Career Resources and Advice for Experienced Workers

When CareerBuilder.com launched the PrimeCB Web site for experienced employees, I was intrigued with all the questions that arose about work: What about work after retirement, part-time work, shared work, work as play, work at home, second careers, starting over, returning to school? Experienced employees bring a different perspective than the right-out-of-college-bright-and-eager employee. We bring wisdom as well as curiosity, responsibility as well as a bit of anxiety and while we are not inflexible, we bring a strong sense of how we like to work.

After more than 30 years in education, as an English teacher, school community liaison and high school guidance counselor, I was ready to retire. Ready to do NOTHING for a while. Nothing meant sleeping late, drinking that second cup of coffee leisurely instead of gulping it down before dashing out the door, walking every day, playing in the dirt – planting, watering, and weeding. It meant having more time for reading, cooking and grandmothering.

It wasn’t long before “nothing” had lost its appeal and I was ready for action. I had lots of opportunities to volunteer, through my church, my school, the neighborhood, as well as the entire city. I had begun making lists when a friend called asking me to substitute in her high school for two or three days a week. She wanted me to fill a spot in the final year of a college prep grant, working with high school seniors in their last push to get ready for college. Right down my alley! It was guidance without the testing, scheduling and paperwork. Because most of the students would be first generation college attendees, not to mention first generation high school graduates, the opportunity was exciting. The students kept me entertained and challenged. As graduation approached and the letters of acceptance to colleges rolled in, I realized that I will probably want to work as long as I’m able, because the kind of work I do is part of who I am.

The beauty of working part-time was that my retirement plan allowed me to keep all my benefits as long as I didn’t work more than 50% in a calendar year. In addition, the time I wasn’t working allowed me to fill my days with the leisurely activities I enjoyed.

When I was asked to write a blog for PrimeCB.com, I saw it as not only another chance to work part time, pulling together some skills that I already possess, but also as a way to be involved in what is happening in the work place for baby boomers as well as retirees and seniors, many of whom work well into their twilight years.

In upcoming blogs, we will address everything from job sharing and job trading to being forced out of work; how to continue in the job, but with fewer hours; how to restructure a resume; how to transfer skills from a current career to the dream career; how to deal with anxieties about retiring. We will bring stories from people who have been successful and people who are still searching. We hope to focus on the challenges as well as the benefits that come with being in or moving toward the “prime of life.”

Kate Lorenz, CareerBuilder.com

You’re well-educated, your résumé screams experience and you’re vigorously looking for a new job. So why are you so nervous?

Searching for a new job when you’re 50 or older presents a whole new set of challenges. As if interviews weren’t intimidating enough, now you’re trying to dispel all sorts of stereotypes about older job seekers to an interviewer who’s 15 years your junior. Employment discrimination based on age against anyone over age 40 is illegal under the Federal Age Discrimination in Employment Act. But according to Gail Geary, career management consultant and author of Over-40 Job Search Guide (Jist Works), older job seekers often find themselves uncomfortably struggling to answer tough age-related questions during interviews. Here are five of the most common age-related interview questions – and how to field them gracefully – according to Geary’s book:

1. “Will you be using this job as a bridge to retirement?”
Other variations of this question include “Where do you expect to be five years from now?” and “What are your long-term career goals?” Geary’s book states that if you’re over age 50 and look your age, openly addressing the retirement issue may benefit you. Reassure your interviewer that you are excited about the position and plan to continue working for a long time. If you’re relatively young and look even younger, you may not need to address the issue at all.

2. “What are your salary requirements?”
This question is tough for everyone, but it can be even harder for older candidates with decades of experience who do not want their previous high salaries working against them. When faced with this question, first respond with a cool, noncommittal answer. If pressed, give a salary range based on your research. For example, say: “I’ve researched the salary range for this position in our area and have found the typical salary range to be from $125,000 to $175,000, plus bonus. Is this what you have in mind?”

3. “Do you have enough energy, stamina or brain power to do the job?”
It’s unlikely you will face this question outright, Geary writes, but you may be asked something like: “How do you feel about working in a fast-paced environment?” or “Are you able to come in early and work late?” This type of question is your cue to talk about your drive, energy and enthusiasm for the job. Give specific examples that reveal your energy using the STAR technique, where you describe the Situation, Task, Action and Result. Also keep in mind that this type of question reveals clues about the job’s demands, hours, deadlines and overall expectations.