Typical American Career path - esp after 50

[Anonymous]

I’ve had several friends laid off this year; we are all around 50 and have been in the same company for 10-20 years. They were still low level like managers or IC — not leadership or executive path.

However I don’t know many people in corporate America — my whole family worked for the county and here in DC we work for the govt and know either gov workers, contractors, or BigLaw partners.

What is the career path and out look for working to retirement as a F500 IC in like Chicago or Dallas? Does most of America live in fear of layoffs as they near 50??

[Anonymous]

Consulting or start your own business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Consulting or start your own business.

They can’t just transition to a smaller corporation or a lower ranked role at a similar F500?

Does consulting really bring in money when you were a random IC working on your niche at a company?

[Anonymous]

I am nearing sixty and I have clearly plateaued: I cost more than my colleagues now and I worry about being laid off: I always believed all that “we are a family” BS and now I am wondering what it was all for

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am nearing sixty and I have clearly plateaued: I cost more than my colleagues now and I worry about being laid off: I always believed all that “we are a family” BS and now I am wondering what it was all for

Why are you still working that hard at 60?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am nearing sixty and I have clearly plateaued: I cost more than my colleagues now and I worry about being laid off: I always believed all that “we are a family” BS and now I am wondering what it was all for

Do most American aim to retire at 67? I can’t imagine a company keeping a 60 year working along side 30 year olds… it happened in the Office though?

[Anonymous]

I don’t think it is age related necessarily. I hired two people in their 50s. Both were solid hires. It’s about value creation, energy, ability to keep up, ie travel when needed, do evening events if that’s warranted by the company, etc. Basically you can’t act like you’d prefer to be on a rocking chair.

A lot of people who leave at 50 + either start their own company, move into consulting, or do Fractional C-suite stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think it is age related necessarily. I hired two people in their 50s. Both were solid hires. It’s about value creation, energy, ability to keep up, ie travel when needed, do evening events if that’s warranted by the company, etc. Basically you can’t act like you’d prefer to be on a rocking chair.

A lot of people who leave at 50 + either start their own company, move into consulting, or do Fractional C-suite stuff.

So most 50 year olds laid off by like P&G become c-suite part-times? That seems pretty niche.

[Anonymous]

It's very hard to get hired after 50. They don't want to pay what you expect and prefer younger workers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's very hard to get hired after 50. They don't want to pay what you expect and prefer younger workers.

So what do most Americans do??? I only know people who don’t get laid off (teachers, contractors) or who retire with big money at 50 (lawyers and tech). My DS is looking at career paths outside this, and he is wondering what happens if he doesn’t want to run up the career ladder??

[Anonymous]

I got laid off for my 50th birthday and my career/income never recovered. I caught on with a small company in another field am still working there today.

Nobody wants to talk to you "cold" when you are that old.Me and everyone I know in that situation got their next job through personal connections - you have to know somebody.

My brother made the jump to a government job when he was in his early 50s and has been very happy with his choice. (he was always the smart one)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's very hard to get hired after 50. They don't want to pay what you expect and prefer younger workers.

So what do most Americans do??? I only know people who don’t get laid off (teachers, contractors) or who retire with big money at 50 (lawyers and tech). My DS is looking at career paths outside this, and he is wondering what happens if he doesn’t want to run up the career ladder??

Career ladder is a must. F10 job we all knew that if we weren't moving up we'd get lateraled to some marginal position, then eventually pushed out. Connections, politics are almost more important than being the best at your position. Lots of moving with most any promotion.

If your DS is hungry for it, don't go big corporate. Go government.

[Anonymous]

You have to make it to c-suite or just below in the giant corporations (with a track record of quantifiable results) to become a fractional c-suite consultant.

There is no coasting if you want to make it past 50 in a F100.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I got laid off for my 50th birthday and my career/income never recovered. I caught on with a small company in another field am still working there today.

Nobody wants to talk to you "cold" when you are that old.Me and everyone I know in that situation got their next job through personal connections - you have to know somebody.

My brother made the jump to a government job when he was in his early 50s and has been very happy with his choice. (he was always the smart one)

I just did this and feel very fortunate to be starting a great government position at 55. Age bias is real on the corporate side!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You have to make it to c-suite or just below in the giant corporations (with a track record of quantifiable results) to become a fractional c-suite consultant.

There is no coasting if you want to make it past 50 in a F100.

These companies are huge, but they all can’t become executives— what happens to most employees in their 50s ?