(The writer is a Reuters columnist. The opinions expressed are
his own. For more from Mark Miller, see http://link.reuters.com/qyk97s)
By Mark Miller
CHICAGO, Sept 21 (Reuters) – Growing numbers of older
Americans who have struggled to find work in the wake of the
Great Recession are doing something they once considered
unthinkable: They are taking temporary jobs.
And this is one of the best job moves they can make,
according to Kerry Hannon, author of the new book “AARP Great
Jobs for Everyone 50+” (Wiley).
“But I call it independent contracting, not temping,” Hannon
says. “It sounds more professional.”
While the 5.9 percent unemployment rate for people over age
55 is considerably lower than the 8.1 percent national average,
those out of work have a hard time finding full-time jobs,
mostly because they are more expensive to hire.
Unemployed people over 55 were jobless an average of 52.7
weeks in August, compared with just 36.1 weeks for younger
workers, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Temporary work is providing a solution. Just in the past
year, the independent workforce has grown to 16.9 million from
16 million, according to research by MBO Partners. Forty percent
of those contractors are 50 and older, and 10 percent are over
65, the Herndon, Virginia-based temporary employment company
found.
Hannon’s research suggests that much of the new independent
workforce is college-educated, with at least 10 years of
professional experience; the MBO study found that average
contractor income among people aged 50 to 64 was $77,000.
Employers are getting more interested in contract workers,
and only partly because of a reluctance to make full-time
commitments. A survey earlier this year by the Society for Human
Resources and AARP showed more than seven in 10 U.S. employers
were concerned about the loss of talented older workers and that
30 percent were hiring retirees as consultants or for part-time
jobs.
“The recession has really forced everyone to think
differently about the workplace and workforce issues,” says
Whitney Forstner, principal of Momentum Resources.
The Richmond, Virginia-based company, which specializes in
placing experienced workers in temporary positions, has found
the flexibility of contract work has attracted many people,
including those with young children or aging parents, or
retirees.
People most in demand right now, she says, include those
whose positions were among the first to go when the economy
crashed, such as those in recruiting, human resources and
marketing.
CHALLENGES
If your professional network is strong, you may be able to
find independent gigs on your own, but Hannon also recommends
checking out the growing number of temporary agencies, such as
Momentum Resources or Experis. Some even specialize in specific
professions, such as Special Counsel in San Francisco, which
works with attorneys.
Independent work has become much easier and less expensive
due to the Internet and low-cost office technology that permits
contractors to work from home. The MBO study found that most of
these employees can set themselves up with an initial investment
of $5,000 or less.
Health insurance has been a major obstacle for older workers
going it alone – but that will change in 2014.
Starting then, insurers will not be able to turn away
applicants because of pre-existing conditions, and individuals
will be able to shop for private healthcare policies through
competitive online exchanges. That will remove a major
impediment for older people who want to work on their own but
have not turned 65, the age they can enroll in the U.S.
government’s Medicare program.
MAKING IT WORK
Then there is the challenge of making a success of contract
work – whether in terms of converting to a full-time position,
negotiating for a repeat client, or even nabbing a referral to
another employer down the road. The good news is that many
qualities of a good employee also make for a good contractor,
including:
* Being a pro. “One big reason the employer has decided to
hire you is because they want someone who experienced, and can
step in and ramp up quickly without a lot of hand-holding and
training,” Hannon says. “Act the part.”
* Playing nicely with others. Make an effort to fit in
smoothly and quickly with other employees. “You’re probably
being hired to help with a last-minute project, or one with a
tight deadline, so it’s an all-hands on deck situation,” she
says.
* Practicing the three C’s: calm, cool, and collected. You
could be stepping into a fairly anxious and tense atmosphere, so
an upbeat, can-do attitude will be noted.
* Doing the time and more. “A solid work ethic makes you
stand out,” Hannon says. “There’s no harm in being the first one
in and last one out. If possible, offer to do more than
requested – provided you can really deliver the goods.”
(Follow us @ReutersMoney or at http://www.reuters.com/finance/personal-finance.
Editing by Beth Pinsker Gladstone and Lisa Von Ahn)
