After a lifetime of working in customer service positions,
Kathy suddenly found herself facing layoff after her employer decided to hire
younger staff who were willing to work part-time versus full-time hours.
Instead of accepting the prospect of early retirement, the
55-year-old decided to retrain through her local Tourism Education Council in
an area of customer service she had never tried. Following a five-week course
in tourism and front desk training, she quickly found a full-time hotel job in
her chosen hospitality career.
"I thought the graduates would have to start at the
bottom of the ladder, since we were the rookies despite our experience,"
she says. "But after I faxed in my resume, I had my hotel interview the
next day, and I was working three days later at the Gordon Hotel chain."
Mature Workers Finding Steady Employment
Kathy's experience, it turns out, is becoming increasingly
common as mature workers choose to remain in the workforce past retirement or
return to part-time and full-time jobs. As people live longer and healthier
lives, and with the abolition of mandatory retirement laws, there is a pool of
talented candidates who want to continue contributing to society.
The hospitality industry has a critical need for such
workers. According to the U.S.
Bureau of Labor Statistics:
- Accommodation
and food services make up about 8.1% of all employment.
- Employment
in the accommodation and food services industries is forecast to grow 18%
between 2002 and 2012, accounting for more than 1.6 million new jobs.
- At the
same time, hospitality will lose 10 million workers in the U.S.
by 2010.
The Older Advantage
The advantages older workers offer to the people-hungry
hospitality industry are many:
- Experience.
Many mature workers have already worked 30 to 50 years, so they have
wisdom and expertise to offer.
- Financial
security. They're empty nesters who have paid off their mortgages, so
their financial priorities have changed. They no longer face the same
financial stresses as their younger counterparts.
- Patience.
Because of their vast experience, mature workers have seen it all and done
it all, so they're better able to react calmly to stressful situations.
- Work
ethic. Today's older workers come from a background that values hard work
for fair pay. They're loyal and dedicated, and they're not always looking
over their shoulder for the next opportunity.
- Flexibility.
They're flexible in the types of jobs they'll perform and the hours
they'll work.
It was this flexibility that helped get Kathy her hotel job.
"In the interview, I looked straight into the GM's eyes and said, 'I want
this job, and you won't be sorry if you give me this job. I have the
personality and the qualifications. At the same time, I am willing to be
flexible enough to do other jobs in your building, if necessary. If the
bartender can't make it, I can do his job. I'm prepared to do whatever it takes
at a moment's notice because I'm a team player.'"
What Older Workers Want
Why are so many mature workers seeking out jobs in the
hospitality industry? Hotel, restaurant, resort and foodservice jobs offer the
kind of flexibility many retirees seek as they change careers or return to
post-retirement employment.
This is what motivated Paulette LeBlanc to return to work
after taking early retirement at 53. "I stayed at home and raised two
daughters. Once they had left for university, I wanted a part-time job that
would give me some extra money and allow me to travel," she says. She also
sought a new career that would combine her love of cooking with a desire to
work with people. She applied to a nearby four and half star establishment, The
Little Shemogue Inn, where she helps in the kitchen and also greets guests as
they arrive.
"In this day and age, 58 is not old," she says.
I've worked all my life, and 58 to me is not old to work with the public.
That's what keeps you young - to be out of the home, to do a part-time job. My
dad is 81, and he's still working part-time. It's good for the morale to be out
with people and not stuck in your home."
Tips for Mature Workers
Do you see yourself switching jobs or returning to a career
in the hospitality industry?
Wendy Swedlove, president of the Tourism Human Resource
Council, offers this advice:
- It's
not important to stay competitive; it's important to understand the work involved
in the job and then go and sell yourself to an employer based on your
talents.
- Know
your limitations. If it's a restaurant job requiring heavy lifting, ask
yourself whether you've got the physical stamina required.
- Be
clear in your interview. If you're applying for a hotel job, for instance,
let your prospective employer know what hours you're willing to work.
- Know
your financial worth. Be prepared, especially in a restaurant job, to
accept wages that might be lower than you're used to.
- Be a
team player and a good co-worker. If you're working in a hospitality job
where you're the oldest staff member, remember to respect the other
workers. That way, after a while, your age will become
"invisible."