Age is not an obstacle to finding a satisfying job, career
Bill Wilson (name changed at his request to protect his privacy) had been working at ABC Manufacturing Company in Las Vegas for more than 18 years. He was looking forward to retirement in a few more years when Roger Martin, his supervisor, came up to his work station. "Bill, I need to see you in my office before you leave the shop this evening."
Those words were the last Bill wanted to hear. He knew the company was hit hard by the recession and there had been several layoffs among younger, less experienced workers. Everyone was on pins and needles these days waiting for the other shoe to drop.
"It can't be that," Bill thought. "I've been here longer than anyone else and business seems to be picking up. Just last week a large order came in and we've been pushing hard to fill it." With trepidation, Bill clocked out and headed for Roger's office.
"Bill, sit down. There's something I need to discuss with you," Roger said. Bill took a seat; perspiration began beading on his forehead even though the air conditioning made the office seem cold.
"There's no other way to say this, and there's no sense dragging the conversation out," Roger said. Bill could feel a knot in his chest. "As you know, we've been cutting back for over a year now, mostly the less experienced guys. We kept you on because you're one of the best and most senior employees in the company. However, conditions what they are, we have to cut back even more. I'm sorry to say that your job has been eliminated. This will be your last day on the job."
"But, Roger," Bill said. "What am I going to do? My 401(k) tanked during the downturn and I don't have a lot of savings. I'm 63 years old and Social Security doesn't pay enough to cover expenses. My wife lost her job three months ago, and she has a lot of medical bills. I was hoping to work a few more years to build our nest egg back up."
"I'm sorry, Bill," sympathized Roger. "It's out of my hands. The company will sink unless we take drastic action." Depressed, Bill gathered his personal things and was escorted out of the building.
This scenario has been played out in one way or another for millions of people over the last few years, many of whom are seniors unprepared for the loss of job security. They have experience and knowledge, but they're competing with a much younger force of job seekers who are scrambling for the same piece of pie. With Bill's Social Security, some odd jobs he's been able to find and the small income his wife is able to generate, they are above the threshold for state services and don't qualify for assistance.
Bill and his wife aren't alone coming up short for retirement. The market and workforce have changed over the past few years.
According to an Aug. 24, 2012, article on Forbes.com titled "6 Reasons You'll Never Retire" by Peter Cohen: "It's not your dad's retirement world out there. You won't have a pension, and even if you've saved diligently, you're likely to come up short. Once upon a time, people stopped working at age 65 and enjoyed years of golf and grandchildren funded by a reliable monthly income from corporate pension and health care benefits supplemented by government health care and Social Security."
Fortunately for Bill, there is a light on the horizon. If he looks in the right places, he can find opportunities that will take up the slack and get his head above water again.
Do you remember when you turned 50 and somehow AARP knew about it? You received that invitation in the mail to join AARP within days of your birthday. If you received that invitation more than a few years ago, to paraphrase Cohen's comment above, "It's not your dad's AARP anymore." Take a trip to the AARP website and you can spend hours, if not days, searching through all of the programs, aids, webinars and assistance provided to the older population looking for employment.
A good place to start is www.AARPWorksearch.org. Through Worksearch, AARP receives grants from the Department of Labor's Senior Community Service Employment Program. SCSEP is the largest federally funded program specifically targeting older adults seeking employment and training assistance.
When it began in 1965, SCSEP employed about 300 older men in rural community beautification projects in four states. This year, more than 125,000 SCSEP participants were employed in a wide range of programs, including those serving other older adults, in nearly every county in every state.
According to Jackie Phillips, project director, AARP FTDN Worksearch, "SCSEP grants provided by the DOL have made it possible for hundreds of seniors to put food on the table while they learn new skills that help them get back in the workforce."
A visit to the Worksearch website can begin with a personal assessment to help you determine what skills you have, what skills you need to become successful and how AARP can help you gain skills you may not possess.
During this period of the highest unemployment since the 1930s, Congress gave additional money to SCSEP to create thousands of new job opportunities for older Americans. Most SCSEP participants work in a local nonprofit or public agency serving their communities. This paid work experience prepares many of them to find employment not paid for with SCSEP dollars.
"We work with about 75 organizations, all nonprofit or government agencies," Phillips says. "We can provide workers to these organizations at absolutely no cost to them. The SCSEP grants pay the wages of the worker while on the program."
Workers typically work part time and are paid minimum wage while in the program. There is a time limit that an individual is allowed to be in the program before they must find a permanent job. Phillips acknowledged that several of the agencies will end up hiring the worker when their budgets allow or when an opening comes up through attrition.
To be eligible, SCSEP participants must be:
n Fifty-five or older
n Legally eligible to work in the U.S.
n Living in a household with income no more than 125 percent of the federal poverty level
Special consideration is given to people who are any of the following:
n Sixty-five and older
n Have a disability
n Have limited English proficiency or low literacy skills
n Live in a rural area
n Are a veteran
n Have low employment prospects
n Are homeless or at risk of homelessness
In Las Vegas, the AARP's Worksearch office is at 5450 W. Sahara Ave., Suite 340. Phillips advises that interested seniors call before coming in because there are some documents that they must bring with them. These requirements can be covered on the phone without wasting a trip. The number is 702-648-3356.
Be aware that there is currently a wait list for applicants to be placed. The amount of time an applicant spends on the wait list depends on his or her skill set and the needs of the client organizations.
In 2012, AARP joined with LinkedIn and several sponsor companies to create the new Work Reimagined program, targeting employment opportunities and job search advice to older, more experienced workers. Deborah Jaquith, director of communications at AARP Nevada State Office, says employers that take a pledge to level the playing field for older workers with experience join the Work Reimagined program. The Work Reimagined website lists an impressive array of employers across the country with a few to nearly 2,400 job openings.
Work Reimagined can be accessed through a person's LinkedIn account or directly from the website www.WorkReimagined.org. The purpose of Work Reimagined as stated on LinkedIn is: "The first talent exchange dedicated to helping companies find experienced workers and to helping experienced professionals connect to more satisfying careers."
WorkReimagined.org will put you into the one network that has the breadth and depth of participants, contacts and information you need to succeed in today's dynamic workplace. It is open to professionals with more than 20 years of experience where a person can connect with peers, read and discuss news and insights from a team of experts, and view jobs from companies participating in the program.
Work Reimagined's stated goal is to help employers solve current and future staffing challenges and direct job seekers to employers that value and are hiring experienced workers. From the website, employers who sign the pledge agree that they have:
n Openness to the value of mature workers
n Nondiscriminatory human resources policies
n Immediate hiring needs (at the time of pledge signature)
A complete list of employers who have signed the Work Reimagined pledge can be found on its website. By clicking on the icon for each individual company, you can see the thousands of jobs that have been posted by these employers.
Many older workers are considering starting their own business. Approximately 7.4 million Americans over the age of 50 work for themselves. If you are among the one in six of those who don't and are thinking of doing so one day, then you will be interested in knowing that AARP has teamed with the Small Business Administration to help Americans over age 50 get the information they need to start and grow a small business. It is estimated that the SBA/AARP joint venture will together train or mentor more than 100,000 "Encore Entrepreneurs" over the next year.
AARP and the SBA have developed free online courses to help age 50-plus entrepreneurs launch or grow their own business. For example, a free online course for 50-plus entrepreneurs at http://web.sba.gov/sbtn/registration/index.cfm?CourseId=83, or the SBA's Self-Assessment Tool at http://web.sba.gov/sbtn/sbat/index.cfm?Tool=4, can help you determine if you're ready to be your own boss. Another feature, SBA Direct at http://www.sba.gov/sba-direct will bring the targeted resources you need to start, operate and grow your small business.
At Work Reimagined, a person can not only connect with peers, but also can receive coaching and techniques for launching a business. If you have the experience and want to go out on your own, this is a good place to start to see if you have what it takes, or find out how to get what it takes.
Even if you are among the fortunate who survived the recession and still have gainful employment, the age at which you can expect to retire is increasing significantly. A June 12, 2012, article in U.S. News by David Francis called "How High Will the Retirement Age Go?" reports that it will depend on individual circumstances. According to Francis, quoting Robert Benmosche, chairman of American International Group, "Retirement ages will have to move to 70, 80 years old. That would make pensions, medical services more affordable. They will keep people working longer and will take that burden off of the youth."
That shouldn't be a surprise. When Social Security was implemented in 1935, the age of 65 was chosen as the "retirement age." Actuarial studies at the time showed that using age 65 produced a manageable system that could easily be made self-sustaining with only modest levels of payroll taxation.
With the gains in medical treatment and lifestyles today, many who have reached the "ripe old age of 65" are in better health than their predecessors. Working another decade is not an unthinkable circumstance. According to the Social Security Administration's most recent Actuarial Life Table, of 200,000 men and women age 65 who were born in 1947, 160,000 are alive today with an expectancy for men to live another 17 years on average and women to live 20 years more.
Changes in lifestyles, work environments, life expectancy and health combine to create a senior population in much better position to continue working beyond traditional retirement age. Being a senior does not have to be an obstacle to a satisfying job or career. If you are a senior and looking for work, interested in finding a challenging career change or exploring options to start your own business, the AARP websites are excellent places to begin your research.
