When Experience Counts
Older workers are finding a welcome in the job market
Rising temps. An increasingly attractive option for mature workers is flexible staffing, or "temp work," which could help them maximize their experience and skills without having to commit to long hours in the office. "Companies expect a flexible staffer to hit the ground running," says Genia Spencer of Randstad. "Experienced and mature workers come most equipped to meet these objectives." Temp positions can range in responsibility from basic phone and clerical work to managing projects. And given the predicted shortage of labor, experienced workers could have their choice of positions.
Many experienced workers are aware of this advantage. Maureen McGovern worked in investment banking on Wall Street for decades before deciding to move to her current home in Austin. Now she works as an elementary school substitute teacher and takes temporary jobs working in offices. "The nice part of being older is that you can pick and choose," she says. "Even though my chronological age is 57, I feel like I'm 30."
In fact, some companies are developing employment options intended to cater to the lifestyle choices of mature workers. Home Depot offers a snowbird program that lets employees work at a store in their hometown and then fill a similar position at another store if they travel south for the winter. Borders and CVS offer similar positions. AARP each year compiles a list of the "Best Employers for Workers Over 50" (visible after clicking on "Alternative Work Arrangements" at aarp.org/money/careers/flexiblework). The organization also has a featured-employer program, in which it has partnered with more than 20 employers to place mature workers in jobs ( aarp.org/careers).
Career advisers recommend that mature workers emphasize actual skills and abilities in resumes and interviews, instead of job titles or years of experience. And, like all job searchers, mature workers are advised to be familiar with the particular goals and methods of the companies to which they are applying.
The increasing power of the aging baby boom generation on the workforce hasn't yet removed all barriers. Age discrimination still has its effects. Heitmann, who walks miles to work every day and swims on weekends, believes she was denied some jobs because of her age. "I never experienced it in the travel industry, because people knew me," she says. "But once I left that [industry], it was eye-opening." She tried "watering down" her resume but found that didn't work. Eventually, she got her job with a temp agency, where she now sometimes helps place other mature workers in positions. "Once you've been in a situation, it helps you put a better spin on things," she says.
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