5 Industries for Those Over 40

Despite being the most desirable candidates in the job market, many people over the age of 40 believe their career opportunities are slim.

When being laid off or considering a career change, the first thought of seasoned careerists is “Nobody wants to hire someone my age.” They couldn’t be more wrong.

“Employers deliberately seek, hire and respect older workers as valuable resources because of their practical, transferable work and life experiences; technological savvy; and the ability to learn, adapt and quickly contribute to the company,” insists Gail Geary, author of Over-40 Job Search Guide (JIST, 2005).

“Employers recognize that the learning curves of experienced workers are significantly shorter than those of students fresh out of school.”

With decades of experience in the world of work, a diverse set of skills, and a network of helpful associates, older workers have everything they need to land an in-demand job in half the time it takes their young competitors. But before they can land a promising job, older workers need to know where in the economy to look.

Based on demographics, statistics and future career trends provided by the US Department of Labor, the Federal Reserve Bank, executive recruiters, outplacement firms, employment agencies, and Geary’s own research and evaluation as a career-transition consultant, she suggests the following five “financially healthy, actively hiring and age diverse” industries for older careerists.
1. Healthcare

Hot careers: Nurses, nursing assistants, clinical lab technicians, customer service personnel, and human resource executives.

Geary’s advice:

* Choose careers in which you can obtain additional educational credentials in a time frame that you consider reasonable.
* Look for careers involving certifications that do not require a college degree.
*
Seek professional career assistance to determine how you can transfer your education and experience to a healthcare career.

2. Education

Hot careers: Elementary and secondary teachers, teacher’s aides and substitute teachers, director of transportation, security director and staff, and custodial director and staff.

Geary’s advice:

* Earn a master’s degree online while working, meeting degree requirements to be an online professor.
* If you have a bachelor’s degree, check out teacher needs in your areas of education.
* Look at alternative routes for teacher certification. (Each state has a department of education website detailing local options.)
* Search for nonteaching administrative, counseling, and technical positions in colleges, universities, and elementary and secondary schools.

3. Residential services

Hot careers: Landscape designer; master gardener; sales representative for pools, ponds and Jacuzzis; utilities meter reader; and home painting and repair services.

Geary’s advice:

* Conduct information interviews with people employed in these positions.
* Investigate average salaries and educational and certification requirements.
*
Look at franchises offering these services. You can explore franchise options through FranNet, a service that screens franchises and helps you make the right choices.

4. Products and services for the aging population

Hot careers: Personal fitness trainer, fitness facility manager, marriage counselor, caterer, and minister.

Geary’s advice:

* Make a list of the careers or products that interest you.
*
Research income potential.
* Investigate educational requirements, certifications, and costs.

5. Business-to-business services

Hot careers: Human resources support, product management, administrative support, executives, and middle management.

Geary’s advice:

* Check out the financial history of companies of interest on the Internet at the companies’ own Web sites. Look for rising stock prices and positive earnings per share.
* Consider how your transferable skills will apply to similar or different positions in the business-to-business industry.
*
Determine what additional skills or educational credentials are needed to make this transition.

Similar Posts:

• Top 5 Employment Trends for 2012
• Staying Motivated at a Dead-End Job
• Using LunchMeet to Advance Your Career
• Why The Workplace Office Is Becoming Arbitrary
• Getting A Recommendation From A Past Employer