Sunday, Nov. 08, 2009

WorkWise: Careers gain significance at 60

Psychologists have long maintained that 60 is a watershed year. Daniel Levinson, for example, wrote in “The Season’s of a Man’s Life” in 1978 that men entering their 60s become concerned about their legacy. Today’s 60s might well be reshaping this trend, as men and women blend skills they’ve long been using with meaningful experiences from earlier in their lives.

DEVELOPMENT

Lynne Velling has been bridging with her past by teaching English as a Second Language in the Adult Schools of the El Monte Union High School District, El Monte, Calif., part time, for more than eight years. “I probably have taught about 1,500 non-native speakers easily by now,” she says, “sometimes from ten or more countries at once” -- many multilingual (up to five languages). Students in the three- to four-hour classes are largely Hispanic and Asian.

The granddaughter of immigrants, Velling relies on her drama, English and business background, and training in counseling and speech coaching to teach. She’s also studying for an M.A. in Teaching English as a Second Language, which she anticipates receiving this summer from California State University, Los Angeles.

At a time when many peers are slowing down, she’s increasing her career options. An M.A. will open the door to teaching at community colleges and universities. It might also lead to curriculum development in education or business.

Opening these doors wasn’t going to be inexpensive; so Velling decided to apply for grants. Just days after her 60th birthday, she learned that the American Association of University Women was awarding her a Career Development Grant for 2009 to 2010. “It’s especially for women expanding their potential,” she says.

MARKETSHIFT

Another 60-year-old was in a very different spot in his career. Mike Jenkins, in fact, was neither job hunting nor increasing his options. He was ensconced at Eyethink Inc., a graphic and design firm in Powell, Ohio. Prior to that, he’d worked in a PR and direct marketing firm after quick-service restaurant chains and a Detroit-area hospital. However, his daughter’s study in Spain reminded him of his Navy years there. He’d enjoyed culture and the arts, which he now says “are what brighten and make lives more interesting.”

A friend suggested he apply for an opening at his alma mater. Jenkins competed successfully against 145 other applicants for Communications director at the College of Arts and Letters in East Lansing’s Michigan State University. His work impacts 31 departments and niche academic programs, many related to the arts and culture. A family member teased him about contacting the “Guinness World Records” with a headline of “60-year-old man gets job in Michigan!”

The new industry uses his skills, with a challenge: “You can’t waste money or go overboard while being very creative,” Jenkins points out. He loves how quickly the minds of his colleagues work and how their creativity makes his work better. He also enjoys being the bridge to business skills.

Jenkins doesn’t believe that he could have made a similar change in any other industry. “Maybe education is one of the few places where age and experience are seen as pluses,” he says. “I've been told that I was hired because I can ‘do it all,’ whereas younger candidates only had done some of the position's job duties.”

Jenkins has been watching peers enter fields totally unrelated to what they’ve been doing, such as the food researcher who became a life coach. Velling wants to remain in her field, which needs people badly, unlike other fields, except, possibly, nursing. In both cases, it’s clear that wise choices tailored to individuals at 60 are reshaping careers.

Dr. Mildred Culp welcomes your questions at culp@workwise.net. Copyright 2009 Passage Media.