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My Greener Future: For the over 50 crowd

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Wednesday, September 18th 2024

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My Greener Future: For the over 50 crowd

The average cost of a college education in the United States is $35,720 a year — three times higher than it was two decades ago. Surging prices have led to unprecedented student debt levels totaling more than $1.7 trillion and may partially explain why college enrollment rates have fallen by nearly 2% a year since 2010. (This is the most expensive college in every state.) Nonetheless, while a college education may not be for everyone, it remains a valuable asset that can offer better access to career opportunities, improve job security, and increase earning potential. Nationwide, an estimated 33.1% of American adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Educational attainment rates vary considerably across the country, however, and in some major metropolitan areas, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is well above the national average.  Using education data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the most educated metro areas in the United States. In several of the metro areas on this list, over half of the adult population have at least a bachelor’s degree. (Here is a list of how many people have had a college degree every year since 1971.) Many of the metro areas on this list, such as Boston, New York, and San Francisco, are economic hubs with major industries that have been attracting college-educated professionals for decades. Others, such as Ithaca, New York; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Charlottesville, Virginia, are home to major research universities. These areas have large graduate school populations and often a concentration of employers seeking graduates for high-skill jobs.  The average weekly wage for a college-educated worker in the United States is about 67% higher than it is for those with no more than a high school diploma. Additionally, college-educated Americans are less than half as likely to be unemployed as those who only finished high school. In most metro areas on this list, the typical household earns more than the national median household income of $65,712, and most have a lower five-year average unemployment rate than the comparable 4.5% national figure.
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The average cost of a college education in the United States is $35,720 a year — three times higher than it was two decades ago. Surging prices have led to unprecedented student debt levels totaling more than $1.7 trillion and may partially explain why college enrollment rates have fallen by nearly 2% a year since 2010. (This is the most expensive college in every state.) Nonetheless, while a college education may not be for everyone, it remains a valuable asset that can offer better access to career opportunities, improve job security, and increase earning potential. Nationwide, an estimated 33.1% of American adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Educational attainment rates vary considerably across the country, however, and in some major metropolitan areas, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is well above the national average.  Using education data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the most educated metro areas in the United States. In several of the metro areas on this list, over half of the adult population have at least a bachelor’s degree. (Here is a list of how many people have had a college degree every year since 1971.) Many of the metro areas on this list, such as Boston, New York, and San Francisco, are economic hubs with major industries that have been attracting college-educated professionals for decades. Others, such as Ithaca, New York; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Charlottesville, Virginia, are home to major research universities. These areas have large graduate school populations and often a concentration of employers seeking graduates for high-skill jobs.  The average weekly wage for a college-educated worker in the United States is about 67% higher than it is for those with no more than a high school diploma. Additionally, college-educated Americans are less than half as likely to be unemployed as those who only finished high school. In most metro areas on this list, the typical household earns more than the national median household income of $65,712, and most have a lower five-year average unemployment rate than the comparable 4.5% national figure.
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The marketplace is strong, but very different from five or 10 years ago. As you reach 50 and older, there are certain things you need to know and do. These are the realities:

  • The higher the job and pay you aspire to, the longer the job search.
  • There are many jobs available, but hiring managers are being very picky.
  • Your specific experiences are the primary driver and must define your strategy.
  • Your next job may or may not be at the level and pay you anticipate.
  • You may need to make compromises and alternative decisions.

The strategies you deploy will determine your degree of success. Consider the following:

Contacts: Your professional and personal networks are your primary resources. Job search websites are a great secondary resource. Use them.

Sharpen your skill sets: Take a course or become certified in a competence area. Since artificial intelligence will affect 50% of all jobs, your value will be heightened.

Drop old email addresses: Email addresses that you’ve used for 10 or more years are antiquated, like AOL, Yahoo or Cox. Use a contemporary address like gmail.com.

Demonstrate experiences toward solutions: Present yourself as a problem-solver who has gotten terrific results. Measurable examples are your best examples.

Be a supporter not a competitor: Market yourself as a support to others — boss peers and subordinates. Show them that you’re a great assist to their results.

Show that you are flexible: Give examples of a quick response to a problem in the past, where you provided new ways of operating that gave a competitive edge.

Emphasize the team effort: Hiring managers look for contributors to the group results and “fit” the organizational culture. You want the light to shine on others first.

Anticipate a diminished title or pay level: Leave the title and pay discussion until an offer.  Chances are there is another candidate right behind you who will accept the job.

Look for the special situation: Examples — A family-owned company needs guidance for the younger generation, or a business that has a problem that you have successfully solved. Or, a transitional situation that requires an experienced hand.

Plan for a continuum out to age 65 or 70. Your strategy changes from climbing the career ladder to productive years leading to retirement. Choose your job carefully.

Emphasize your potential contribution. Other than your functional skills, you are:• More mature, stable and will stick around while others may last a year or so, then leave after being trained and increasingly productive.• You have soft skills that have developed over the years, like supervising a work group, effective communications, working well with others, a team lead and so on

Take a hard look at your career situation for the next five, 10 or 15 years. Can you remain in your current position, move up, or be expected to make way for others? Rather than have someone else make the decision for you, plan where you want to be and how to get there.

Send me questions for an article or a review of your resume: wkaufmann44@gmail.com.

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