“Early retirees still wanting to work, career changers, people who can't retire yet,” if these words describe your situation, the future opportunities are greater than you might expect.
The good news is that the employee market for potential employers is shrinking due to the significantly smaller size of Generation X. Authors and experts are predicting a mid-level worker shortfall of up to ten million workers by 2010. In addition, many senior level managers are less than excited about the perceived lack of loyalty and aloof attitude of Gen Xers. Dust off your resumes and get ready.
Interview Tips / Accentuate the Positive
1. Gen Xers are changing jobs at a rate of every 24 – 36 months. The cost to corporations is enormous and growing every day. Stress you willingness to find the right “fit” with an organization and demonstrate your loyalty.
2. Today’s managers are constantly finding their authority questioned by Gen X employees. Discuss your desire to find an organization with strong management vision and to be a team player with real-life examples from your past work history.
3. In order to gain an edge against a Gen X candidate, you need to offer to work a little overtime, or even be available on weekends. Gen Xers place paramount importance on family time over work commitments. Since presumably your days of “Little League” and “Dance Recitals” have since gone by, this may be a major advantage for you.
4. Discuss your lack of concern with Job Titles and lack of need for “notches” on your resume. Instead, discuss your strong willingness to help in any appropriate area of need, even to the point of being a “floater” to help the organization.
Above all else, interview with a smile and attentiveness to the needs of the organization. Ask, “How can someone with my skills help this organization to be successful?” Then respond to the identified needs with a humble passion. Your chances of landing a new job and contributing to the company will be better than you might expect.
Michael Muetzel