Over 50? You’re a Hot Ticket in Today’s Labor Market
Shifting demographics give older workers a leading edge with employers who are looking for a strong work ethic and experience. Here are three ways to dive in.
I still remember my first meeting with a financial planner when I was in my 20s. My big plan then was to retire at 55.
Then I actually turned 55, and while I was pleased to see that my planner had indeed helped me realize my financial goals, they weren’t aligned with my life goals any longer. At age 55, I was just getting started, not winding down. I left the longtime security of a corporate job and bought my own business, advising other leaders who had been recently displaced and helping them find their own meaningful second acts.
Employers need your generational expertise
There are many people like me who found more strength, vision and purpose after age 50 than they’d ever experienced before. However, if you’re in that age range and in the market for a new job, you might be worried about everything you’ve heard about hiring managers and HR directors who avoid any résumés from older candidates. Ageism is real. But, right now, there’s a unique confluence of events that give older adults a real advantage in the job market.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
Here's why this is your time: The Great Resignation of 2021 was a triggering incident that caused many older workers to leave the workforce entirely. That excess of retirements left many companies in the vexing situation of having lost a great deal of generational expertise. Some have lost an entire layer of leadership, and now they’re scrambling to train and prepare their next generation of employees.
A new job after 50? Here are three options
That’s where you come in. The good news is that if you want to work, there are plenty of options out there. Here are three ways for older candidates to start writing a strong second chapter:
Full-time employment. If this is what you’re seeking, know that it’s entirely possible to find a new full-time role. The best way to do this is to be open to new possibilities. Let’s say you were a C-suite executive at a global firm, and you’re now looking for a new full-time job. In addition to a lateral move or a promotion to a larger company, consider smaller or boutique-sized companies that would love to have your skills and smarts. The key is staying open to opportunities as they arise and being willing to think of yourself and your talents in a new way.
Gig work. You might find that part-time work is a better fit. It all depends on what you want to do, for how long and with what level of intensity. If you consider all those factors, you’ll be able to find a balance that works for you. I call it the “combo platter” approach to a new career. It can give you a new start at meaning, variety and income after you’ve left full-time work behind.
For example, you could hang out a shingle and launch yourself as a consultant. Or you might consider contract work, either directly with a company or through a temporary services agency.
Another possibility is interim work, when companies need to fill a leadership-level position for a few months, or until they can hire and train a full-time replacement. You might even be interested in being a fractional leader. Look for smaller companies in your field that might not be able to afford you full-time, but can benefit from having you in the office several hours a week.
Become an entrepreneur. People thought I was crazy when I bought my outplacement firm at 55, but it turned out to be the best move I could possibly have made. Is there a type of business you’ve always wanted to run? You could buy out an existing owner, or you could start from the ground up and create your own empire. It’s never too late to be your own boss!
This is when your early financial planning can pay off
If you’re anything like I was in my 20s, you probably worked closely with a financial planner to ensure you’d be set up for a comfortable retirement. If you’ve already met those financial goals, you might have the freedom to let financial considerations move a few spaces down on your “requirements for a new job” list.
Maybe you want to work remotely, or closer to your home. Perhaps you’re looking to work in an industry for which you’ve always had a passion. In your new over-50 job, you can finally put those factors front-and-center.
Word of the day? Optimism
If you’re an over-50 jobseeker, trust me when I tell you that the future is bright, because market conditions make this a great time for older workers to re-enter the workforce. The recent Wall Street Journal article Bosses Want Hard Workers—So They’re Hiring Older People points out that the stronger, more dedicated work ethic of older workers is especially prized: “Certain businesses are targeting seniors on the premise that age is an asset.”
So here’s the good news: You are employable, and there are lots of different ways that employability can play out in today’s job market. If you’re anything like the rest of our generation, you have a solid work ethic, a passion for making a contribution and a lifetime of career wisdom and experience to offer.
What are you waiting for? We all need what you can bring to the table, so go out there now and make us proud!
Related Content
To continue reading this article
please register for free
This is different from signing in to your print subscription
Why am I seeing this? Find out more here
Anne deBruin Sample, CEO and owner of Navigate Forward, is an experienced HR leader and Career Transition Expert. She has written for CEOWorld magazine and has been published in Fast Company and The Wall Street Journal. Her experience includes high-level positions at PepsiAmericas, Caribou Coffee and Whirlpool Corp.
-
How to Assess the Impact of Your Charitable Giving
Here are five simple ways to 'do this, not that' when trying to find out from a nonprofit what kind of impact your donations are having.
By Catherine Crystal Foster Published
-
How a Two-Year Installment Sale Strategy Can Save on Taxes
When selling property or other substantially appreciated asset, you could spread the taxes over two years to save big bucks. Following the rules is critical, though.
By Derek A. Miser, Investment Adviser Published
-
How to Assess the Impact of Your Charitable Giving
Here are five simple ways to 'do this, not that' when trying to find out from a nonprofit what kind of impact your donations are having.
By Catherine Crystal Foster Published
-
How a Two-Year Installment Sale Strategy Can Save on Taxes
When selling property or other substantially appreciated asset, you could spread the taxes over two years to save big bucks. Following the rules is critical, though.
By Derek A. Miser, Investment Adviser Published
-
Five Ways to Make Retirement a Little Less Scary
To avoid lying awake at night once you’re retired, consider having these strategies in place before you take the plunge.
By Evan T. Beach, CFP®, AWMA® Published
-
With Irrevocable Trusts, It’s All About Who Has Control
An irrevocable trust must be carefully funded, structured and managed to achieve both asset protection and tax planning.
By Rustin Diehl, JD, LLM Published
-
If You’re Preparing to Move, Should You Buy or Rent?
Both prospects are expensive these days, but there are several questions you can ask yourself to help you decide what’s right for you.
By Justin Stivers, Esq. Published
-
How Annuities Can Help You Retire Early and Delay Social Security
Waiting until 70 to claim Social Security benefits can pay off, so how do you bridge the gap between giving up your paycheck and filing for benefits?
By Ken Nuss Published
-
How to Get Your Kids to Step Off the Gravy Train
A surprising number of young adults live with their parents. Setting some financial ground rules could get the kids out on their own faster.
By Neale Godfrey, Financial Literacy Expert Published
-
Spring Is a Good Time to Clean Up Your Finances, Too
While you’re decluttering your home for spring, consider also taking a crack at cleaning up your finances and old paperwork.
By Tony Drake, CFP®, Investment Advisor Representative Published