AARP holds a job fair for the 'un-retired'
The 50-plus workforce is growing, but it still isn't easy finding a good-paying job. The AARP added a job fair to its annual convention in Washington this week to help. Nancy Marshall Genzer stops in.
Senior worker filling out forms (iStockphoto)
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TEXT OF STORY
Bob Moon: Can you believe close to a third of Americans in their late '60s are still working? And the government says the number of 55-and-up workers will soon rise at more than five times the rate of the overall work force. The AARP's annual convention in Washington this week reflects that trend with a job fair for those who won't -- or can't -- stop working. Here's Marketplace's Nancy Marshall Genzer.
Nancy Marshall Genzer: Penny McCrimmon is all decked out in a mustard yellow suit. She's a former Maryland state worker in her mid 50s. But she's back in the job market.
Penny McCrimmon: The economy is in the dumps. I'm a real estate investor so my income is in the garbage.
McCrimmon always thought, at this age, she'd be living the good life in some warm place. Not lining up at Home Depot and Staples booths at a job fair. But she and other seniors need to cope with the tough economy. And as the supply of young workers for service jobs dries up, companies figure aging boomers might help.
At the CVS booth, Ernie Dupont hands out pill cases on key chains. He says in the last dozen years, the company's worked hard to triple the percentage of CVS workers over 50.
Ernie Dupont: You know, one of the things that's been very successful for us is our snowbird program, whereby we have people that work maybe in the northeast during certain times of the year, and then travel down to the south.
The next aisle over, retirementjobs.com offers an internet cafe for job seekers.
Bob Skladany: I'm Bob the job guy -- yeah, that's exactly right.
Bob Skladany runs the booth. He's helping seniors looking to replicate the jobs they once held. Most are having no luck. They're applying for high-paid jobs at companies that don't need to offer snow bird programs. That makes Skladany's advice all the more important. Like if you're being interviewed by someone half your age ...
Skladany: Obviously, don't make any comments like, "Well, you could be younger than my son."
Skladany says, if you're asked your age, answer the question straight up and move on. He's become a beloved figure online.
Skladany: Well, I've received nine marriage proposals. It's true. Nine.
But then Skladany gets serious. He starts talking about depressed seniors. People like former state worker Penny McCrimmon who's heading to yet another recruiter's booth. She's been looking for a good paying job for four years with no luck.
In Washington, I'm Nancy Marshall Genzer for Marketplace.
Comments
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From Baltimore, MD, 11/07/2009
All of your presumptions are incorrect. I'm not retired and looking desperately for a job. Age discrimination is ver real, especially in this difficult job market.
From Clifton Park, NY, 09/15/2008
I commented on this story when it first aired.
Unless it was left out, I'm assuming the "former" state worker Ms. McCrimmon is retired. If so, she has a pension coming in and has, if New York is any guide, excellent retirement benefits including medical coverage.
In her time as a state worker, Ms McCrimmon amassed some money in her 401k equivalent. Since she says she's in real estate one can also surmise she "bet" her money on Real Estate and lost.
Ms McCrimmon entered real estate speculation voluntarily. She did not say she was forced to sign anything or use up her retirement money against her will. I'm sorry but this situation is entirely Ms McCrimmon's doing. I wish her luck in her search.
Please tell us about people who have real problems, like their company going belly up with all their 401k funds, and left out there with no health coverage at all.
To everyone else here: Good luck in your searches !! I'll be in that boat in a few years
From Grand Rapids, MI, 09/07/2008
From 1995 to 2000 I was a job search trainer and coach with the Area Agency on Aging of West Michigan. I heard a lot of reasons why employers did not want to hire older workers, so much so I spoke to a large West Michigan human resources association group as a guest speaker in 1997 titling my remarks, "The Undertapped Human Resources: Older Workers." It did have a positive effect.
However, I still find older workers needing help, and while AARP's efforts nationally are commendable, there is little if anything happening on the state level for older workers. They're not seen any more as having special needs to adjust and reinvent themselves for the new world economy. All the attention goes to younger workers who are perceived as a "better buy", even though they stay much shorter times with employers, thus contributing less because they aren't there long enough to make the return-on-investment worthwhile to the organizations.
As the below 35 population in the workforce continues to decline in numbers, employers need to wake up and inform their recruiters that prejudice against older workers is not acceptable in the recruiting function.
And older workers need to focus on the "developed skills, knowledge and abilities tested and proven in the marketplace" as the manner in which they speak of their qualifications. Too many use phrases like "[blank] years of experience" in describing their talents. And make sure you are keeping your office productivity skills up to date: without them, you can't work in today's workplace.
Ken Soper
NCDA Master Career Counselor and
NBCC National Certified Career Counselor
Founder, Work Search Roundtable (TM)
From Baldwin, NY, 09/05/2008
I empathize with those mentioned in the over 50 job-fair story. I've just reentered the work force. Looked for full time work in April-June. Could only get two open part-time jobs - one in Dressbarn (womens clothing $8.25.hr) and/or Waldbaums (supermarket) in the bakery. Guess which one I chose - p.s. - I just lost 20 lbs on weighwatchers. Anyway, I have made decision to attend a local trade school for 5 mos for $7,000 starting in Oct. to learn microsoft word,exceland powerpoint programs as well as medical terminology, coding, billing so as to (hopefully) get a higher paying job in any office setting (can't take being on my feet for 6-8 hours.) I'm 51 with Fibromyalgia. I have a backround in Inside sales/customer service from my 'career' days b4 staying home to raise my now 18 and 15 year olds. Did I mention I'm getting divorced (put it off to assist my father (who died last year with Parkinsons and Alzheimers) and my Mother (who passed away in January with pancreatic cancer). Husband hasn't been able to make a decent living since late 90's. I've already been living off my inheritance. Doubt I'll have any left to retire on myself when all is said and done. Good Luck to All!!
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