Are we all destined for a stable career lasting only 18 years?

[Anonymous]

I’m 53 and have 24 years with my company. We did just have layoffs, but our group of 45+ year old ppl went unscathed

[Anonymous]

I changed careers at 29, 45, and 60.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And where do all these over 40 people go?
Genuinely curious bc i own my own business and line my work and can never see myself retiring

I would love to do this. But have no idea what the business would be. If I do get laid off, I’m going to go to some small businesses I know of/have worked with and ask to be hired even as an entry level manning the phones type. I’m very organized and a very hard worker, plus have marketing and selling experience. Maybe I could advance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I changed careers at 29, 45, and 60.

At 60? Curious what you switched to! This is inspiring.

[Anonymous]

You have to job hop. You have to leave the job before the job kicks you out. IMO, that's the secret.

And it is 100% true that it's easier to find a job while you have a job.

I start job hopping in 2019 and it has been the only way I've significantly increased my salary. Typical raises at the company I was with for 8 years was 1%-1.2%. Switching from that job to the next netted me a 17% pay bump. I stayed there for 2 years and bumped up 12% at the next job. I've been at this current job for 4 years and I'm getting the urge to find something new. I've stayed for 4 years because my commute is amazing *chef's kiss* and as long as the company hits its sales goals for 3 out of 4 quarters, we get a 5% raise yearly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are we all destined for a stable career lasting only 18 years?

Graduate at 22, work for 18 years, get laid off at 40 and that's it. If you have saved enough for retirement great. If not, you are f**d.

Is this the future??

Stop complaining. I changed fields 3x and I am not even 40. My spouse in 40s changed sectors 3x too and worked in many different companies/orgs. Both laid off years ago and had to do it. Did what we could, networked, got new roles.

It is also a lesson. When you are on a high be kind and respectful because when you are down people will remember how you treated them. How many people did you help who reached out to you? Did you network with others and make connections?

[Anonymous]

For me it was having kids late 30s, mommy tracking myself, and then never making it back on track. Still working but I'm dead end roles at lower pay. I am contemplating leaving and starting a business because I think I missed the last train to success within a corporate track and I'm now late 40s.

Some days I'm optimistic that my "second act" could be better than my first. Other days I'm not so sure. When I started working in my 20s, I was underestimated the impact having kids would have in my career. My mom didn't work when I was a kid and I didn't realize what that looks like from inside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are we all destined for a stable career lasting only 18 years?

Graduate at 22, work for 18 years, get laid off at 40 and that's it. If you have saved enough for retirement great. If not, you are f**d.

Is this the future??

Stop complaining. I changed fields 3x and I am not even 40. My spouse in 40s changed sectors 3x too and worked in many different companies/orgs. Both laid off years ago and had to do it. Did what we could, networked, got new roles.

It is also a lesson. When you are on a high be kind and respectful because when you are down people will remember how you treated them. How many people did you help who reached out to you? Did you network with others and make connections?

+1 I recently got an email from someone I know who was laid off and asking about roles where I work. I had reached out to them years ago when I wanted to pivot and they basically ghosted me. I had experience in that field and they did not care to even have a conversation or even reply that they could not interfere/whatever. They now expect me to go above and beyond for them and I remember how they treated me. I told them I was sorry they were laid off and sent off a few jobs I thought they might be a good fit for and that was it.

You also shouldn't reach out to people only when you want something. I know those types. You really need to keep your network especially when you're successful. People remember how you treat them and will more likely help /connect you if you helped them/were kind/met for a coffee/replied to their email. It doesn't take much either. At a conference, share business cards and come up with something so people remember you. Those you had a real connection with send a quick email a week or two after the conference saying great to meet them *little tidbit you remember* and to keep in touch.

I know someone high up in their organization who basically got where he is due to acting this way. I first found it transactional, but I realized he always reciprocates.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are we all destined for a stable career lasting only 18 years?

Graduate at 22, work for 18 years, get laid off at 40 and that's it. If you have saved enough for retirement great. If not, you are f**d.

Is this the future??

Stop complaining. I changed fields 3x and I am not even 40. My spouse in 40s changed sectors 3x too and worked in many different companies/orgs. Both laid off years ago and had to do it. Did what we could, networked, got new roles.

It is also a lesson. When you are on a high be kind and respectful because when you are down people will remember how you treated them. How many people did you help who reached out to you? Did you network with others and make connections?

+1 I recently got an email from someone I know who was laid off and asking about roles where I work. I had reached out to them years ago when I wanted to pivot and they basically ghosted me. I had experience in that field and they did not care to even have a conversation or even reply that they could not interfere/whatever. They now expect me to go above and beyond for them and I remember how they treated me. I told them I was sorry they were laid off and sent off a few jobs I thought they might be a good fit for and that was it.

You also shouldn't reach out to people only when you want something. I know those types. You really need to keep your network especially when you're successful. People remember how you treat them and will more likely help /connect you if you helped them/were kind/met for a coffee/replied to their email. It doesn't take much either. At a conference, share business cards and come up with something so people remember you. Those you had a real connection with send a quick email a week or two after the conference saying great to meet them *little tidbit you remember* and to keep in touch.

I know someone high up in their organization who basically got where he is due to acting this way. I first found it transactional, but I realized he always reciprocates.

Some people have roles that don’t have any influence on hiring (esp true in Govt Hr) and don’t manage contracts or sales so can’t direct business. How do we reciprocate— I can tell when I network people see me as “worthless” even though I try to helpful and connect people who I think might benefit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are we all destined for a stable career lasting only 18 years?

Graduate at 22, work for 18 years, get laid off at 40 and that's it. If you have saved enough for retirement great. If not, you are f**d.

Is this the future??

Stop complaining. I changed fields 3x and I am not even 40. My spouse in 40s changed sectors 3x too and worked in many different companies/orgs. Both laid off years ago and had to do it. Did what we could, networked, got new roles.

It is also a lesson. When you are on a high be kind and respectful because when you are down people will remember how you treated them. How many people did you help who reached out to you? Did you network with others and make connections?

+1 I recently got an email from someone I know who was laid off and asking about roles where I work. I had reached out to them years ago when I wanted to pivot and they basically ghosted me. I had experience in that field and they did not care to even have a conversation or even reply that they could not interfere/whatever. They now expect me to go above and beyond for them and I remember how they treated me. I told them I was sorry they were laid off and sent off a few jobs I thought they might be a good fit for and that was it.

You also shouldn't reach out to people only when you want something. I know those types. You really need to keep your network especially when you're successful. People remember how you treat them and will more likely help /connect you if you helped them/were kind/met for a coffee/replied to their email. It doesn't take much either. At a conference, share business cards and come up with something so people remember you. Those you had a real connection with send a quick email a week or two after the conference saying great to meet them *little tidbit you remember* and to keep in touch.

I know someone high up in their organization who basically got where he is due to acting this way. I first found it transactional, but I realized he always reciprocates.

Some people have roles that don’t have any influence on hiring (esp true in Govt Hr) and don’t manage contracts or sales so can’t direct business. How do we reciprocate— I can tell when I network people see me as “worthless” even though I try to helpful and connect people who I think might benefit.

First off, those people are rude! Second, I don’t think you have to have a direct ability to hire someone to be seen as reciprocating. I’m really introverted, so true ‘networking’ can be tough for me. But I’ve found that if you get a reputation as someone who is generally kind, helpful, and hardworking - someone who makes other peoples’ lives easier - people will want to help you as well.

I had an acquaintance post on LinkedIn about being laid off. I wasn’t particularly close to this person but I remembered them as being kind and competent. I don’t have a job for them, but I shot them a message with a job at my company that looked up their alley and an offer to refer them at my current company or facilitate a referral at my prior, large company. Whether these result in an offer or not, I imagine this person will remember this and potentially would help me as well if the roles were reversed. Side note, the ‘reciprocating’ you provide doesn’t need to be work related! I try to text old colleagues periodically just to say I’m thinking of them or ‘I saw XYZ and it made me think of the trip you were planning to Europe, how did that go?’ Take an interest and be nice and people will reciprocate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depends on the job. DH and I (physician and psychologist) are in our 50’s and don’t know anyone who has been laid off in our line of work.

Yeah, I've never heard of a doctor, nurse or any medical professional being laid off. Ptobably the most solid industry at this point.

[Anonymous]

My parents were in healthcare and very secure jobs; never changed careers.

If you want to beat AI, probably be in healthcare.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I changed careers at 29, 45, and 60.

I was going to say, I'm 51 and haven't gotten 18 years of stability yet. Good luck to me, good luck to all of us.

[Anonymous]

Some of the issue is that 40+ year olds demand more money than 30 year olds. And they aren’t with it. Salaries might not rise up your entire career.

I truly think it’s a money thing why people don’t want to hire older people. That and of course people slow down but that does happen until 55+.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some of the issue is that 40+ year olds demand more money than 30 year olds. And they aren’t with it. Salaries might not rise up your entire career.

I truly think it’s a money thing why people don’t want to hire older people. That and of course people slow down but that does happen until 55+.

What if I don’t need to work for money and I’m just doing it to avoid boredom? Are managers more eager to hire old-timers?