Please, define senior!

For many years the general consensuses existed that people over a certain age, generally 60 should be consigned to a rocking chair or were in the throes of mental deficiency if not Alzheimer patients. Unfortunately many in the younger generation and employers promoted this scenario - that is, until they themselves were in the same situation. Just because some seniors' problems may come from the neck down does not indicate they have a problem from the neck up.

This paradigm for a generation living in a different society was supported but forced retirement, responsibility to service their adult children and families, lack of funds for health care, travel, entertainment, and interest in further education because "you're too old". Hammered into soul and mind, the seniors accepted their status and would not let go of this ingrained attitude. The only salvation for employment was a family-owned business or "a friend of a friend of a friend" business where they were assigned to an inconsequential "busy" job.

As an affluent society offered children the capability to move to other parts of the country parents remained behind. With a new found freedom, longer lives, better health, a few dollars in their pockets, each "empty nester" realized they paid their dues and began to move into "living their own life", experimenting with activities and seeking new careers for which their family responsibilities disallowed time or affordability. Senior was no meant "60". They no longer wanted to nor had to be relegated to the job of rocking the chair, baby-sitting or maid service.

For those who want to or have to continue working, including a baby-boomer, the situation appears dreary. True, a law was enacted that specifies discrimination on sex, age or color. However, how many employers really consider retired senior job seekers? Tongue-in-cheek, they accept applications, then file it for posterity or use the "file 13" and never provide the truth or the courtesy of a reply as jobs are suddenly filled, unavailable or integrated with other departments and companies are downsizing or outsourcing.

Many factors affect the older generation's job prospects. Some seniors are still in the typewriter and hand-writing age, but are willing and capable of learning technology or may even have talents applicable to your organization without training. Some are from the dawn of the technical age but must compete with young job seekers entering the labor market and corporations outsourcing world-wide.

To employers groaning they need employees, the market is full of potential, qualified applicants. Go for it, seniors!

Learn more about this author, Helen Woytovech.
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