Stop Looking For A Job And Create An Income
With the rapid changes in the structure of the employment market, mature job seekers need to be more agile in their thinking about work. Experts around the world are predicting that the majority of organizations around the world will move to more flexible freelance workforces in the next decade.
On top of age related discrimination that has been foiling job searches for mature workers in the past ten years, this latest trend isn’t great news.
Research already shows that mature workers can take up to twice as long to find a job.
The solution isn’t in banging your head against the brick wall that is the traditional job market. It is about thinking about your experience, skills and what you love doing and matching that to customers who need what you have to offer.
This requires taking more of a ‘business owner’ viewpoint to your skill set and experience and looking at the market for your services.
There is no doubt that in the future, it is likely more mature workers will be freelance consultants, or in the popular jargon - ‘gigsters’. This term means someone who hires out their time and experience to multiple buyers instead of one employer. They may operate through a ‘portal’ like UBER for example that does the marketing of the service, or they may approach potential customers themselves.
Either way, the financials security you are looking for as a mature worker may well come from multiple sources in the future, rather than one job, one company, one pay cheque.
Here’s three things you can do right now to start your plan for the future:
Research the trends in your market for your job or skill set - which industries are using more of what you know and do and which are using less. It will also pay to know how technology is changing your profession.
Research if there is indeed an existing marketplace you can tap into. For professionals there are sites where you can create a profile and start searching for opportunities. There are also recruitment firms who help place skilled professionals in short term ‘gigs’ or contracts as opposed to full time employment.
Do a personal skills audit. Whilst you may not need to update your technical skills in the career you’ve been in, becoming a freelancer might mean you need to develop some skills in marketing or selling yourself to potential customers. And perhaps some other business skills like managing cashflow or client service.
According to the research I’ve done - which is extensive - the Future of Work is actually here right now, so your financial security depends on you taking a broader view of how to earn an income rather than thinking of the narrow option of apply for a job, send a resume, do an interview and get a job.
Good luck on the journey.
About the Author
Hunter Leonard is a best selling author and business owner based in Australia who has helped over 500 clients achieve more than $2billion in revenue growth. He is passionate about contributing to an end to ageism. His latest book - The Experience Equation - is available now on Amazon. For more information please visit silverandwise.com.au
