Ask an Expert
|
|
NOVEMBER TOPIC: Changing Your Career in Midlife
Dolores DeGiacomo, LCSW
Professional Coach, Business Strategist & Psychotherapist Photo Credit: Deirdre Ryan Photography |
OUR EXPERT:
Dolores DeGiacomo, LCSW, is a professional coach and strategist as well as a licensed psychotherapist who specializes in trauma and the issues that arise from those traumas that affect relationships and work life. Intersectionality is at the core of her services. Dolores believes that success can only be established when one is able to engage (professionally and personally) from this perspective. She also believes that we achieve the best results when we create open and accepting spaces for all to thrive. Dolores spent over 13 years in the corporate world where she led teams and worked closely with customers (from vendors to residential and business sales customers). Over time, she learned that she does her best work in service to individuals – through leadership coaching, best business strategies and therapy. Dolores is an adjunct instructor in the psychology department at Kean University. She works closely with students to help them understand real world applications of concepts and to understand how gender, race, and culture impact theory and practice. She created the Power Up! Method™, a system and practice that combines her coaching and clinical work so clients can create a map to achieve their goals in both their professional and personal lives. |
"I have only worked part-time jobs while my kids were in school. My husband lost his job during the pandemic, so we're both looking for work. I have some experience as an administrative assistant, but it wasn't in a full-time capacity. And I'd prefer to work in the nonprofit space anyway. But I'm afraid my age (late 50s) and work experience will hold me back. Any suggestions for where or how I should start a search? ~ Kirsten (GA)
Hi Kirsten,
Thank you for your question. I'm curious as to why you don't feel that part-time work over your adult lifetime doesn't count as experience. Not having done something full-time should not deter you from highlighting your professional experience. As a matter of fact, when you are writing a resume you typically write the dates of employ, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Whether the job is full time or part time doesn't enter into it.
For the most part, potential employees who are older may appear to be at a disadvantage often due to salary requirements. There are several things that make an older employee very valuable, however. Those things include experience, maturity, responsibility, reliability and professionalism. How you market yourself and those qualities is what lands the job.
All that being said, we are in an unusual time with things changing almost daily. I would encourage you to be ambitious and assertive in your job search but to also be kind to yourself if things aren't happening the way you hope. Good luck.
"I've worked in the technology sector for most of my life. I hate it. I actually cannot believe I stuck it out as long as I did. I want a complete change. I'm interested in costume design (I've been sewing as a hobby for years and have samples). With theaters closed right now...should I still be searching? I'm also wondering if I should start as an assistant and work from there. Finances are not a problem for me at this point." ~ Donna (FL)
Hi Donna.
You are in a very fortunate position to begin a new path. Not having to concern yourself with finances means you can explore more fully the options that are available to you. Doing something as a hobby is certainly quite different from doing it as a career. While the talent is there (you have samples) the navigation of this road is new for you. Theaters won't be closed forever and there are still people who do virtual cosplay, and they need costumes, too.
What I recommend right now is to find someone you can trust who is already in this field and get an inside scoop as to the best way to get a foot in the door. From what little I know about that field of work, it is very helpful to have someone to speak for you, promote you, or recommend you. I can't say whether being an assistant as a starting point would help, but I encourage you to have a clear plan as to how to move from assistant to being the go-to person you hope to be if you go that route.
"My concern is age discrimination. Companies have ways to get around this, and everyone realizes that there are stereotypes about older employees. What are some ideas for presenting yourself as someone who is still energetic, vibrant, and plans to hit the ground running?" ~ Anonymous (NY)
Some of this may depend on the job or field you are going into. If your field of work is primarily younger individuals, you may have more difficulty, especially if the field includes regular changes and upgrades to technology.
Outside of that, yes, I agree that age discrimination is a problem, and there are many ways organizations get around it. That being said, the best way to show any employer that you are raring to go is to know as much about the job and the company as you can. Any new employee requires resources, training, onboarding and things of that nature. When an organization is able to identify that you can utilize those resources optimally you will at least be competitive with other applicants regardless of age.
I answered another question about age and pointed out that the positive attributes of older employees are: professionalism, responsibility, maturity and reliability. Add those attributes to company and job knowledge, and you've sent the right message. After that, it's up to them.
Hi Kirsten,
Thank you for your question. I'm curious as to why you don't feel that part-time work over your adult lifetime doesn't count as experience. Not having done something full-time should not deter you from highlighting your professional experience. As a matter of fact, when you are writing a resume you typically write the dates of employ, responsibilities, and accomplishments. Whether the job is full time or part time doesn't enter into it.
For the most part, potential employees who are older may appear to be at a disadvantage often due to salary requirements. There are several things that make an older employee very valuable, however. Those things include experience, maturity, responsibility, reliability and professionalism. How you market yourself and those qualities is what lands the job.
All that being said, we are in an unusual time with things changing almost daily. I would encourage you to be ambitious and assertive in your job search but to also be kind to yourself if things aren't happening the way you hope. Good luck.
"I've worked in the technology sector for most of my life. I hate it. I actually cannot believe I stuck it out as long as I did. I want a complete change. I'm interested in costume design (I've been sewing as a hobby for years and have samples). With theaters closed right now...should I still be searching? I'm also wondering if I should start as an assistant and work from there. Finances are not a problem for me at this point." ~ Donna (FL)
Hi Donna.
You are in a very fortunate position to begin a new path. Not having to concern yourself with finances means you can explore more fully the options that are available to you. Doing something as a hobby is certainly quite different from doing it as a career. While the talent is there (you have samples) the navigation of this road is new for you. Theaters won't be closed forever and there are still people who do virtual cosplay, and they need costumes, too.
What I recommend right now is to find someone you can trust who is already in this field and get an inside scoop as to the best way to get a foot in the door. From what little I know about that field of work, it is very helpful to have someone to speak for you, promote you, or recommend you. I can't say whether being an assistant as a starting point would help, but I encourage you to have a clear plan as to how to move from assistant to being the go-to person you hope to be if you go that route.
"My concern is age discrimination. Companies have ways to get around this, and everyone realizes that there are stereotypes about older employees. What are some ideas for presenting yourself as someone who is still energetic, vibrant, and plans to hit the ground running?" ~ Anonymous (NY)
Some of this may depend on the job or field you are going into. If your field of work is primarily younger individuals, you may have more difficulty, especially if the field includes regular changes and upgrades to technology.
Outside of that, yes, I agree that age discrimination is a problem, and there are many ways organizations get around it. That being said, the best way to show any employer that you are raring to go is to know as much about the job and the company as you can. Any new employee requires resources, training, onboarding and things of that nature. When an organization is able to identify that you can utilize those resources optimally you will at least be competitive with other applicants regardless of age.
I answered another question about age and pointed out that the positive attributes of older employees are: professionalism, responsibility, maturity and reliability. Add those attributes to company and job knowledge, and you've sent the right message. After that, it's up to them.
Learn more:
Follow Dolores on:
TWITTER
