Suddenly 60: Has Anyone Seen My Career Lately? Anyone?

Suddenly 60: Did Anyone Happen to See Where my Career Went? Anyone?

Sharon Elaine Pegues

04/25/2018

I was 62 years old before my 60’s actually caught up with me career-wise, that is. Until then I was an in-demand and experienced government contract and project coordinator with a history of rewarding and solid jobs; I was what you might call a “60 is the new 50” kind of woman. I attended my neighborhood gym regularly and lived in a very tony downtown high-rise with an awe-inspiring view.

Then three months into a four-year government contract, I was hit with an unexpected job layoff, and an abysmal job market for baby boomers: Recruiters who once called incessantly with potential contract opportunities went silent. Suddenly there was no quick job turnaround for my next contract move as had been the norm for the last 15 years: My career age of 60 had indeed caught up with me. Though I have a reputation as a solid writer and well-respected contractor, career opportunities continued to elude me. Finally, with no job and only unemployment compensation to sustain me, I was forced to leave my tony address. So, I packed my belongings and moved back home with family in northern New Jersey.

The rule of thumb is you don’t move back to New Jersey: You escape and visit on occasions. But I was grateful to return and find some perennial bright spots: The nearness and enduring love and support of life-long friends, family and of course La Trattoria’s pizza. There’s nothing like a Jersey pie. On the downside, spring never seems to make its way up the turnpike until Memorial Day: Here it was April, 40 degrees and the threat of snow showers.

Sitting at the corner window in La Trattoria on this frigid April afternoon, I waited for one of those bright spots to join me for pizza and champagne, which is such an underrated meal and beverage combination. Charlene came bouncing through the door exuding the same energy and love for me she’s had since we were Vailsburg High School cheerleaders. Isn’t it amazing how the love between real friends grants no deference to time nor distance?

After our first toast of Veuve, Charlene asked how she could help. And as all my friends had done upon learning of the loss of my job, income and home, Charlene rattled off the have-you-tried-this-yet-job-search checklist. “Have you looked for work outside your skill set?” She asked while scrolling through her phone for potential job contacts.

“Yes, I’ve done everything I can think of,” I said. “I have an assortment of resumes that depict my project/contract coordination skills and experience as well as every residual skill I’ve picked up over the years. I have resumes that highlight every talent and experience I’ve gleaned since I began working: receptionist, administrative assistant, office manager, customer service rep. Hey, after 30+ years in the overall job market, I have a lot of valuable tools in my wheelhouse. Ay, there's the rub: It’s the 30+ years that limit my job opportunities. And before you ask, yes, I’ve contacted every single person who either agreed to be a resource or has an aunt, uncle, cousin, neighbor or brother who might be a resource. Dr. Phil – who I now have too much time to watch – recommends to all his job-seeking guests that they make looking for work their 9 – 5 daily job, and I’m on top of it. Unfortunately, what the good doctor does not share is the fact that if you’re a baby boomer, your next shot at meaningful employment may be as a crossing guard or Wal-Mart greeter.

1. Curriculum Vitae (CV): Consider presenting your rich career history in a Curriculum Vitae: It is longer than a resume (more than 2 pages), and can capture community service accomplishments, academic achievements, research, awards and training milestones.

2. The Career Mission Statement: I like to call this a CV and resume cocktail: Using a variation of the CV and resume, it can include the how’s and why’s of your career history and choices (e.g., your accomplishments at each job vis-à-vis achieving your life's missions and goals). Be sure to detail each mission. Include tangible and measurable results that demonstrate how each was achieved during the employment period and the impact.

3. The Career Passions Mini-document (CPMD): This is a concise capture of your career skills, experience, expertise and how passionate you are about them. For me, it's a handy bulleted document that’s easy to keep (and memorize) on your tablet, cell phone or a business card. Yes, people still use business cards. You never know when a potential opportunity will show up: Someone may ask you to discuss with or send them your career passions and achievements in a nutshell.

Hi Emily -

In a nutshell, I am an experienced and synergistic project/program coordinator. My passion lies in delivering strong task order and project management while ensuring contract and project efficiencies in the following ways:

• Being the forward-facing client point of contact.
• Ensuring tactical contractor-to-client team communication and business requirements collaboration and follow up.
• Engaging with various levels of senior management, program area leads, and multi-Federal Government constituents to move contract project initiatives and deliverables forward.
• Employing my writing, communication and quality assurance skills to technical/policy documents and presentations.
• And maybe most importantly, I am at my best in an environment that engages my love for and expertise in gathering/interpreting policy-driven information across all management, department, and discipline levels.

Thanks again, Emily. I hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Sharon Pegues

Do you know how many interviews I’ve attended where I recognize immediately that I’m the only person in the office who remembers rotary dial phones and life before cable TV? Most of the interviewers have all been young enough to be my children, or grandchildren in some depressing cases. They all loved my resume, interview technique, and presentation skills, but I got no call-backs. At this point, I thank God for social security until I figure out some way to start the coins jingling again.

Maybe even worse news, my eyebrows are turning grey. I tried this product called Good Riddance Gray. You know, one of those mascara-like wands for coverage. I happened to look in the mirror a couple of hours later, and I was Groucho Marx. All I needed was a cigar. Of course, it was water-proof. So, I went through the entire day with something like little black mink stoles over my eyelids.

“I found the phone number,” Charlene said. “I want you to call and send your resume to a friend of mine. She knows people at Beth Israel Hospital: Her cousin’s mother’s sister-in-law’s brother has a carpool buddy whose ex-wife’s daughter is a part-time receptionist in the human resources office. Maybe she can help you find something.” It finally occurred to me that this I got a great job contact suggestion syndrome was epidemic among everyone I knew, and there’s no cure.

Despite my best efforts and every prayer and positive affirmation said on my behalf as I’ve searched fervently for work over the last 10 months, nothing is on the horizon. Somehow before I knew it, the time had absconded with my career. And I am now a member of the 60+ plus job seekers club who is ageing out of the traditional job market. So, we must forge new careers and financial stability paths. Like my club members, I too must reinvent and re-market my undeniable God-given talents. I’ve even determined my own club credo: My age does not belie my capabilities nor talents. Both will secure my future in new, fulfilling and prosperous ways.

Most disheartening is this almost Soylent Green political climate in which we 60 is the new 50 generation find ourselves. This administration supports no part of our concept as evidenced by its harsh policies which directly impact our poor and elderly. These edicts result in the trickledown pain we boomers now experience as services and programs, that once supported elder care for our families, evaporate. Indeed, we recognize how very close we stand on the edge of the precipice of becoming the elderly, and in some cases the elderly and poor. Suddenly, the Wal-Mart greeter job doesn’t sound half bad.

After our final sips of champagne and splitting the last slice of pizza, Charlene and I were off to our respective cars. I was now determined to conquer the challenges associated with ensuring a new career path and financial future. More immediately, I was determined to navigate the road home among the Mario Andrettiesque drivers racing on the Garden State Parkway South. Among whom, Charlene held pole position. “You know what?” she said before joining her racing team, “Not for nothing, but 60 is still the new 50 and you will turn this so-called loss into a lasting opportunity. I know you got this.”