| Written by Veronica Rolfes, on 30-07-2007 18:25 |
Give Your Career a Facelift
Forty might be the new 30, but there are still factors in your career that can age, no matter how much Botox® you might use. Learn how to bridge the generation gap with these tips.
There is no face mask, wrinkle fighter or surgery that can help you
now. Do you feel that your age shows? Well, at least in the workplace?
Most women hope to age gracefully, but while we focus on how to stay
looking young, we tend to forget how our career gets those fine lines
too. The Generation X’ers (considered ages 19-34 in the workplace) are
coming full speed ahead into the workforce, taking out anyone in their
path. OK, so it might not be that extreme, but we are better known as
the “me generation."
Generation X, Baby Boomers and Women
Women who have been in the workforce or at the same job, for 20 or more
years have what the younger generations want — seniority. Whether it is
raises based on longevity with the company or gaining rights because of
loyalty, Baby Boomers have what Gen. X can’t have. However, the younger
crowd has the technological skills and higher education that many older
people don’t, but then again with age comes experience and knowledge.
The younger generation also has a completely different work ethic and
belief system, making it that much difficult to breach the two
generations. The older generation might wait to be told what to do, the
younger generation tends to “just do it”. Where as Baby Boomers believe
you get promotions for all the long, hard years put into the company,
Generation X’ers believe you get paid for performance. The most common
difference is education. Those from Generation X went to college, had
accelerated classes in high school and for the better part of their
late teens/early 20s, spent their time preparing themselves for
careers. Baby Boomers worked their way up the ranks, sacrificing
personal matters to keep their job, and had no pressure to obtain
education after high school.
Being a woman in the mix of all this competition doesn’t help your
cause either. Taking time off for having children or staying with them
until they go to school can be a hard pill to swallow when entering the
workforce again. An even bigger problem, numerous women in their 40s
and 50s are entering the workforce for the first time. The statistic on
divorce rates is scary enough, but women who are tossed into the
dog-eat-dog world after ending a 20+ year marriage are finding
themselves in uncharted territory.
Making the Change
Whether you are entering the workforce for the first time or have been
loyal to your company for countless years, there are several ways to
get noticed or keep your competitive advantage. Here are some helpful
tips to give your career a face-lift:
Go back to school. If you already have a degree, enroll for a
certificate program or associates degree. Try taking a class here or
there to stay current in your field. There are many avenues to take
with obtaining some sort of improved education, such as community
programs, college courses or workshops offered by your employer. The
Cincinnati area is great for continuing education with large
universities, community colleges and fine arts programs.
Utilize the internet. If you are a stay-at-home mom and want to get a
college degree before your kids get old enough for grade school, apply
for online colleges. There are also an array of certificates you can
obtain online from Microsoft applications to basic human relations
skills.
Use the resources already at your fingertips. Many employers are now
offering tuition reimbursement for college credits that can be applied
to the business. Just keep a good grade and you can get a degree on the
company’s dime!
See a career counselor. They can administer a personality test called
the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, a Strong Interest Inventory or a
combined MBTI/SIT. Career counselors specialize in helping find the
right career for you and can be extremely beneficial when entering the
workforce for the first time or feel it’s time for something new.
Get to know the younger generation. *GASP!* Yes, that is correct, talk
to the Generation X employees. They can offer helpful hints with
computer software and programs or can share innovative ways to get the
job done differently. It can also aide in understanding them better.
Many qualified, excellent young workers leave a company because they
feel as though the older generation doesn’t get them, which can
actually end up hurting the company. Who knows, you mind up picking up
a few pointers from them.
So ladies, give your career a tummy tuck, lift or just polish up your
already good looks and show the youngins’ whose in charge — we’ll talk
about changing that wardrobe later.
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