Gene Nokes
"Tips from the Career Coach"
Gene Nokes is a Career Coach and Business Development executive with a 3o year record of achievement in high-tech markets. Gene has also ministered to the unemployed and underemployed a St. Raymond's Catholic Church, in Dublin, CA since 1995. His specialty is coaching individuals in the high-tech industries of Northern California. He is also very interested in assisting mature workers find meaningful and rewarding work. He offers private career coaching as a lay minister to Christian Churches throughout Northern California.
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Don’t Buy into Age Myths
January 02, 2012 by Gene Nokes
I recently had the pleasure of attending a job search lecture from Dick Bolles, the author of “What Color is Your Parachute – 2011” at a local Northern California Church. He also was recently interviewed on AOL Jobs, see http://www.amazon.com/Learned-Optimism-Change-Your-Mind/dp/0671019112 Many people that have had to look for a job over the past 30+ years remember “What Color is Your Parachute” as a very significant book that basically taught us all about job searches. What most people don’t know is that Dick updates his book every year to keep it current with the times. And believe me, he keeps up with the times far better than most of us.
Dick Bolles’ top three tips for job seekers over 50 are:
- You must decide what work you are passionate about doing, either as a volunteer or as a consultant or full-time worker. Just "settling for" a job and then marking time until you die is foolish. You may live a lot longer and stay a lot healthier than you think. Read 'Learned Optimism' by Martin Seligman. Think of this time in your life as "starting over" or as a second chance to live a meaningful life.
- You must keep your brain tremendously active, feed your curiosity daily, and push the horizons of your mind further and further out. Browse a new subject on the Internet every day, read voraciously in newspapers such as The New York Times, listen to informative radio (especially NPR), and watch educational programs on TV, particularly on PBS.
- When it's time to go job hunting, do not buy into such myths as "employers don't hire someone my age." There is no such thing as "employers." Every employer is different, and broadly speaking, they divide (for your purposed) into two families or groups -- those who do not want to hire someone your age and those who do because they value your wisdom and experience. Even if the first "family" is larger in numbers, keep going until you find the second. They are most likely to be small employers, those with 50 employees or fewer.
For all of you naysayers out there that think, what does Dick know about seeking meaningful work for people over 50? Dick is 83 years, thank you very much. He is making a very nice living following his passion – and he is helping job seekers in very meaningful ways.
It is not easy to discover your passion. Howard C., one of my clients that recently landed a new job, attended one of Dick’s week long sessions in 2009. Howard says that the process takes about two years of discernment. The discovery process may also not be expedient, if you need to make ends meet. Dick would be the first to tell you that you that you should take a job that you can do as a practical matter. But “just settling” for a job and marking time is a big mistake. Start the process of discovery. Maybe “passion” is the wrong word for you, maybe “interest” or “talent” are better words.
When I was young I wanted to be an Architect. I also wanted to be a baseball player. I tried to do both; I took classes on designing and drafting. I played baseball every chance I got. I still love baseball and architecture. I have built two houses and I remodel my current home, without mercy. I was once an IT Manager for a company that built kit homes and sold to builders. I had the drafting team modify a standard plan and I had a friend build the house in Manassas, VA. I lived there until moving to California in 1979. I also played softball on the company baseball team.
Life changes us. We discover new passions as we go through life. Trying to determine what to do with the rest of your life is not only for the young when trying to determine their college major. There is no logical reason for anyone to simply try to hang on and wait out their time on this earth.
I love Dick’s concept that ageism is a myth, because he is right. There are employers that need your skill and experience and others that don’t. It is as simple as that. Smaller companies and start ups need experienced help; because in those types of companies they need people that are multi-talented - translate that as experienced. Another fact is that most new jobs are created by small businesses. Another fact is that the hiring manager is easy to identify in a small company.
The message should be coming through loud and clear. You are worth it. Don’t sell yourself short. As one of my colleagues, Pat Bitz, relates that tree ripened fruit always tastes the best and is available at the end of the season. You are worth more at the end of your career than when you first began.
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