Advice from a woman who did it successfully in her mid-50s
By Beverly Mahone
In September 2013, I made a tough decision to return to corporate
America after a seven-year hiatus, since trying to make it as an
entrepreneur didn't quite turn out as I hoped it would.
When I left the news business, I was in my late forties. Now that I'm
four years shy of 60, I see that so much has changed and I am learning
how to adapt.
I chose not to return to my chosen career of "established media"
because, quite frankly, I no longer have the stomach for breaking news
that starts out with a lot of half-truths and stations always trying to
outdo the competition. Furthermore, I was no longer interested in going
toe-to-toe with younger, less-talented journalists who seem to have the
advantage because of their "blondeness" and their desire to work no
matter how little the pay.
I prefer not to say where I'm employed now, but I will tell you it is a
position that is totally out of my comfort zone. As I travel through
this leg of my journey, I am learning a lot about getting back in the
game.
5 Tips From a Successful Midlife Job Hunter
Here are five things to consider if you are considering returning to the
workforce and looking for a job for the first time in years:
1. Have a clear objective. By that, I mean: know why
you are returning to the workforce. To make ends meet is one thing, but
you should also be thinking about what you would like to accomplish.
Just going through the motions of working from 9 to 5 (or whenever) will
ultimately make you unhappy and could lead to your untimely
termination.
Once I was hired for the position I'm in, I decided to set a goal and am now striving towards it.
2. Understand that the job market has changed. If
you're 50+, not only are many employees half your age, but some may end
up being your supervisors. That is the situation I am currently in.
My managers are just a few years older than my 24-year-old daughter and,
honestly, it is hard to appreciate and to see them as my superiors but
they are and if I am going to succeed, I am going to have to accept that
fact and act accordingly.
3. Learn to be humble. I've always been a take-charge
person, so it isn't easy for me to sit back in a subservient role, as I
currently must do. Quite frankly, humility as an employee is something
I'm still working on.
But I do keep my devotional reading with me at all times to remind me
who I am so I don't get it twisted and end up saying things I will live
to regret.
If you have aspirations beyond the job, you will have to learn to
swallow your pride and avoid an "I can do it better than you!" attitude.
4. Be willing to accept less money. The job market
today is an "employers' market." They can get away with paying less
money for employees because the market is saturated with young, hungry
professionals who just want to get a foot in the door so they can begin
to navigate their way throughout the company.
Many boomers like myself have been accustomed to nice, comfortable
salaries that afforded us the opportunities to have beautiful homes, a
sizable bank account and to take fabulous vacations. That is no longer
the case.
You must be willing to accept the going rate but I would caution you to
never accept minimum wage, because it devalues your skills and abilities
- especially if you have 20 to 30 years of talent and skills to bring
to the table.
5. Have a clear exit plan. Going back to work is
serious business for those of us who are more mature than the average
employee. Know why you are returning and have a plan for an exit.
Working indefinitely without a plan or purpose only leads to
frustration.
Good luck!
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