The ICT Job Hunter Blog

Like most folks, I love to read other people’s success stories, especially when they involve the individuals in question trying something new, something that they might not previously have felt comfortable with.  Yesterday’s Chicago Tribune ran just such a story about three over 50s who each stepped out of their comfort zones to either find work or help focus their job search.

For 58 year-old Leah Alexander, December was the month when her job with a non-profit organization came to an end after 14 years.  In a wild departure from her degree subject of Human Resources, she is using her severance pay to set up in business teaching yoga and distributing organic skin care products, and is also setting up an alliance of environmentalists and practitioners of alternative remedies.

After losing his job in sales a few years ago, meanwhile, Rex Smith, in fine networking style, finally reached out to a neighbor.  Although his enquiry was directly in relation to further work in sales, when his friend got back to him it was to ask if he would help him launch a franchise business.  Now 60 years of age, Rex and his business partner now run a gourmet ham shop.

Bruce Gilmour, who is 68 years old, went back to basics after losing his position in logistics management in June, and not only took advantage of the free year’s membership of a networking organization which came as part of his severance package, but also began evaluating his career strengths in order to find his direction.  He didn’t just write about his accomplishments in general, however, but about those which had given him true enjoyment.  As he did so, it became evident that his real passion lie in training others in new processes, and so he is now targeting his job search in the direction of organizations which would enable him to help adults with physical or mental challenges to improve their job skills.

In my book, these three individuals set a great example to job seekers everywhere in that they have embraced modern day tactics despite their respective ages.  Identifying their career passions, networking, targeting employers and looking beyond the ‘safe’ option of working for others all figured in their approaches, and all three certainly go to prove what I have often said, that age is no barrier.  Well done to all three, and the very best of luck!