Older Workers - A Hidden Treasure by Roger Herman Looking for good workers? How about some people who will arrive on time--every day? What if I told you these people would work diligently, all day long, to get the job done? They'll probably have a pretty positive attitude; they like working, so they won't give their supervisors a lot of "lip." You can expect them to stay with you for years. They like to get settled and don't want to keep changing jobs all the time. Does this sound good to you? Does it sound too good to be true? These people--the people just described--are out there, looking for opportunities to work with you. Who am I talking about, you ask? I'm talking about older workers! And I'm including anyone over 55 in that category. People in their late fifties, sixties, and even seventies are looking for things to do to be productive. They're in pretty good health--mentally and physically--and have little desire to just sit around and wait for the Grim Reaper. They want to get back to work, and you can give them that opportunity. As companies close facilities and open new ones, shrink departments and expand others, and take steps to streamline their operations, a lot of older workers are finding themselves out of jobs. These people might well be just the workers you're looking for. They're skilled, experienced, and motivated in their work. The problem is that they probably won't come looking for you. They feel downtrodden, overlooked, forgotten, and put out to pasture. When they lose a job, usually at no fault of their own, they aren't sure just what to do. Most older workers are not accustomed to networking and the other activities associated with finding a new job. The job search--certainly today's version of the job search--is not something their generation is familiar with; it's uncomfortable for them. They feel like victims, ashamed that they're out of work. You can kill two birds with one stone here: you can find well-equipped workers and you can help someone out of a jam. However, laid-off employees are not the only source of older workers. Read on to find other avenues and resources... Retirees Retirees are proud to be retiredľat first. But sometimes, the thrill doesn't last that long. After a while, golfing, fishing, gardening, and. a cup of coffee down at the local diner get old These folks want something else to do--not necessarily full-time employment, but some part-time or temporary work might be nice. The desire for some much-deserved time off is strong, so people who retire do experience a period of time when they don't want to work . . . they may not even want to talk about it. After a while (and it's different for each person), they will probably become interested in working again, but they often don't have a clue about how to explore opportunities. In our society, we've created this image that after someone is 45 to 50, no one wants to hire them anymore. And, yes, some employers still have that outmoded attitude . . . to their own misfortune. Older workers are a treasure! They have wonderful experience--at work and in life. "Been there, done that" as a positive is alive and well. They have wisdom, maturity, and common sense. They're stable, not easily riled, and can deal well with customers. And, as an added benefit, they can serve as mentors and coaches to your younger employees. Recruit, Recruit There are many ways to recruit older workers. I'll share a few here, and encourage you to be creative and come up with your own tactics as well. Contact companies that may be laying off older workers as part of a downsizing or streamlining move. Ask their human resources professionals to post a notice that you're looking for people. They may refer you directly to some candidates. Be careful with the wording on any announcements--be sure not to use language that is discriminatory. Talk with members of the clergy in your community. They often know of older folks looking for something to do. If you have contract work to do, assembly or a mailing, for instance, consider contracting with the church--a Sunday school class, or a senior citizens group--to do the work right there at the church. It'll be almost like a social! Ask your current employees for referrals. They may know people from their neighborhood, friends of the family, or community acquaintances who they can invite to join your team. Contact retirement villages. Often the residents are still full of vim and vigor, but have simply chosen to live with people like themselves instead of residing in a traditional neighborhood with noise, kids, and other bothersome distractions. Opportunities for You Older workers provide great opportunities for you to tap into another labor pool in your community. Hiring these folks will enrich the diversity of your workforce and give you strengths you didn't even dream were available. Begin today to "age" your workforce. The value is one that can be difficult to find anywhere else.

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