One job search challenge is deciding where to look
➔ There is nothing easy about looking for a job – at any age. Unfortunately that’s especially true for someone age 50 or older.
In some cases, having worked for the same organization for years, if not decades, the older job seeker doesn’t know where to turn. Or, older applicants automatically choose the environment from which they came – large corporation, small corporation, non-profit, etc.
Bewitched, bothered and bewildered
This is not an indictment. It’s simply the reality faced by older workers. What kind of organization would be a good fit? Is this the right time for a career change? Would I be happy in a new environment, perhaps doing a different kind of job altogether?
Talking to as many trusted contacts as possible should be a standard approach. The problem is that, no matter how well they know you, it’s entirely possible that you yourself don’t know where to turn next.
If that’s the case, one school of thought says that exposure is key to solving your problem. The more jobs, types of jobs, types of work, industries, etc. that you can sample the better able you will be to make a sound decision.
Unfortunately, moving from one place to another may not be practical. So, what’s the next best thing? Those exposure advocates suggest that you pursue a large organization.
Large organizations have more roles, duties, positions, levels and requirements all under one roof – so to speak. Once inside the organization, you’ll be able to experience and observe many different kinds of work and come away with a much clearer understanding of what appeals to you at this stage of your career.
Of course, if you can do that you will have a job and that’s the whole idea anyway. Right? Also, once inside you may not interested or inclined to keep on looking.
The more immediate and workable solution would be to volunteer with a non-profit organization. Although you won’t be getting a paycheck, you will be getting out of the house (as much or as little as you want. We would recommend 2-3 days a week. You need to reserve time to continue your job search.)
In that situation, you will working with other people; you will have something current to include on your resume; you will be exposed to a variety of roles, duties, positions, etc.; you will be earning new experience; you will be networking with others everyday; you may learn a new skill; and you might even get hired by the non-profit.
Having been exposed to other positions, you may now be in a better position to focus – or re-focus your job search.
That’s a lot of advantages.