense, attention to detail, and concern for providing a high-quality service.
How do you overcome negative feelings when you are a senior worker who has to answer to someone much younger?
Senior workers need to demonstrate they are there to learn from and work with their superiors, regardless of their age. They also should strive to work well with the other younger employees; as teamwork and cooperation will contribute to their success.
Other tips are to learn to laugh at oneself. Remember that success in business is bound to incur occasional disappointments, jealousies, and rumors, along with many new experiences and positive rewards. Lastly, they should use their assertiveness, creativity, flexibility perseverance, and courage to enjoy each step along the way.
What are some things employers can do to facilitate a comfortable work environment for those who are seniors?
Take things a bit slower, respect that seniors may have mobility and eyesight issues. Give them credit for the things they can do and assist them in learning news skills by pairing them with younger workers who can gain new skills as trainers simultaneously.