Job Search for older adult
Save as FavoriteDuring the summer I was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer; Merkel Cell. Since that time I have begun radiation therapy and chemo therapy.
Now I find myself out of a job. I just turned 60 and I can't get an interview. I have so much to offer and an extensive executive background in a thriving city. My age and my cancer stifle any conversation from the start.
My finances are nearly depleted and I'm not sure where to turn.
Any suggestions?
6 Comments
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Margot Larson on Sep 24, 2012
Career Coach Comment:
Steve –
The job search process, at our age, can be so frustrating. I can probably provide you with several good ideas; I need to know more about your skill set and your profession over the past few years.
Your best approach is to access the job search through the side door rather than responding to ads and job postings. You will need to network your way into the job. You will want to develop your networking skills in order to expand your network and build relationships. So fill me in, so I can provide specific ideas to you.
In the meantime, I would advise you not to share your current diagnosis with a potential employer or interviewer. I know it’s foremost on your mind, and part of your reality. However, you have no way of knowing whether you will encounter empathy or a fear that you are a poor risk to their company. You don’t know what their previous experience has been with illness and other employees.
To address your more urgent need of earning some money, I would encourage you to sign up with a few temporary services so you can have access to part time and temporary assignments. Depending on your profession, there may also be contracting firms where you could register. When I was a recruiter, I noted that several companies brought individuals in as contractors or temporary employees and later, after seeing the performance first hand, offered them positions with their company.
Looking forward to learning more about your career, so I can advise you in greater detail.
Margot
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Anonymous on Sep 24, 2012
How may I send you my information?
Steve
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Sarah Goodell on Sep 26, 2012
Cancer and Careers Staff Comment:
Hi Steve,
You can write to Margot at cancerandcareers@cew.org and we will pass the information on to her directly.
Best,
Sarah, Cancer and Careers Program Coordinator
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Margot Larson on Sep 27, 2012
Career Coach Comment:
Steve -
Now that I have a better idea of your professional background, here’s what I recommend.
Identify a few contracting firms who specialize in IT particularly in project management. A few years back, I worked with such a firm and there was a great demand for Project Managers. Do you have the certification? There were also several positions that were virtual, where you could work from home.
Be sure to check out the Big 6 firms. You could work as a contractor for one of their accounts. Also, network with the smaller consulting firms close to your home where you might be able to get a long term assignment. Today we find many seasoned experts working on a consulting basis. The positive side of that is that you usually make a high hourly rate and therefore don’t have to work as many hours to meet your financial needs. The downside is that there isn’t always a constant stream of work and you have to carry your own health care.
You have an impressive background. Register with senior job banks and with interim executives sites where the focus will be on your expertise rather than your age. Google the following keywords to identify sites: interim executives, senior job bank, project management, IT Consulting firms, Management Consulting, IT contractors. Visit websites that focus on those types of jobs and instead of applying to the company, find someone who can give you an introduction to an individual in that company.
Check to find out whether there are conferences coming to your area, where company leaders might be attending. It would make it easier to “run into” those decision makers and take the first steps to developing a relationship.
Since you also have Business Development skills, perhaps you should volunteer some hours to help your local Business Association, Chamber of Commerce, Professional Association of Project Managers or IT Professionals where you would have visibility in the business community.
Give this a try and see what comes of it. I hope these ideas help.
Margot
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Bud Bilanich on Sep 28, 2012
Career Coach Comment:
Steve:
I’m sorry to hear that you’re having both health and employment problems. However there is a bright side. You have a lot going for you – extensive executive experience and a thriving city.
There are opportunities out there, you just need to uncover them.Here’s what I suggest…
• Avoid the job boards. Looking for a job through them is a disheartening experience. Don’t waste your time sending your resume out into the void. Instead, take the personal route. Cultivate relationships that can help you identify opportunities.
• Tap into your network. Speak to all of the people with whom you’ve developed relationships over the years. Let these people know you are looking for a new opportunity. Focus on your wealth of experience and your accomplishments and how they demonstrate that you can make a significant contribution in a new organization. Be proactive – come at this from the perspective that a company would be lucky to get someone with your level of experience and demonstrated accomplishments.
• Downplay your age and illness. Present yourself as a “seasoned pro who has a lot to offer,” not as an “older guy looking for a job.” You know the language of your industry. Pepper your conversation and resume with the buzz words that demonstrate you know what you’re talking about.
• Don’t bring up your illness unless you have to. It may never come up until you receive an offer. If your condition is obvious because of the chemo, present it in a matter of fact way. Say something like, “I’m battling cancer, but the prognosis is good. This illness has made me realize that I still have a lot to give.”In short, my best advice is to present yourself not as a victim of age and illness but as someone who has a lot to offer. Be proactive in your job search. Wear your disease with pride. Looking for a job while undergoing radiation and chemo demonstrates a resilience and inner resolve that define you as a battler. Use this to your advantage.
Bud Bilanich
The Common Sense Guy
Denver, Colorado USA -
Sarah Goodell on Sep 28, 2012
Cancer and Careers Staff Comment:
Hi Steve,
I wanted to follow-up on this great advice from Margot and Bud with a little more information on deciding whether or not to disclose your diagnosis to potential employers. This is a very personal decision and there are a number of factors that may impact whether you share this information or not. They include your personal privacy preferences, treatment side effects that may impact your work and the need for reasonable accommodations. The decision to disclose is a bit more tricky when looking for work, because you don’t know what the environment is like and how people will respond. In either scenario, the only time you have to disclose something (though not necessarily the specifics of your cancer diagnosis) is if your employer is bound by the Americans with Disabilities Act and you want to request a reasonable accommodation. For more information on the ADA and reasonable accommodations, check out our legal and financial section here http://www.cancerandcareers.org/en/at-work/Legal-and-Financial and we always recommend speaking with a legal professional before disclosing, to find one visit http://www.nclsn.org/.
I hope this is helpful, please let us know if you have any other questions!
Best,
Sarah, Cancer and Careers Program Coordinator
