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Friday, March 12, 2010

JOB SEARCHES

I just watched a segment on Good Morning America about a gentleman who lost his job and is living in hotels on his frequent flyer miles and frequent hotel points. He was a middle aged man like many of us who have been laid off in this recession. He lost his house, put his belongings in storage and is using hotels as his base camp.

What a sad commentary on our world! I lost my job last year too. I was lucky to have a husband who had a good job and was most likely not going to lose it. Unfortunately for me, I worked in a very unstable industry, in the private sector, in a section of the industry where they hire and fire you like they change their underwear. I really thought I would find a job in a matter of a few weeks. It is now March, and had it not been for a close friend of mine who started a new business, I would still be unemployed.

This opportunity came along in January. It is great! We are developing a product that will revolutionize the way the world communicates. However, when you start a business it comes with its challenges such as; money being tight, getting your name out there, cold calls and all the various things you have to do to get it off the ground. This would have been much easier when I was 25 instead of 48. The good thing is at 48 I am so much wiser and so much better prepared to take on this type of endeavor. I love this and although my anxiety level is at the top right now, I am not nearly as stressed as I was when I was in the corporate world.

I guess part of the point of this blog is two-fold. One, middle aged workers are talented, experienced individuals, most are willing to learn new skills to continue their employment and most would take a paycut to continue to help their employer. Most of us are willing to work with new technology and embrace the chance to use it in the workplace. I take offense when someone thinks they can hire a 22 year old straight out of college and get the same level of experience and work ethic as they got from me (no offense to my 22 year old graduating this year. Honey, I hope you find a job.).

Two-I have been watching new businesses spring up all over the place. Most of them becoming pretty strong in a recession that is questionably diminishing. Most of those businesses are being started by people who have been laid off and cannot find work. Many of them by the middle aged worker who is being displaced. Apparently, the middle aged worker is pretty good at what they do or these businesses would not be so successful. I guess those companies that laid them off should have thought twice before they did so.

So my advice to the 20 somethings is be nice to the 40 and 50 somethings because you might be working for us. And those of you that laid us off ----THANKS--- in my case, it was the best thing that has ever happened to me. I now have the best career and possibilities I could ever have.

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