Get Over It—You Probably Won’t Get a Job Over 55, and That’s Good!

Today I spoke with yet another middle aged person who is seeking a new job. He has an impeccable resume, work experience in a field where there’s great demand for his skills, endorsements out the wazoo, and has (demonstrably) made his previous employers a pile of cash.

It’s not the first time this year that I’ve had this sort of conversation in 2016; it’s more like the thirtieth. But back to the story:

I told him what I’ve told most other job seekers of a certain age: you’re likely wasting your time. Sure, you might get a bunch of interviews, and often second, third, or more follow up interviews, but in the end it’ll be crickets. Studies have shown that HR managers are generally loathe to hire people older than they are, and most HR managers are on the sunny side of 50. I’ve been on the other side of the door (the hiring committee side), and when the candidate leaves the conversation’s focused on the cost to the company health plan, and whether s/he is “flexible” enough for the dynamic workplace, which is code word for willing to put up with company BS. These conversations might not be legal, but it’s reality.

Here’s a better option: if you’ve been able to create wealth for a company, look for opportunities to do it for yourself. The same company that would never give you a second thought as an employee might welcome you as a consultant, who can solve a problem far more effectively, and for a smaller investment, than any employee or employee group. The company gets what they want without having to “own” a new employee. Beyond the project there’s no obligation.

Begin with your network of people who know and admire your services.  Identify one area where someone who is a decision-make likely has a big problem (technology change, an expensive failed project, need for expertise but not the budget for an employee) that you can fix. Determine who you’ll need to bring into the project (if you can’t do the whole thing yourself), other resources you’ll need, create your budget of what you need for the engagement, and then go straight to the him/her with a binary question: do you want to fix this or not? There may be many “nos”; one “yes” could make all the difference.

I agree that the last paragraph’s an oversimplification, though it’s the basis of a worthwhile business plan. It’s definitely a different way of thinking for someone who’s been a longtime employee, but it may be your only chance at making a living. Professionals who set out on this path often make more (sometimes much more) than they did as employees. 

Consider this: even if you got a job, it would disappear in a few years (or less), and you’d be back at the same starting point, only older. Why not take control of your future now?