On Labor Day, readers seek some work advice

Eve Tahmincioglu • Profile • E-mail

Happy Labor Day, everyone! Time for me to open up the mailbag and answer some of your specific questions:

I was laid off from my computer programming position four years ago after the company was bought out and downsized.  I looked for another position but even the headhunter I used for years was getting out of the IT-only recruitment because IT jobs had dried up so badly here in Cincinnati.  My husband works for GM. and we were OK without my paycheck.

Then GM started failing.  Needless to say we needed another paycheck two years ago to make up for the lost overtime and no yearly increases at GM.  With my parents' needs growing I was able to find a part-time position as an office assistant that is very flexible.  Now GM is still not back on its feet, and the plant my husband works at is unsure of its future.  He is pressuring me to find a better-paying job.  That means back into the career field I left four years ago.  I realize my programming skills are not up to the requirements for PCs since I did mainly mainframes.  So I modified my search to find a better fit.  Business analyst seems to fit the bill as I speak fluent computer and I can also speak fluent business, so I know I can bring the two worlds together and provide value for any company.

I feel I am shut out of IT completely.  I tried talking to the headhunter I used, but he says it is nearly impossible to find a job after being out of the field for ANY length of time and said good luck.

I can’t believe all employers believe that you forget everything the minute you take time off.  I was told I had to lower my salary expectations, which I also did by $10,000 a year, but that does not help either.

What does it REALLY take to get back into a career?  Should I just give up and keep plugging away at being an office assistant?  I know I’m more talented and skilled than that but I can’t seem to catch a break.  Am I looking at the wrong issue with my search?  Could it be my age instead?  I am 55.
—K.C. from Cincinnati

One of the hardest things to do is get back into an industry you’ve been away from for more than a year. But it’s not impossible.

You must be ready to take a step down and enter the world of the entry-level worker, says Tom Gimbel, CEO of staffing firm The LaSalle Network. “You have to take one step backwards to take two steps forward,” he explains.

You’ve already accepted that you have to expect less money, but you also have to accept a lower-level position such as a help desk employee. Business analyst may be aiming a bit too high, Gimbel adds. “If you really have the passion for the job” and the drive to prove yourself, he says, you’ll move up the ladder quickly.

When applying for job, if a hiring manager says you seem overqualified just stress that you’re looking to learn and get back into the industry you love.

And you could be onto something about the age bias issue. There are employers who shy away from older workers, but you can’t let that get you down. Focus on what you can bring to the table and make sure to show your enthusiasm for the job.

Your best bet, Gimbel advises, is to go to a temporary staffing agency and get a position to get your feet wet.

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