| Copyright (c) 2009 Lin Schreiber | | | | work, and me who had 20 years of solid work |
| Okay. You're not as young as you used to be. | | | | experience to bring to the table, I'd hire me in a |
| The job market is shrinking along with your 401k. | | | | heart beat. I was offered - and turned down - |
| You need to keep working. | | | | the internship. |
| If you've been downsized (or if you know deep in | | | | Okay, you say. That was in your 40s; being in |
| your soul that you just can't keep doing what | | | | your 50s or 60s is different. Not so. My |
| you're doing), does the prospect of looking for a | | | | 63-year-old client Darlene lost her job when the |
| job make you want to run screaming from the | | | | major financial institution she worked for closed |
| room? Is one of your major concerns your age? | | | | down her entire division, and with it her lucrative |
| Don't buy into the conventional wisdom that | | | | sales job. Instead of panicking, she took some |
| you're "over the hill", over qualified, and | | | | much-needed R&R for a few months. When she |
| unemployable. I guarantee you, if your age is a | | | | was recharged, she jumped into her job search |
| problem for you, it will be a problem for any | | | | with much gusto, and gave not one thought to |
| prospective employer. | | | | her age. She set up four job interviews in two |
| In my early 40s, I wanted to break into local | | | | weeks, received two job offers, and is a valued |
| television production in a major market city. I did | | | | member of her new sales team. |
| my round of interviewing for an internship. | | | | It's all about what YOU believe, and how that |
| Honestly, it never occurred to me that my age | | | | projects to others. If you're worried about your |
| would be a barrier. I was floored when a 22-year | | | | age, you'll reek of a lack of confidence. If you |
| old male production assistant at the FOX station | | | | believe in your abilities, experience, resources, and |
| asked me if I wasn't "a little long in the tooth" to | | | | wisdom, you'll convey utter confidence. Who |
| be changing careers. | | | | would you rather hire? |
| I looked him square in the eye, and told him that | | | | And remember, there's no such thing as being |
| I'd been on his side of the desk, and if I had my | | | | "over the hill". When you reach the top of each hill, |
| choice between hiring a 20-something more | | | | what's waiting for you is your next great |
| interested in her Saturday night date than the | | | | adventure! |