Your Expertise is Valuable!
6 actions that set older employees up for success…
by Pamelagrace Beatty
For those of us in the Baby Boomer cohort, there is the possibility that we are facing ageism. By that I mean that we’re getting up there in our years and it’s possible that hiring managers might be looking for younger people to do the work. This is because many organizations have biases and stereotypes about older workers. After working in Human Resources in multiple companies for over 30 years, here are six aspects to consider if you are over 50 and still working or are interested in working. By putting these behaviors in place, you will have an advantage in the workplace.
- 1. Respect younger managers.
Be willing to work for a manager who is younger than you are. It can be difficult to have your boss be someone who is 25 years younger than you and has even less experience than you have in the field. I have found however that some of my younger managers have been quite intelligent, aware, and ethical in their practices. Granted, some were not, and in those cases I gave gentle coaching. But you find good and bad managers at ANY age. With the younger managers I thought were really good, I not only sought their opinions on issues and projects I also gave positive feedback on what I thought they were doing well. Basically, this means you should give them the same respect you’d give a senior manager.
- Add style to your look.
Make an effort to dress up to date and maybe even with a little style. Of course, be appropriate in your styling if you are much older (in my opinion) avoid leggings, skinny jeans and short skirts. But do mix in with the environment of the younger people. This is a delicate operation. Do wear clothes that are appropriate for you but yet fit into the culture in which you are working. Make sure they are flattering to you. Even if the work environment is very casual, this would not be the time for you to simply wear your sloppy jeans or gardening clothes to work. I confess, having an artistic nature, that I have often looked a little different from the folks that I worked with. However, my look has been appreciated in the places where I’ve worked. I have worked in many different environments because I’m a contractor and consultant and go from company to company. I dress up or down accordingly but always with an individualistic flair. My last assignment was in a theater and I actually had great fun working with the young creative people there. They especially liked it when I dyed my hair pink or blue. I’m not recommending that in general, but it does depend on where you’re working.
- 3. Be approachable.
Be friendly. Smile, introduce yourself if you are new. Show an interest in your colleagues. Find out what they do. People love to talk about their work. Invite a colleague out to lunch, especially if you are in a new location and don’t know where to go. Say good morning and when you’re walking around, poke your head in and greet your colleagues. The most important thing is to show an interest in the people you are working with.
- 4. Give 110%.
Do more than is asked for. You might have to be somewhat careful with this and avoid spending too much time doing more than what they actually want or will use. In my last work assignment, I created a 70-page hiring manual for the managers there because none had gone to interviewing workshops. When I came back as a consultant again, none had used the manual. Apparently, a rigorous approach to hiring wasn’t high on their list of priorities. So, make sure that the what you’re doing is needed and will be appreciated and used. What you want to avoid is doing the minimum. Part of the stereotype employers have of older workers is that they just want to retire on the job, not just after. Showing enthusiasm and giving a little extra effort, belies that belief.
- Show your stuff!!
It’s important to retain the confidence you have built up over the years. You have achieved a lot, you’ve seen a lot, and you probably have some idea of what works and doesn’t work. Share this with your company. One caution however is to avoid saying, “Well we tried that before, but it never worked” or even worse, “When I worked at this other company, we did…” It could be that things have changed. What didn’t work in the past didn’t work for certain reasons that may not be relevant now. Or, what worked for that other company might not fit into this one. If the same things that blocked the success before still exist, this would be the right time to encourage a different approach. That is where your expertise could be valuable, as well as the ability to communicate that information in a way that your work colleagues will hear. Having confidence in what has made you successful in the past, or having confidence in your skills and talents, can encourage others to listen to you. People respond more positively to confidence and positivity than to complaints, even when they are justified. It’s all in how you present it.
- Be willing to learn.
Be willing to learn new ways of doing the job. Be willing to learn from your coworkers and your managers. Take any workshops offered to you that would increase you job skills or knowledge. Strike out on your own and do research and come back with fresh approaches to how the work could be done and share this information. One of the biggest challenges to older workers is technology. Accept that the younger people have grown up playing on computers since they were babies. If you’re stuck on something ask them to help you, let go of pride. They know that stuff and they usually enjoy helping. Showing a willingness to learn new things adds to your value as an employee. So just do it.
As Boomers, we are still making a new path in what life looks like after retirement. Finding work, especially bonafide senior citizen, can be a challenge. It is, however, a challenge we can overcome with confidence, determination and awareness of how to navigate around the obstacles.
