After reading yet another piece written by someone who is gainfully employed about the unemployment crisis, I ingested a rather large piece of humble pie and decided to address the issue in first person.
Like many of my unemployed 40- and 50-something marketing colleagues, I've been on a job hunt for the better part of a year. During that time, I've had consulting projects here and there that temporarily pay the bills. I have never filed for unemployment, deciding to dig into my bank account rather than get my own personal government bailout. And I pray a lot, hoping that around the corner, somewhere will be a professional "forever family" that wants to benefit from my talents and wealth of expertise.
I have been very fortunate and blessed in my career. I've won my fair share of awards, judged industry competitions, addressed conferences and I've even written a few books. Brandwashed: Why the Shopper Matters More Than What You're Selling has been well received and (thank God) is selling, but as any author will tell you, publishing business books isn't a guaranteed trip to Easy Street.
I'm considered an industry expert, and have worked in every consumer and trade channel known to man. As the Chief Creative Officer at a top tier agency, I advised blue chip companies including PepsiCo, Hershey's, Wal-Mart, Princess Cruises and a host of others. I owned a marketing agency and sold it, too, along the way. Now, when companies and agencies I reach out to take the time to respond (many don't) I'm told I'm overqualified (read "too old") rather than deeply experienced with a strong track record of moving sales for clients.
Refusing to be washed up at 40-something, (the marketing agency business is a young man's game) I've tried a host of ways to dive back into the job force. I've Linked In and blogged and published books and reached out to old friends (many in the same boat as I am) in an attempt to get back to the work I love. I've volunteered to relocate to just about anywhere, and take on just about any creative function on the corporate or agency side. And still, the gal who likes to make cash registers ring can't seem to do the same for her iPhone.
I'm a firm believer that God gives gifts. I love what I do for a living, and was given a gift to do it quite well. Marketing for me was a calling more than an employment avenue, and I miss the day-to-day of it desperately.
I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that I would be one of the faces of the unemployed in America. I had thought I would die like Grandma Moses did, a pencil in hand well into my 80s. I'm certainly not throwing in the towel, my Midwestern sensibilities wouldn't allow it. But I am considering that I might have to walk away from over 20 years of experience and find a different line of work. And what a personal and professional shame that would be.
Follow Sarah O'Leary on Twitter: www.twitter.com/SarahinMDR
National Unemployment Rate - Bureau of Labor Statistics
Boomers wanting to work past retirement age find limited options ...
Fact is, if you're over 50 and unemployed, invent you're own job. Hiring managers don't want women over 50, and that's it.
There is a current crisis for unemployed women over 50, and nobody's talking about it. I too have a admirable creative advertising career, won many awards, judged shows, yadda yadda yadda. It's over for us, in terms of working in a company with younger colleagues.
And in some ways, who would want to work with the current brand of "young people"? They don't have the work ethic necessary to do outstanding marketing campaigns. They're whiney. Three years ago, I was told by an intern (designer) that she couldn't find a photograph of Keith Lockhart online for and ad I was writing for The Boston Pops. They think texting is a viable form of office communication and they very simply don't have any "true grit."
SHe has had a good ride for awhile and hopefully will adjust to a new future.
She is not struggling financially and lots of folks are.
She is lucky.
you've found a way of paying your bills without having to ask for a government bailout.
I've made my way through graduate school by going to school full-time, and by having full-time babysitting, restaurant jobs. You can do it. I used to think to myself, when I 'm at my graduation ceremony, no one will know if I used to come to school on my Mercedes or with half of my legs sunk in snow, walking 3 miles to go to school, without a car.
There's no shame in finding jobs that pay your bills. As long as you're not doing anything illegal, or hurtful to you or others, a job is a job.
Finally, stay in the moment, enjoy the experience, there are lots of good people working minimum-wage jobs, you might find it pleasurable to meet them.
It is not a handout and calling it one you just misrepresented and insulted 14 million Americans, most of whom not only earned that form of compensation through years of hard work, but had no choice but to collect from that INSURANCE fund to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.
Now, you could have accurately said, " I am very well off and I did not collect from the Unemployment INSURANCE fund because I did not need it". Words matter and a marketing professional should know that better than anyone. Your spin on UI is highly disingenuous. Reminds me why I like Bill Hicks' take on marketing so much.
I salute you Ms. O'leary. Best of luck.
One thing I did think of for you was volunteer work. If you are lucky enough to have residuals and savings to live on, volunteer to do marketing for a non-profit espousing a cause dear to your heart. You never know where it may lead, and you'll still be doing what you like.