By Heidi Wu
It’s the attitude that makes older workers invaluable in today’s workplace. Contrary to what you often hear, savvy employers appreciate mature employees for their wisdom and sound judgment. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that since 2001, 3.2 million older individuals have joined the workforce. In fact, those age 55 and up account for the fastest growing group of new employees.
Here are a few of the advantages that Baby Boomers and senior citizens bring to the table. They…
• Solve problems
• Take initiative
• See a task through to the end
• Provide solid customer service
• Along the way, they coach others
In addition, AARP reports that older employees take fewer sick days, partly because they don’t have children to care for (and to spread germs) and also because they tend to have firmer commitments to their jobs. But there is one major drawback job seekers sometimes forget which can counteract all those good things. Many Baby Boomers have the wrong attitude when it comes to change.
Businesses lament that many older workers are inflexible, refusing to accept change easily, especially when it comes to computer technology. Some employers complain that, though they value older workers, these employees have dug in their heels and refused to learn the required software programs. If that is you, you may be a dream employee in terms of work ethics and maturity, but if your job requires computer use and you let your skills slide, you’ll appear inflexible and may find yourself on the unemployment line, or at least passed over for promotion.
Sometimes the lack of willingness to change is based on skepticism. Many Baby Boomers have watched as their employers scrapped perfectly good technology and processes in favor of something newer and flashier, only to have the new program fail or be ultimately abandoned. So what employers may interpret as a bad attitude may be just that seasoned employees want change to make sense, rather than change for the sake of change.
It’s not easy to keep up with technology when it advances in the blink of an eye. Your children and grandchildren (and younger fellow employees) may pick up the latest programs seemingly by osmosis. They stay abreast of the nuances without the slightest effort. If your job involves computer skills, prove your willingness to learn by taking advantage of new training opportunities. The longer you put it off, the farther behind you’ll slip. Many software programs offer tutorials online that you can do at work or home.
Here is a Web site where you can find tutorials for several in-demand software programs in today’s offices. If you don’t find what you’re looking for at this Web site, go to any search engine, type in the name of the program, and tutorial.
Baycon
If you still don’t find what you need, browse around inside the software that is giving you trouble. Some have tutorials imbedded in them. Or ask your company’s technology guru to set you up with one. Your flexibility in this area will show your employer that you not only possess the wisdom and experience needed, but also the right attitude towards change that keeps you invaluable.
If you’re an employer looking for a focused workforce, listen to what US Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao has to say: “Nowhere is the case stronger for tapping the strengths of older workers than with employers facing the skills gap. Everywhere I go, employers tell me they are having difficulty finding workers with the right skill sets for the jobs they have to offer.”
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