Diary of an Over 50 Downsizer
By Sherril Steele-Carlin
The unemployment rates don’t tell the whole story. The national jobless rate hovers around 5.8 percent, but younger workers are finding it especially difficult to find work once they’ve been laid off. According to experts, 44 percent of unemployed workers are under 30. That’s good news for older workers looking for jobs, or is it? Here’s one man’s experience in being downsized after 50, my husband, William.
Words can amazingly effective, and as devastating as any weapon. One of the atomic warheads of words is: “The company is being forced to reduce its workforce and your position has been eliminated…"
The first week was a blur – had I failed in my job, didn’t I set the pace, wasn’t I creative and politically correct, was I a bad employee? Weren’t all the programs I put in place running smoothly? What did I do wrong?
After spending some time in self-evaluation…with my wife, my friends, and my conscience, I discovered, I had been downsized due to a decision-making process blind to my work, contribution, and accomplishments.
I believe attitude is the most important part of an individual’s employment toolkit. I have seven years' professional experience assisting people in career development, interviewing skills, and job hunting. I am the doctor whose obligation is to “heal thyself.”
- Day 1: I embarked on my job hunt like a hunter, stalking my prey. I spent a good deal of the day e-mailing, telephoning, and setting up luncheons. I believe letting people know you are here, available, and ready to go, is a sound way to get the word out. After all, most of the people I contacted, know my work, skill set, and work ethic. I felt right at home and all of them were glad to keep their “ears open.”
- Day 2: I can tell you, without reservation, bringing your resume up-to-snuff is as much fun as doing laundry, dishes, and cleaning the garage, all rolled into one huge chore. I dragged my resume and cover letter out of the document dustbin on my computer and stared at it for an hour. Meanwhile my wife had scoured the job announcements in the local newspaper and discovered some that so closely described me as the ideal candidate she read them out loud to me. But to apply I needed a cover letter and updated resume… I went to lunch today with a business man who needs a second in command for his Internet startup. He is willing to compensate me with stock, but doesn’t have the resources for a salary and benefits. Important considerations when you are over 50. He said he would let me know if any paying positions turned up. I went home and worked on my resume.
- Day 3: I mailed my resume to some of the advertisements my wife had skillfully removed from the ocean of jobs in Sunday’s paper. I had a lunch today with a colleague who is fairly high up in the local school district and had assisted me in receiving national recognition for my work in career development some years ago. She explained I should go to their employment office and fill out applications. Something might turn up, she said, after the hiring freeze is lifted. Seems there was a 30% budgetary shortfall discovered yesterday. She said she would let me know if any positions turned up. I went home and began to investigate various job announcements online and uploaded my resume to a few of the more popular job sites. “Who’s your monster?”
- Day 4: Our exercise machine arrived this morning. When you are on a quest, staying physically fit is requisite. It’s been a while since I paid serious attention to being physically fit. Long hours at the computer have taken their toll…but my day doesn’t start and end in the dark anymore. Still, I’ll probably find work and retire before I’m actually physically fit again. But I’ve been told healthy body equals a healthy mind. Today I had lunch with a friend who knows lots of local business owners. She suggested I dye my distinctly salt and pepper beard to match my not so salt and peppered black hair. Don’t want to have any gray showing while you ‘re in the interviewing stage. I don’t mind that so much, it’s a well known reality that age discrimination is rampant. At my age, I want to portray a younger image. When I was young I wanted to be portrayed as older…go figure. She said she would let me know if she heard anything.
- Day 5: I went to the Employment Security Division (our state’s job link, where services for job seekers and out-of-workers are clustered). I learned that there is a $500 training stipend for people like me. As long as I meet the state’s criteria, and am trained in a field they consider appropriate. I was offered a temporary part time job today. Nineteen hours a week at $10/hour until June 30. I’m considering it. I had lunch today with an entrepreneurial friend who is selling wireless Internet connectivity. He said if anything develops where he can bring me in, he will. I went home and looked online for jobs – found one job I was a match for. A major company was seeking a computer technician to maintain image machines in the field. I sent my application.
- Day 6: Wrote follow up letters to companies I sent applications to last week and hadn’t heard from yet...all of them. We found a few jobs in the newspaper this week, sent resumes. Re-wrote my resume downplaying specifics and so as not to show my age. A resume should get you an interview (if the job announcement is real) each and every time. Phoned an organization known as ProNet. They facilitate white-collar networking and provides employment skills assistance, and possibly training. ProNet is a long-term solution and I need to find work pretty soon.
William’s job search continues…
