5 Jobs Where Age is an Advantage
Without further ado, start getting retrained:
1. Health care professional
Why age is an advantage: Though young people in the medical field are more than capable of providing exceptional medical care, some people simply don’t feel comfortable having someone their daughter’s age in charge of their life. Older health-care professionals exude good judgment and breadth of experience; people believe you are less likely to be wrong or make a mistake.
2. Financial advisor
Why age is an advantage: Older workers hold a lot of credibility with stakeholders. There’s a natural assumption that someone older knows what he or she is talking about, which is important when talking about finances. People will believe they can trust your opinion because they come from having been “been there, done that.”
3. Career counselor
Why age is an advantage: It’s doubtful a college graduate is going to feel comfortable getting career advice from someone who graduated the year before her. People want career advice from people who actually have depth in the work force.
4. Brand manager
Why age is an advantage: Older workers usually have a clear commitment to company goals, which means they believe in what the company is selling.
5. Consultant
Why age is an advantage: The good thing about being a consultant is that you can consult on almost anything. As someone older, you probably have more than one area of expertise; consult on them all! Your knowledge will make clients believe you will commit fewer errors, identify the best opportunities and find the clearest path to results.
Hat tip to MSN and CareerBuilder.com.
Oh, and four more reasons to hire older workers.
April 15th, 2009 at 11:20 am
Insight is always a good thing.
April 16th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Mmm… for me, this topic is a yes and no.
Having friends (boomer-age) who are in health care I know that there is a shortage of younger folks entering the field(s). It has improved a bit because of the incentives of sign-on bonus, parking space, and generous perks. The boomers haven’t aged out in this area because of this – however, if one wants to change jobs, they may not be as successful in a market where there are young folks entering the field or returning to the field.
I worked with a career coach and a friend of mine recently started a coaching service. These are good start-up jobs for working at home – especially if you have a large network and leads.
I’ve found that there are no real guidelines anymore. Each job posting/openings, interview process, and hiring procedures are different. In today’s market, it is all a toss of the dice unless you are well qualified with a “something” they want to the table.
In closing, I say this kindly and respectfully, the “advice folks” are just in business these days. We learn best from our experience, our networking and best from those who love us best.
Financial consultants are often young to mid-age. Some of this positions requires long hours, networking and lots of contacts. It is true, that boomers can go do well providing they can bring business to the table. You need to be on top of your game. This holds true for the younger and mid-age.