There is an article in The New York Times about five people who are past 50 and surviving the recession. I am one of those five people.
Here is the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/13/business/how-5-older-workers-saw-a-chance-to-remake-their-careers.html?ref=business
This is not the first time I've been interviewed about employment. Several years ago a reporter from the Connecticut Jewish Ledger interviewed me when I was laid off from Gartner. Always networking, I mentioned my plight to my rabbi, who then sent out an email blast to the congregation to try to get some job leads.
I am still believe in networking. I have joined several networking groups and try to stay in touch with people when I can't go to those meetings for months at a time. Some people think that networking meetings are just pity parties or support groups. Sure, you go to them and realize that you are not alone and that there is nothing wrong with you. You did not lose your job because of a performance issue. You lost it because of budget cuts or takeovers or, often, bad management.
Here are some of the things I learned from networking:
1) You meet people who worked at a company where you wish to work. You can find out more about the corporate culture and maybe even get the contact manager of someone who is in a position to hire you.
2) Many networking groups have a session on elevator pitches. Most people feel uncomfortable doing them, but it's one of the skills you need to have.
3) When the facilitator left the group because he or she got a paying job, it's a good idea to volunteer to run a meeting or two. Most people shy away from this. It was one of the best things I ever did because it helped me improve my public speaking, presentation and leadership skills. Sure enough, the next time I had a group interview, I didn't feel intimidated.
4) Your network can't be too large. Invite everyone you meet to join your professional network on LinkedIn. I once heard that someone who applied for a job that required community outreach got the job over her competitors because she had a 180 people in her LinkedIn network. That number is low actually. It should definitely be 500 plus. But it's not just about collecting people. You can easily share job leads in your updates. When you get an interview with someone, you can often find his profile on LinkedIn. When you go into the interview, you don't go in "cold" because you have an idea about his background. If he went to an Ivy League college and you didn't, you know the chances are not in your favor. If he went to the same college your cousin did, you have an icebreaker.
5) You can find someone who can help you upgrade your skills, from Microsoft Office to using social media.
I
used to go to a networking meeting where I would meet a man who was
unemployed and convinced that no one would want to date him until he got
a job. My advice to him was not to put his life on hold. Good things can
happen. Not long after I was laid off from Gartner, I got married. The Times article has a picture of me with my younger son. Good things and bad things can happen. I just go with the flow.
How did I get to be interviewed for the article in The New York Times? Networking. Caitlin Kelly, who is in wife's LinkedIn network, sent out a request for leads on people who are over 50 and surviving the recession. My wife responded and told the reporter about me.
Want more ideas about networking? Read Harvey Mackay's book, Dig Your Well Before You're Thirsty.
