Re-entering the Workforce – Marketable Skills After 50 [Guest Post]

Marketable Skills After 50

Are you over 50, re-entering the workforce, and wondering about your marketable skills?

There are those of you who have served as housewives; still others, who raised their children, then raised other people’s children. You may have taken extended time off to care for a parent.

You who have lived great lives but now desire to get busy and get a job outside of the home may feel that you can’t compete in today’s workforce. We will shed light on your dilemma.

Let’s look at 3 recommendations for those re-entering the workforce with few marketable skills after age 50.

People are willing to hire others to attend to the things they no long have the time to do.

Marketable Skills Recommendation #1

Think about your talents, passions, and the things that you want to learn. Think about how your skills fill a need.

Present your talent to those who need it.

Sometimes, you can do this with a business card announcing your services, or with a postcard noting that you have the answer to a problem.

Try asking a needs-based question that your potential client is looking for someone to help them answer.

And don’t think that these jobs can’t lead to a lucrative salary. For example:

• Home workers are generally excellent at organizing.
• Event planners, personal shoppers, or home health aides are ideal professions for those with are excited to use those skills sets.

You have lived and have noticed many issues, concerns, and problems in your community, nation and worldwide.

Think about the solutions that you feel would best address any particular problem. For instance, you may have noticed a few businesses that have recently opened in the community. Although they might offer competitive prices for their products, you notice that a few workers are young and lack good customer service.

Marketable Skills Recommendation #2

Offer new businesses your service as a customer service trainer, working to help employees learn great ways to offer excellent customer service. Job creation starts with company’s needs.

Craft a short bio and offer your services to new businesses in town, based on your talents.

Go to the chamber of commerce and grab their members’ directory and start there. You’ll be surprised how many companies would be interested in hiring people for subcontracted assignments based on direct need.

These opportunities do not require that people possess a Ph.D., but rather, pertinent skills.

For example, accounting firms would welcome a smart, intelligent bookkeeper assistant to help with audits, tabulate clients’ documents during tax season, and help with paper pushing at the end of the fiscal year.

Companies need the obvious:

• Capitalize on trends
• Respond to problems in the company
• Improve on the way things are being done now
• Use of old things in new ways
• Increase customer base
• Expand business
• Help save or make money

Recommendation #3 Connect with opportunities that will help connect your talents. See Government Senior Citizens Resources (http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Seniors.shtml), Work from home computer customer service jobs (http://www.segroupllc.org/), and Opportunities for online writing jobs (http://bit.ly/1DDCz3C).

Realize that you should not limit your ideas about your talents. They include:

• Personality
• Assurances
• Vision
• Age
• Perspective
• Insight
• Credibility
• Skill
• Information
• Authenticity
• Reputation
• Values
• Wisdom
• Research, data
• Understanding
• Experience

You have remarkable employ-ability skills that most employers would be glad to have on board.

First, consider only the jobs and career areas that are of interest to you. Next, connect with a professional organization. This affiliation will teach you, help you to earn continuing education credits, and introduce you to like-minded people. Most importantly, they will help connect you to opportunities to work, learn, and give within your industry of choice. 50+ people have a dynamic place in the workplace!

Go find your place!

Debra Ann Matthews, M.A., JCTC is a passionate career coach and resume writer who works with hundreds of clients throughout her career to achieve their dreams. Her extensive experience includes helping in President Clinton’s AmeriCorps, Up With People, and Job Corps. She loves to help motivated career changers in her business Let Me Write It For You. She’s noted in USAA Military, NBC Chicago, MSN Latino, Monster, Monster Working, Calgary Sun, Money Mix, & Careerbuilder.co.uk. Connect with her on LinkedIn at letmewriteit4u or via FB at www.facebook.com/letmewriteit4u.

 

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