WorkWise Q&A: Dependability, Reinvention

By Mildred L. Culp
culp@workwise.net

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DEPENDABILITY

Q: Dear Dr. Culp, I’m seeking a clerical job, either administrative assistant or receptionist. Would you please suggest companies that you know of that may be interested in an older, experienced person to do the job? I work well with people. I’m friendly and dependable, and I’d like to find something soon. At the Starting Gate

A: Dear At, Take your job hunt into your own hands.

WorkWise: Careers gain significance at 60

Analyze your tool kit. Which personality trait is the most marketable one? Dependability is always in short supply. Short supply means likely demand. While companies involved in labor expect employees to be dependable, look for companies in other industries where you’ll really stand out.

Here’s your Plan A: Small companies, those with fewer than 20 employees, would be your best first stop, because they run extremely lean and have a chronic need for dependable employees.

If that fails, shift to Plan B: Research companies whose products and/or services appeal to older people.

If you’re satisfied that Plan A and Plan B aren’t working, shift to Plan C: Find companies with older workers. Research them on the Web or drop by as the day starts or ends, or during the lunch hour. mlc

REINVENTION

Q: Dear Dr. Culp: I'm middle-aged, with a masters degree in Business/Management. Eighteen months ago I was laid off after more than 20 years in banking and I can't find a job. I’ve been seriously thinking of going back to school and getting some type of training in the medical field, but what type of training? There are a lot of job ads for therapists, medical coding, etc. Can you help me decide if this is a good area to pursue and which specialty will take the least amount of time for best results? Directed

A: Dear Directed, Health care has a future, in part because of our aging population.

Go to the library (or use a search engine) to research careers in health care. Gauge your reaction to specific jobs when you read about them. Do some invigorate you? Do others depress you? Do others not do much for you?

Once you find a cluster of occupations that pique your interest, research projected openings in the library or online. Finally, read your local newspaper for trends in employment where you live. Investigate schools for specifics about training. Interview their careers office to find out how well their graduates are doing in the occupations of interest to you. mlc