| Mature age unemployment has been an issue in | | | | adopted as a strategy in your marketing campaign, up |
| Australia and throughout many countries in the world | | | | to and including the job interview - (a small note here - |
| for in excess of fifteen years. Despite government | | | | just be careful however that you do not push too |
| rhetoric about addressing this issue the truth is that | | | | strongly, as you risk being viewed as being either |
| mature age unemployment is still on the increase. The | | | | patronising or a potential troublemaker). |
| purpose of my article is to get you mature aged | | | | At the end of the interview it is good to gently |
| jobseekers either wanting to return to the workplace | | | | reinforce your main message, especially when you are |
| or wanting to increase the hours you work, even in | | | | asked questions like, "Is there anything more you want |
| these difficult times, to become pro-active and use | | | | to say or ask?" Here are some examples to use |
| your main attribute, your wisdom, in educating | | | | within your overall main message; |
| employers as to the benefits in employing a mature | | | | - I find myself to be much more flexible now than I |
| aged person. | | | | ever was. I think maturity and being more relaxed |
| In 2007, The Australian newspaper surveyed 2,000 | | | | about things has helped me greatly in this facet of my |
| Australians about their attitudes to employment. For | | | | work |
| those in the 40 plus age bracket, the results were grim: | | | | - I am old enough and smart enough to realise the |
| 82% of those surveyed believed that finding | | | | importance in understanding and taking on a |
| employment after the age of 50 is near impossible, | | | | company's philosophy and how this impacts team |
| and 51% believed that it was near impossible to get a | | | | work |
| job after 45. What then does the future hold for the | | | | - Mature aged workers are often the most |
| workforce when, as of 2007, the age of the average | | | | enthusiastic and passionate workers as they usually |
| Australian worker is 39? | | | | care more about the product or service they are |
| The issue of mature age unemployment is not a new | | | | delivering |
| one but, in the current climate of financial uncertainty, it | | | | - Mature aged workers are amongst the hardest and |
| is assuming more critical importance. Many people now | | | | most reliable of workers as they have less distractions |
| have to rethink retirement and prepare themselves for | | | | and issues taking place in their personal lives than |
| perhaps another decade in the workforce. What must | | | | younger people |
| be done? Well my belief is that we must use what is | | | | - Like people of any age there are mature aged job |
| our greatest asset as middle age years start to roll on | | | | seekers who embrace the new technology and those |
| and that is 'our wisdom'. Following, are three simple | | | | who are not interested. I love new technology, finding it |
| steps that you, as a mature aged job seeker can take | | | | so exciting |
| that will more readily engage employers and bring | | | | - Mature aged workers can be great mentors to |
| about a 'wisdom revolution'. | | | | younger people and can help in bringing about a |
| Step 1: Challenge Misperceptions | | | | greater depth and enrich the workplace significantly |
| First, let's consider why it is that such a large proportion | | | | These responses help to readily address the |
| of the population, regardless of age, continues to hold | | | | misperceptions outlined in Step 1. Added to this, it is |
| negative perceptions about what older workers have | | | | interesting to talk about how mature aged workers, |
| to offer. What are the issues for employers? What it | | | | working alongside younger workers bring a better |
| is that gets in the way of them employing mature | | | | balance. In my long experience in the workplace, |
| aged job seekers? I put these questions to a number | | | | working both in large office environments and in small |
| of employers I have worked with and, unfortunately, | | | | offices, I have found that the presence of mature |
| their responses were all too predictable: | | | | aged workers reduces the likelihood of workplace |
| - mature aged people are more set in their ways | | | | cliques and in fact promotes potentially a better work |
| - they are more difficult to train in the company's way | | | | ethic and less stressful, friendlier environment. |
| of doing things | | | | Step 3: Joining the Wisdom Revolution |
| - they do not bring the same level of enthusiasm and | | | | So now is the time for action and become a member |
| freshness that a younger person brings | | | | of the wisdom revolution. To be a member you must |
| - mature aged workers will not be around long enough | | | | be pro-active. Start to take control now by doing the |
| to build a career in the company | | | | following: |
| - mature aged have an unwillingness to deal | | | | - Throw out the negative thought patterns |
| effectively with technological changes. | | | | - Forget what has happened with your job seeking to |
| I find it disappointing that this sort of mindset still | | | | date and focus on today as the first day to an exciting |
| persists, despite there being so much information | | | | marketing campaign designed to get you the job you |
| around that refutes every one of these | | | | want |
| misperceptions. | | | | - Write down your key strengths and attributes that |
| It is therefore up to you, as a mature aged job seeker, | | | | will both see you through and help in forming the main |
| to right this wrong, to intimately understand and | | | | message you want to give employers |
| challenge these misperceptions, positively confront | | | | - Consider and also write down examples of your |
| employers and in the process educate them. | | | | own work experience that you could use to combat |
| Step 2: Identify the Positives | | | | the negative perceptions identified above |
| In my employment training workshops I focus on job | | | | - Smile and quietly rejoice in your wisdom and the fact |
| seekers becoming marketers, ensuring they only deal | | | | that nothing will deter you from your goal |
| in positives, the benefits they offer employers. As a | | | | In finishing I would like to offer the following quote from |
| mature aged job seeker that means you must be | | | | T.L Nash, "Look ahead of you, never behind. Have faith |
| pro-active in positively addressing the myths or | | | | in yourself. If you do, you will be amazed at what you |
| misconceptions that employers have. This needs to be | | | | can accomplish". |