What Next, a Standing Ovation for Coming to Work?

One of the objections companies say they have to hiring workers over 40 is that they 'may be too set in their ways'and won't fit in with the company. I know from many of the speaking engagements I have done that older job seekers feel that this is one of the main reasons why younger HR managers discriminate against them.

My reply is always the same - for every obstacle that HR managers want to create to hiring older workers -- real or imagined-- there can be a similar obstacle that could be placed to hiring younger workers. Older workers increase health insurance premiums? Well younger workers are more likely to have dependent children on their insurance policies. Older workers are too set in their ways? Well, younger workers don't work as hard, they reject authority, they feel like their job is an entitlement.

But while ageism drives HR managers away from older workers, companies are forever chasing younger workers - and spending more and more money and resources in the process. There's an interesting piece on NPR this morning about just how far companies are going to appease the "Me Generation" of younger workers. Some companies are actually hiring coaches -- essentially cheerleaders-- because younger workers need to feel like they are appreciated at the office!
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10538676#email

Amazing, when there is a growing talent pool of over 40 workers that will work hard, respectfully and reliably for 20 more years, and who understand that a job is a privilege and is not simply another venue to be pampered or catered to.

Best,
Steven

Nice Niche

We tell this to employers every day, but still it's nice to see it in the Wall Street Journal... yesterday's Career Journal(page B6), has article titled "Employers, Online Job Hunters Turn to Niche Web Postings". Article points out that the mega-boards are down substantially, while some niche sites are gaining more and more traction. The article also nails the point that some niche sites are doing well because they deliver less irrelevant resumes but more quality candidates to the employers.
As I've said many times, the big job boards don't make a lot of sense - their model is too mindlessly capture all the resumes they can instead of smartly targeting job seekers that employers actually want to hear from. Lots of users may help big job boards sell banner space on their sites, but it doesn't help employers who end up having to wade through large numbers of bad resumes. WHO you attract to your site, and HOW you attract them, makes all the difference. Advertising a job board on the side of a bus, or on soap operas, as some of these board relentlessly do, is not the answer. And employers are starting to notice.

Best,
Steven

Letter from Jobs4.0 User

Here's a letter I recently received from a Jobs4.0 user who found a job on our site. We've received a number of these lately, but this one in particular struck a chord with me..

"On my birthday, _____, I was dismissed from my job as a Tier 2 Technical Support Engineer in the IT industry. I was 53 years old.

On April 4, 2001, I had been laid-off from a similar position when the technology bubble burst and it took me over 3.5 years to find similar employment, albeit at half of my previous salary.

I was not the Lone Ranger in that story. There were ten's of thousands like me, people over 40 with a strong IT resume who could not find employment in the IT industry.

Having had that experience, my future looked extremely bleak on January 17, 2007, as I began another job search.

At the end of January, on his way to work, my doctor heard Bruce Reznick's NPR story about Jobs 4.0. Also , Mr. ______of ______, Inc., heard the same story.

That same day, while my doctor was telling me about Jobs 4.0, Mr. _____ was posting a job notice on Jobs 4.0. On Saturday, February 3, I discovered that notice on Jobs 4.0 and submitted my application.

After 2 days of telephone tag, I had a 50-minute telephone interview on Wednesday, February 8, and a 4-hour personal interview the next day. On Monday, February 12, I started my new position ., as Chief Technology Officer.

Need I say more?

Steven, I am forwarding your letter to people I know who will benefit from Jobs 4.0 and I am encouraging them to forward your letter to people they know. Viral marketing will get the word out and those folks in Iowa, Montana and Hawaii along with many, many others will get your message.

Thanks again for what you are doing!

Sincerely,"