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Change

Effects

Mid-Life and Beyond

                Many senior workers have or will have experienced a mid-life or beyond mid-life “crisis’ where they feel they must try out something new.  It could be a new sports car, plastic surgery or even something as drastic as a complete lifestyle change.  More often than not, the change many boomers seek is a new career.  Dissatisfied or bored with their old occupation, they often embark on a new employment adventure which often includes redefining or reinventing themselves in the workplace and also include less stress.     

               Over the past 10 years, there has been a proliferation of Boomers returning to career schools and colleges and universities to learn new vocations.  These career changes may be sparked by a sudden job loss, the sudden realization that they haven’t made enough or saved enough for retirement or propelled by the dreams of their youth to be in another professional venue.  

There are no truly reliable statistics to support the success or failure of these career decisions but the economy of today would support predominance in the failed category.  Many of the boomers who separated from their long-term employers exited the manufacturing and public administration industries and moved into the trade and service industries. (Source: Urban Institute)

Healthy

 Recovery

from a Job Loss

Here are some steps to help you when you are recovering from a job loss of any kind:

1.           Focus on setting realistic goals.  Your first goal should be to develop a job searching strategy that works for you.   The first step is to determine your “plan of attack for finding work”.   Although the advent of the internet search has made it easy to get your resume out to many employers, the best plan of attack includes some “face to face contact” with employers (even if it is with the company’s receptionist).  Face to face contact builds confidence – which can lead you to a new career.

2.        Create a “realistic” resume.  Although you may have had many accomplishments in your past work history – begin to “discard” older accomplishments and revive or develop “new” accomplishments.  Build upon your keyboarding skills; or learn some new information on useful programs (there are many “free demonstrations” on the web). Your new “realistic resume” should also detail your new or redefined career goals.  The best way to go into the future is to let go of the past. 

3.    Determine dynamic “keywords” for your resume.  Use a thesaurus and think about how you can change keywords to match you individually.  Example:  you are a “positive person” – the thesaurus gives you “optimistic", "constructive”, “helpful”, “affirmative”, “certain” , and “confident”.  You feel “confident” so you put that you are a “confident person” instead of a “positive person”.  This best describes you and will give your resume a different look.  Match words from the thesaurus to your personality when writing your summary or descriptions.  It is like piecing together a puzzle with the end result – a true picture of you.

4.             Limit your contact with former co-workers.  Despite your departure, life goes on in the workplace.  So, limit the number and the amount of contact you have with former co-workers.   Too much contact with them while you are seeking employment can have a negative effect on your attitude and on theirs.  Wait and make positive contact with them when you have found your new career.

5.        Allow an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon for “mind relaxation”. During this time, set your focus on your personal non-expensive interests such as gardening, walking, exercising, reading or cooking.  Limit the time to one hour only and don’t skip this “free from pressure hour”.   Once you have taken your “break” you will find your mind has new ideas and you will have a more positive day. 

6.       Develop a job hunting routine and flip-flop the routine every other week.  Falling into a routine is good but can also have a negative impact if you are not getting the results you want.  If your week’s routine is to go to individual employers in person and leave a resume in the morning and then to do an internet search and e-mail your resume to employers you find interesting in the afternoon, then switch the routine every other week.

7.             Learn to accept the time it takes to find new employment.  If you are on unemployment don’t stop making a conscientious effort to find a new job.  Many people use unemployment as a “vacation” until it is almost gone and then start a frantic job search which often ends with little or no results.   The faster you are off unemployment, the better!

About the Author: C. Stapleton, B.S., M.B.A. has managed and worked in the human resources field for over 10 years. 

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