"Stephen: What's Your Opinion on Employees Participating in the Interview Process?" - 04/10/19 Edition
Stephen Says Column
Dear Stephen:
I am in my late 50s and just lost my job as a regional manager at a manufacturer.
To be honest, I am upset but not entirely heartbroken. I never really loved this job and have often thought I initially accepted it in a moment of desperation. In furniture, you need to like the brand and the design. I’ve been in this business awhile and have learned if you don’t like the product, you’ll have a hard time selling. I never did like this product too much but at the end of the day, this was my job and above all else, I am a professional.
With all that being said, I can now look back in retrospect, and I do believe my bosses sensed my lack of passion at a few points. Maybe that’s why I’m gone.
I have a generous severance but need to find a job quickly. The last job was just a mismatch and in a way, I am relieved to be out of there. However, I do need to work. I am just nervous about finding a new job at my age. I signed on to this previous job almost 10 years ago when I was a much younger man. Since then, I have become acutely aware of my age, and it is troubling.
How do I attack a job search while being older and unemployed? I know my worth and have always been careful to remain up to date on trends and technology, but this doesn’t change the fact I’m no longer a young guy. I have already spoken to a couple of headhunters like you, and they explained that companies rarely want to pay a fee for a candidate already unemployed. Where do I turn? Right now, I am turning to you. Please give me some advice on how to find work.
Signed,
Over 50, unemployed and feeling like a loser
Dear (barely) old man,
You are not a loser.
I do mean what I said just there. You are not a loser, you’re just feeling sorry for yourself.
The United States is experienc- ing the lowest unemployment and tightest job market in years. Employers are desperate to fill positions, and they want to hire quality people who have the experience they need, even people who are unemployed. Being unemployed is no longer the issue it may have been when the economy was in a different place. I honestly think you are in a well-situated position to find a great job. You just need to start playing the game.
The real issue is your attitude, your resume and your salary requirements. As a headhunter who’s been in this business more than 30 years, I can tell you firsthand I rarely if ever hear a client even begin ask- ing about a candidate’s age. I know you may find that hard to believe but I think candidates often use their age as an excuse for their bad attitude, personali- ty or aptitude. More than this, it is often the case that an older worker will demand a higher salary due simply to their seniority. In this case it is not your age, it’s the money.
Are you seeing a common theme? If you ever start to think your age is holding you back, it is usually just you.
I can write you a list of 30 people in your age bracket who have all been in the same posi- tion as you over the past six months. What do they all have in common? Many of these people all worked at the same place. For instance, over the past few years Steelcase, and most recently Herman Miller, have let go of a lot of people. Most of these layoffs were sen- ior salesmen who were begin- ning to age out of their current positions. However, virtually all these people who were unem- ployed and over 50 landed new and good jobs very quickly.
The common denominator in these hires was this newly laid-off workforce found itself migrating to some of the B-tier companies. If Herman Miller wasn’t going to have them, then they were just as happy to move to a smaller manufacturer that was ecstatic to bring on a sea- soned veteran who had cut their teeth at one of the industry giants. These companies do not care about your age or employ- ment status, they just want to know you can perform. We all know who these companies are and to be frank, while they may lack some of the industry glam- our, they are often great places to work that offer awesome salaries, benefits and incredible product lines.
As far as your question con- cerning your experience with headhunters: Your age again is not a factor here. It is however, true that it’s hard for a hiring company to justify a headhunt- er’s fee for an unemployed in- dividual. Common sense would tell you these companies expect you to apply directly to them through their website. You’re unemployed, and you certainly have the time.
The moral of the story is I think you need to re-calibrate where you are applying and maybe change your standards. Be more open-minded and simply go wherever your job search may bring you. Think about it this way: Maybe a lower status brand will be able to launch to new heights once you are on board. It really is as easy as that. Lower your standard in terms of your perception of the brand. See where things go, and don’t be afraid to take a risk.
Believe it or not, my friend’s grandmother is an 82-year-old woman who works at a McDon- ald’s in Sarasota, Florida. She works right next to a 16-year- old boy and a 25-year-old wom- an. Guess who the employee of the month is?
Stephen
You can send your workplace questions to Stephen at: StephenSays@bellow.press
Questions selected to be answered, will appear in this column. Please use the Subject: Stephen Says for all emails. Stephen Viscusi is a bestselling author, television personality, and CEO of The Viscusi Group, Global executive recruiters located in New York. Follow Stephen on Twitter @stephenviscusi, Like Stephen on Facebook; and follow him on LinkedIn.
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