In 1973, a new bluegrass band named itself after a tune they wrote: “Old and in the Way.” Jerry Garcia was a member of that group before he launched his own memorable band. Forty-two years later, it might be time for a new song. Let’s call it “Seniors, Show Us the Way.”
As you may have heard, people are living longer, and we still want to buy new clothes, eat dinner at the Met and go to concerts. That poses a bit of a problem. It used to be that people had a life expectancy of five to 10 years between retirement—and the other side. You could plan for that, without a significant lifestyle adjustment. Try pulling that off for 20 to 30 years.
Six months into retirement, I saw a gorgeous dark-brown leather skirt that I had to have. Perfect attire for dinner at the Met. It bought it, of course. Clearly, I’m not ready to survive on Social Security and an IRA stipend.
Within days of my personal indulgence, a Need = Opportunity situation presented itself. There was a job posting on Facebook seeking a person with “creative writing ability, including excellent grammar and spelling skills… to commuicate and converse with business owners.”
I said to myself, “I can do that.” It never occurred to me to not apply for the position.
• Hundreds of companies sell products to people who are 60+.
• Companies that sell products to people 60+ need a work force that can communicate with their customers.
• Several people I know are enjoying new careers at 60+.
There are a variety of job descriptions out there today that seek employees who have the ability to write a complete sentence. That simple task requires a skill set that includes spelling, grammar and punctuation—skills often overlooked in the rush to embrace technology.
Learning how to write a comprehensive three-sentence paragraph, directed toward an adult population, takes years of daily application. Without undermining the beauty of brevity, learning how to log on to social media and write 140 random characters takes about a week. #LOL.
Unwritten in the job description, but required for the interview, is the ability to carry on a face-to-face conversation for a half hour or more with someone we don’t know, or haven’t seen in a long time. That someone may or may not know who Macklemore is. But you can bet he or she knows who his customers are and how he wants to approach and communicate with them.
The largest demographic group purchasing the really cool, expensive cars is that band of 60+ “Boomers,” familiar with the music of Jerry Garcia. Even though we’re 60+, we also know who Macklemore is. We can communicate with more than one generation.
And it’s not just cool cars that are attracting the older demographic. There are newly defined and expanding industries, such as senior housing and reverse mortgages, nutrition and health care, financial advisors and spas and face lifts that are attracting new, older customers and second-career applicants. There are just too many opportunities to ignore.
BTW, I got the job and am not alone among my acquaintances with new careers. There are Juliana, financial advisor for Edward Jones, Patty, paralegal for a law firm, Nancy, self-employed professional photographer, and Judith, community relations director at Harbour Pointe.
All of us began new positions at new firms in our post-retirement age. The job market has been tough for a number of years, but jobs are available for those with certain skill sets, and the senior sector seems to have the skills that are needed.
As Bob Dylan would say, “The Times They Are a Changin’.” And there are a growing number of folks like me who are glad about that!
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Shirley Thom is a writer for Stevenson Advertising, based in Lynnwood. You can reach her at shirley@stevensonadvertising.com.