Laid Off at 57, Wants to Earn the Same Money

More and more on the professional anonymous networks we are bumping into this tragedy: the aging professional forced out their well-paying jobs. Here in Reddit Career Guidance is the thread about the plight of a 57-year-old male who had been laid off.

Of course, he's upset. But he shouldn't be. 

Pro Publica documents that more than half of those over-50 will not leave their jobs voluntarily. That's the way it goes. Sure, file a lawsuit but age bias is hard to prove. Employers know have to conduct a termination so that other factors are cited to justify the process. Also, litigation is slow-moving.

Of course, he wants to make comparable money. Pro Publica found only one in 10 can pull that off.

There are plenty of useful suggestions for him on Reddit.

An option I would strongly recommend is freelancing. That could be in his own profession or through using other skills in other lines of work. In an award-winning podcast I discussed that approach for anyone over-50 needing income from work. 

Why that can be so effective in getting, holding, and moving on to better work is because of the old adage: Nothing lands you a job like having a job. Once you grab a job - just about any job - you can begin your strategy about more and more work - and from a position of strength.

The Next could be more freelance assignments or a full-time position. It could be career change. Here is the article on career change I had published in O'Dwyer's Public Relations.

In this volatile economy there are few of the old-line "resume killers." One 54-year-old former manager in tech did physical security in retail, then returned to a white-collar permanent slot. 

The game now is two-fold: Keep income coming in and plan how to move on to better work fits for yourself. Few can afford to retire in the conventional sense of stopping work entirely. So, that game goes on indefinitely.

Human Resources Communications and Intuitive Career Coaching. Award-winning book author and article ghostwriter. Confidential complimentary consultation. Then fees customized for your unique budget.

Please make an appointment with Jane Genova at janegenova374@gmail.com