Part of Upcycling your skills is recognizing the information you need and finding the right source to access it from. This week I had a great conversation with Lydia Novak, the Business & Financial Services Career Advisor at George Brown College’s Career Centre, about career realities for mature workers. I have spoken with Lydia in the past and came away impressed by her realistic market knowledge and insights into the Toronto job market. Her insights come from ongoing contacts in Toronto’s downtown business hub as she works to assist a variety of George Brown students. Lydia is very pleasant to deal with, even when besieged with an extensive portfolio of responsibilities, but her time is valuable so I strive to keep our discussions focused. With that in mind I asked her a series of questions on the minds of mature/older job seekers.
Does ageism exist?
In some industries, such as Health Sciences, due to the sometimes very real physical demands, there may be barriers. In general the best way to overcome ageism is through effective networking so you are speaking to people who know you and your capabilities.
Lydia’s answer was a great Segway into my second question.
Networking has been the accepted way to find good employment for a number of years, is that still true as we enter 2016 for mature workers?
Yes, even more so now, you need to network to get work; today that includes focused Social Media networking through primarily a well set up LinkedIn profile, now a mandatory item for job seekers. Just remember when you do secure networking meetings you must respect the person you are meeting intentions and not turn it into a request for a job; treat any network meeting purely as a way to learn about an industry or a job function.
Potential employers silently question the length of time an older worker will be with an organization. How should a person handle that issue? Depends on the situation. If you are a career changer , and have the drive for the long haul, be clear in your meetings and correspondence that you have chosen a new path with the desire and drive to pursue the new career going forward. If you are already in the field than be ready to discuss your strengths and show why you are looking for a new opportunity to use your skills going forward.
What process should an older worker follow to secure a good job in today’s economy? Networking remains the primary answer. If a career changer; go to industry events or try volunteering to make new connections, connect as much as you can with those working in the industry. If you are staying in the same industry; again, make sure you are using LinkedIn to highlight your experience and skills plus connect with others in the industry. Beyond that, she suggested investigating government supported programs that work with job hunters to create resumes and provide career search support if you do not have the support else where.
What should an older/mature job seeker do that is different from a Millennial or Gen X job seeker?
There is power in personal experience and self- knowledge; embrace the strength you have in knowing who you are and what you can do.
Lydia’s next meeting was about to start so when discussing anything else to add we planned a further meeting for next week. She did draw my attention to two great networking connections that I will be following up with in my own efforts to reach out into the business community.
I am always glad to speak with Lydia and I appreciated the opportunity to speak with her about relevant issues an “Upcycled Self” job hunter may encounter.
Upcycled Self 