The Biggest Mistake 40+ Workers Make

When a person is out of work and they finally restart their career after months or even years on the job-hunt, what is their first order of business? Some people have a celebration. Others coordinate with their financial team to determine how long will it take to recoup their finances. Most people put away the interview suits, save the resume in a folder on their computer and fall out of contact with everyone they networked with while unemployed.   MISTAKE (and yes, I am screaming at you).

There are several new realities to the world of work. #1 unemployment is never going back to the 5% level of 1990s. #2 Age-discrimination complaints filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission increased 35% since the recession started. #3 The older you are, the longer your job search. A recent AARP study says it takes a 55-year-old over a year to find a new position! 53.6 weeks to be exact.

With all of these factors in mind, while you are learning that great new job--three things are critical:

• Continue to network
• Update Your Profile on LinkedIN (you don't have to say you are open to career opportunities)
• Add new skills/training/certifications to your knowledge base

In other words--as great as that new job might be today and no matter how grateful you are to have your new position--it can change in an instant. I'm not turning into "Brenda Bummer" or anything; it happens more than you realize. I've experienced it first-hand. The boss that hires you, gets promoted or leaves the company & you are stuck with a new manager that definitely would not have hired you. The company merges/realigns or worse yet--goes bankrupt. I am a strong advocate of always being open to opportunities, always networking and keeping an eye open to which other companies are growing and who you know there. It is the new reality. You have to do your job with your eyes wide open--all the time. So if you are working--notice your surroundings. Which departments are expanding? What areas are most important to your company? How solid is your internal & external network? If you are not working, don't forget this post  when you get hired.