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My brother, now retired, lost his executive position in 2013, as a Customer Service Director at age 60. He had been with the same employer for 24 years and was not familiar with the complexity and difficulty of finding a job in the 21st Century.
He also read a lot of stories in the news about how the job market was back to normal and there were lots of openings for skills people who wanted to work. He was a strong Obama supporter and told everyone who would listen that the unemployment rate was dropping and close to boom time levels. Right after the layoff he was sure he could find a new high paying career job in a month or less due to the now booming economy.
Did he get an education when he started looking for work!! He hit his head against the wall for almost two years before giving up and retiring. He worked his network- which ended up being worthless and talked to many experts in job hunting, did months of outplacement, did mock interviews, career counseling and had his resume written and revised by countless experts. He was also quite flexible about the type of job he would have accepted. He lived in a community with a strong economy, Minneapolis, and was full of health, vigor and self confidence. All is friends and relatives could not believe he could not find a job.
So... if that would have happened to you in your career field at age 60, do you think you could find another full time job in your old career field at a similar salary to your last job? Do you think my brothers experience not being able to find a job after being laid off at age sixty is common or unusual?
Last edited by Chip Morton; 08-14-2015 at 03:31 PM..
Yes I could tomorrow if I wanted, I've had departments beg me to work for them. But I'm 64 and not about to be in law enforcement again EVER. 35 years was enough. I don't want any job. I want to go fishing.
The day they laid him off he turned down the severance pay offer because he was too proud and told them he would call his contacts and be working in days. I hope you guys are not as naïve.
In no way would I qualify for my old position. I retired from a huge corporation in 1991 as a mainframe computer systems supervisor. The results would be akin to a gorilla in a china shop. Technology has far surpassed my current knowledge of the field.
I think in a lot of cases companies recognizes the value of senior older employees but it is hard to transfer your skills to a new company. Part of your value is knowing the history of your employer, at a new job you do not have this skill. In addition it could take some time to train you in the companies policies. Thus a new employer will want someone that they can count on to be around for a few years.
I am working in one of my former fields as a consultant, making twice per hour what I made then. I am not able to work more than 10–15 hours a week at this time, so I'm not making what I did at my old (not so high) salary. I wouldn't mind adding on a few hours but I feel a bit to lazy to pursue potential new clients. Just about anyone who formerly had a skilled job can get a website and business card together and hustle work as a consultant. My BIL makes huge bucks as one. It depends on motivation.
I think in a lot of cases companies recognizes the value of senior older employees but it is hard to transfer your skills to a new company. Part of your value is knowing the history of your employer, at a new job you do not have this skill. In addition it could take some time to train you in the companies policies. Thus a new employer will want someone that they can count on to be around for a few years.
A new company may figure the older worker will be facing health issues sooner or later, and needing time off for that, and may not want to take that risk. Plus of course the salary expectations of the older worker, when a young rookie can come in with all her techie knowledge for much less $ and willingness to work OT.
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