Are you what is considered an "Older Worker"? Are you having difficulty finding a job?
Do you find yourself looking at the young people and comparing yourself to them in terms of ability and education, and finding yourself on the losing end? Well, it is time to stop and recognize the abilities you have that are far superior to what they have. It is time to point out to employers the advantages that you bring.
Not sure what those advantages are? Well, first of all - maturity. You are not likely to explode with anger or frustration if something goes wrong. Which leads to the second advantage - experience. You know from past experience how to fix things, how to do things correctly the first time. The third advantage is knowledge - you know how things really work. You've "been there, done that, and got the t-shirt" as they say. You know from experience what works and what doesn't, and not from reading a book.
MATURE WORKERS HAVE:
The ability to problem solve
A seasoned point of view
Good judgment
A wealth of skills and transferable skills
Experienced change
Raised their families
Life long learning experiences
Perspective, the ability to see the big
picture
A work history and a work ethic
The ability to train and mentor others
Been exposed to a wide knowledge base
Leadership skills
An understanding of what is expected
A sense of humour (easy going)
The ability to navigate work politics
More references and networking contacts
MATURE WORKERS ARE:
A resource
Mature
Well rounded
Patient, wise and dedicated
Consistent and practical
Understanding of other age groups
Aware of their strengths and weaknesses
Loyal, dedicated and focused
Secure and self-directed
Open to suggestions
Street wise in the working world
Survivors
Self-sufficient and self-confident
Resilient, versatile and flexible
Willing to learn new things
Empathetic
Realistic
It is time to see yourself as the valuable resource you are.
To your job search success
Fran Watson
Mature, Motivated and Marvellous (grin)
www.franwatson.ca/bio.html
