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2Young2Retire In the News
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For Newsday.com
February 10, 2002 LEADING-EDGE baby boomers, those now in their 50s, may not be all that enthusiastic about the fact that the "R-word"-- retirement -- is now showing up on their radar screens. But who can help thinking of that next phase, what with all the layoffs and buyouts, constant reminders of the lack of security in our work lives?
Retirement just doesn't mean the same thing for boomers that it did for previous generations. Research for AARP, formerly known as the American Association of Retired Persons, shows that more than eight of 10 boomers plan to work after their formal retirement age -- for a multitude of reasons.
So, how should you position yourself for this next phase -- the period leading up to and following retirement, especially if the layoff hounds are barking at your door? After a good, frank chat with a financial adviser, you might want to look at balancing the richness of your experience with your own interests.
Fast-forward 10 years. Do you see yourself driving around in a convertible under the Tucson sun? Start researching Tucson and Arizona now -- begin checking employment web sites for opportunities there. Do you see yourself running your own shop -- doing catering, freelance marketing, landscaping? Start talking to people in those professions now and join their associations. Do you see yourself teaching? What with this country facing a teacher shortage as your fellow boomers retire from classrooms, what better time to start thinking about getting in, assuming that you'd like to try it?
Bill Heather sees his share of 50-somethings going through career angst. He heads up the Melville office of Right Management Consultants, a career management and outplacement firm. The key, he says, is to approach your next endeavor with zest, and communicating that zest to potential employers. In his experience, the mature worker who comes across as flat and defeated has a much harder time getting re-employed after a layoff. (This is, of course, true for any job hunter, but may be particularly applicable to the seasoned set.)
What's more, he says, mature workers may want to shy away from a few industries. "Stay away from MTV," he said, with a laugh. But publishing, music, fashion and investment banking do tend to be youth-oriented. Apart from those areas, he says he's seen plenty of older people getting "mainstream jobs." Don't overlook nonprofits and government or semi-government agencies.
"Within every industry there are
employers who recognize the value that older workers bring," says Andrea Wooten,
president of Employment Works, an employment service for mature and disadvantaged workers
based in Arlington, Va. That group has given its Prime Time awards to recognize companies
that have shown a commitment to hiring and retaining older workers.
(See www.employmentworks.org)
One of the winners was CVS, headquartered in Woonsocket, R.I. Ten years ago, the drugstore chain realized that less than 7 percent of its work force was over 55, so it took action to increase that to more than 15 percent today, says Steve Wing, its director of government programs. Seasoned workers hold all kinds of positions -- pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, managers, drivers and warehouse workers. "They have the work ethic and experience we're looking for,ä Wing says. What's more, the company is working to educate younger managers who work with older ones. For instance, it's probably unwise, one learned, to refer to an older colleague as "Pop."
Two other resources: the web site www.2young2retire.com, run by Howard and Marika Stone, a Weehawken, N.J., couple who offer an alternative to the "rest and play" image of retirement. And in New York, AARP runs Job Hub, a group of volunteers who, working with other agencies, help match older workers with employers who are reaching out to them.
(Recruiters and job hunters can call 212-407-3728.) AARP has also an award for employers that have older-worker-friendly policies, among them Avis Rent a Car, Hyatt Hotels and Prudential Insurance. (Employers interested in this year's award can check out www.aarp.org/bestcompanies)
Another way to find career opportunities is simply to start thinking strategically, says Anita Lands, a Manhattan career counselor who teaches a class for other counselors -- "Working with Mid-Life Adults"-- at New York University's School of Continuing and Professional Studies.
Ask yourself which companies are targeting their products to the mature market. Find out by paying attention to the advertisers in publications such as "Modern Maturity," "Worth," "My Generation" and "Kiplinger's," she says. If those firms are smart, they'll have a predisposition to hiring those who can help them better understand their customers, and that translates into opportunities for you.
Copyright © 2002, Newsday, Inc.
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