Destination Success: Lifetime experience traits valued by empoyees

"Age isn't what we thought it would be. If we didn't own a mirror, we would think we were 25 years old," said Eric Naegler, president of Senior Recruiters Inc. of Springfield. His company focuses on finding work for the baby boomers.

With the huge baby boomer population, people living longer and healthier than ever and with the labor shortage, it is a great time to be an older worker.

You have only to look at your family album to see the dramatic difference between what is old now and what was old then. This was brought home to me when I looked at a picture of my great-aunt holding me as a baby. She was in her 50s then and didn't look that much different when she passed away in her 80s. She dressed and looked old. Now, grandmothers in their 50s are still working, plan to work for a long time.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that there will be 25,233,000 workers 55 and older in the labor force (defined as working or actively looking for work) by the year 2008. The number was 17.l million in 1998. In 2008 we will see a 48 percent increase. The oldest baby boomers will be 55 in 2001.

Yet, the most common complaint of job seekers over 50 seems to be "I'm too old." No matter what the statistics. No matter that most leading politicians, company presidents, musicians, writers and artists are over 50, 60 or even 70, there is still a stigma attached to age.

It is time for those over 50 to catch up to the reality of what is happening in the marketplace: There is a labor shortage and your skills are needed!

Age is a state of mind. You can be old at 40 and young at 80. It is your choice.

Before starting a job search after age 50, you need to do a self-analysis and ask yourself a few questions:

Are you a silver fox or a silver schlump? Do you need to update your makeup, hair-do and/or clothes? Do you need a new suit? Are you motivated?

Janet Smith, a certified work force development professional with Job Council of the Ozarks has worked with seniors in employment for more than 10 years.

"The first thing they (seniors) need to know is that the job search is a full-time job. They need lots of energy and a positive attitude. Part of this is that they need to get lots of sleep, exercise and anything else they can do to keep their stress level down," Smith said.

Does your rsum look professional? Does it go back 30 years or is it a summary of the key points of the last 20 years? Do you have computer skills?

Phillis Peach is a field coordinator for Green Thumb and Experience Works. The former is a not-for-profit group that works with those 55 and over who meet certain income guidelines to increase their skills and meet the job market's needs. Experience Works is a temp and temp-to-hire agency targeted at the mature worker.

"A lot of older workers are not in the computer age," Peach said. "They are a little afraid. They have heard horror stories. If nothing else, they should take an introduction to computers (course)."

She recommended Adult Basic Education through Ozark Area Community Action Corporation and Ozarks Technical Community College.

"It gets the mind to working again," she said.

Are you proud of your accomplishments?

As Naegler said, "The most important question for someone senior in the work force is to ask what life has taught you."

Value what age and experience has brought you and what you can bring to an employer.

(Sinara Stull O'Donnell is a writer and professional speaker in the career arena through her company Sinara Speaks.)