Mature jobseekers retrain and remain persistent
PASCO, Wash. (AP) - Sending out job applications week after week without success hasn't sapped Deb Moles' optimism.
"You've to be almost a nuclear scientist to get hired in the Tri-Cities," joked the 54-year-old Pasco woman and former sales rep, adding she knows there're fewer jobs available for the skills she has.
Mature workers face the same challenges as their younger counterparts in a down job market, said Candice Bluechel, business services outreach manager at WorkSource Columbia Basin. WorkSource is a resource center for workers, the unemployed and employers looking to hire.
Nationally, about 4.1 percent of the labor force of more than 21 million in the 50 to 54 age group, and about 3.7 percent of about 33.5 million workers in the 55 to 64 age group were unemployed last year, according to the most recent data available with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Sometimes it can be frustrating for older job seekers because of the competition, Bluechel said.
But a lack of response from potential employers has nothing to do with her age, asserts Moles, who started working at 18. It's the first time she's been without a job.
She's improving her skills in an office tech class at Columbia Basin College. "Anything that builds up computer skills is helpful," Moles said. She plans to focus on getting a sales or an administrative position.
"The economy is kind of painful now," said native Tri-Citian Rich O'Malley, 51. He was laid off in August from his supervisory position at a local public sector company, and has since been applying for at least four jobs a week. He got a few interviews but no solid job offers. Like many other out of work people, he's cut back on expenses. "I'm living day to day."
But he said he's happy to be in the Tri-Cities looking for a job, instead of other places like Detroit, which have been hit hard by the recession.
"It's tough. But it could be worse," said David White, 54, of his job search. There are a lot of people looking for work and employers aren't rushing to hire, said White who lost his job as an electrician at a fire/security alarm company in April.
A sense of local economic health can affect people's perception about their chances of finding a job, said Martin Greller who researches issues related to career continuity for older workers. No one would like to be in places where there are massive layoffs or wage cuts, said Greller, professor and associate dean of academic affairs at Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy in New York City. "People make the most sense of the reality around them."
And the readiness of older workers to learn new skills and look for opportunities to grow are the ticket to a job, Greller said.
That's why White, who's been applying for three to four jobs a week, is working several angles. He's looking for a job as an electrician or a position in the beekeeping business. White has been involved in beekeeping for more than 30 years and is the president of the Mid-Columbia Beekeepers Association.
He doesn't think his age is hampering his job search. "I'm pretty young at heart," he said, adding his resume probably makes him appear "too technical" to potential employers. He said he's learned how to tweak his resume at WorkSource. But finding a job is more about being "at the right place at the right time," he said.
During an economic slowdown, most employers focus on retaining their core employees, Greller said. That's why they don't make new hires. Often their first goal is to expand work hours and increase wages for workers who remain with the company through the tough times, he said.
And when they do hire, they are thinking about the cost of training new workers and the payback on their investment, Greller said. That can, at times, subtly work against older workers because of the perception they aren't going to stay long, he said.
O'Malley said he thinks some employers may prefer young employees because it's cheaper to hire them. "I don't know if this is subtle age-discrimination or plain business sense." He comes to WorkSource three times a week to meet his case representative and seek job leads, O'Malley said.
"If you know how to market yourself and to interview, then age is not a bar," said Julie Lingle, manager of business development at MCE Staffing in Richland, which has been providing technical and skilled work force to area employers for 33 years.
Lately, she has seen an increase in the number of retired people looking for work, she said. Stable federal funding for Hanford and recent stimulus dollars have helped create "a wonderful job market in the Tri-Cities," said Lingle, 53. Someone should study how many community jobs are created for every Hanford job, she said.
"I haven't experienced age discrimination," said Mike Draper, 55, who's recovering from back surgery and wants to get hired as soon as he's able. He said he quit his job as a school safety specialist a year ago because of health problems. Draper, who lives in Kennewick, said he is considering going back to school to be a long-haul truck driver or to study to become a drug and alcohol counselor.
The local economy is starting to pick up, thanks to federal stimulus money, he said.
Maybe that's drawing job seekers from neighboring states to the Tri-Cities, said Bluechel of WorkSource. They believe there are jobs in the Tri-Cities. The area's labor force increased from 127,450 in June 2008 to 134,600 last month.
Anna Spilman, a recent immigrant from Russia, said she hopes there will be another round of hiring at Hanford. The 55-year-old civil engineer has learned English and about American work culture since landing in the U.S. in 2006.
In addition to looking for jobs in her field, Spilman also is checking out office jobs. It's good to be flexible, she said. Administrative jobs seem to fill up fast, said Spilman, who routinely makes follow-up queries about her job applications.
"Maybe there are more people available to hire," she said. But the Tri-Cities is a good place to be compared to other areas, she said, adding her mechanical engineer husband has a good job and they have no plans to move.
Spilman said she's confident she'll find a job quickly. "It's impossible to live if you are negative."
"You've to be almost a nuclear scientist to get hired in the Tri-Cities," joked the 54-year-old Pasco woman and former sales rep, adding she knows there're fewer jobs available for the skills she has.
Mature workers face the same challenges as their younger counterparts in a down job market, said Candice Bluechel, business services outreach manager at WorkSource Columbia Basin. WorkSource is a resource center for workers, the unemployed and employers looking to hire.
Nationally, about 4.1 percent of the labor force of more than 21 million in the 50 to 54 age group, and about 3.7 percent of about 33.5 million workers in the 55 to 64 age group were unemployed last year, according to the most recent data available with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Sometimes it can be frustrating for older job seekers because of the competition, Bluechel said.
But a lack of response from potential employers has nothing to do with her age, asserts Moles, who started working at 18. It's the first time she's been without a job.
She's improving her skills in an office tech class at Columbia Basin College. "Anything that builds up computer skills is helpful," Moles said. She plans to focus on getting a sales or an administrative position.
"The economy is kind of painful now," said native Tri-Citian Rich O'Malley, 51. He was laid off in August from his supervisory position at a local public sector company, and has since been applying for at least four jobs a week. He got a few interviews but no solid job offers. Like many other out of work people, he's cut back on expenses. "I'm living day to day."
But he said he's happy to be in the Tri-Cities looking for a job, instead of other places like Detroit, which have been hit hard by the recession.
"It's tough. But it could be worse," said David White, 54, of his job search. There are a lot of people looking for work and employers aren't rushing to hire, said White who lost his job as an electrician at a fire/security alarm company in April.
A sense of local economic health can affect people's perception about their chances of finding a job, said Martin Greller who researches issues related to career continuity for older workers. No one would like to be in places where there are massive layoffs or wage cuts, said Greller, professor and associate dean of academic affairs at Milano The New School for Management and Urban Policy in New York City. "People make the most sense of the reality around them."
And the readiness of older workers to learn new skills and look for opportunities to grow are the ticket to a job, Greller said.
That's why White, who's been applying for three to four jobs a week, is working several angles. He's looking for a job as an electrician or a position in the beekeeping business. White has been involved in beekeeping for more than 30 years and is the president of the Mid-Columbia Beekeepers Association.
He doesn't think his age is hampering his job search. "I'm pretty young at heart," he said, adding his resume probably makes him appear "too technical" to potential employers. He said he's learned how to tweak his resume at WorkSource. But finding a job is more about being "at the right place at the right time," he said.
During an economic slowdown, most employers focus on retaining their core employees, Greller said. That's why they don't make new hires. Often their first goal is to expand work hours and increase wages for workers who remain with the company through the tough times, he said.
And when they do hire, they are thinking about the cost of training new workers and the payback on their investment, Greller said. That can, at times, subtly work against older workers because of the perception they aren't going to stay long, he said.
O'Malley said he thinks some employers may prefer young employees because it's cheaper to hire them. "I don't know if this is subtle age-discrimination or plain business sense." He comes to WorkSource three times a week to meet his case representative and seek job leads, O'Malley said.
"If you know how to market yourself and to interview, then age is not a bar," said Julie Lingle, manager of business development at MCE Staffing in Richland, which has been providing technical and skilled work force to area employers for 33 years.
Lately, she has seen an increase in the number of retired people looking for work, she said. Stable federal funding for Hanford and recent stimulus dollars have helped create "a wonderful job market in the Tri-Cities," said Lingle, 53. Someone should study how many community jobs are created for every Hanford job, she said.
"I haven't experienced age discrimination," said Mike Draper, 55, who's recovering from back surgery and wants to get hired as soon as he's able. He said he quit his job as a school safety specialist a year ago because of health problems. Draper, who lives in Kennewick, said he is considering going back to school to be a long-haul truck driver or to study to become a drug and alcohol counselor.
The local economy is starting to pick up, thanks to federal stimulus money, he said.
Maybe that's drawing job seekers from neighboring states to the Tri-Cities, said Bluechel of WorkSource. They believe there are jobs in the Tri-Cities. The area's labor force increased from 127,450 in June 2008 to 134,600 last month.
Anna Spilman, a recent immigrant from Russia, said she hopes there will be another round of hiring at Hanford. The 55-year-old civil engineer has learned English and about American work culture since landing in the U.S. in 2006.
In addition to looking for jobs in her field, Spilman also is checking out office jobs. It's good to be flexible, she said. Administrative jobs seem to fill up fast, said Spilman, who routinely makes follow-up queries about her job applications.
"Maybe there are more people available to hire," she said. But the Tri-Cities is a good place to be compared to other areas, she said, adding her mechanical engineer husband has a good job and they have no plans to move.
Spilman said she's confident she'll find a job quickly. "It's impossible to live if you are negative."