Baby boomers were born roughly between 1946 and 1964, depending on which resource you agree with. Technically this means that we are all currently between the ages of 56 to 76 years old. To date, there are approximately 76 million baby boomers in the U.S. alone. I too am a member of this club. We were initially raised with fewer career opportunities as compared to today’s variety. We were taught to get a good job with a good medical plan, with dental and vision benefits included. The anticipated retirement plan was also a firmly engraved expectation.
Work hard. Play harder! Spend less. Save Much! This tried and true formula also implied that boomers could remain with the same company at the same location until retirement. And if your plan was well-executed, loyalty and longevity would end in a well-earned reward whose time had finally come… retirement and a golden watch!
It may be time to rethink those expectations. Gone are the days of the “one size fits all approach” when it comes to longevity in the workplace. You may expect to change careers at least five to seven times throughout your lifetime. Today there are so many more career choices available! As a result, many in the workplace are now able to change jobs every year. Therefore, adapting to change, being able to navigate through downsizings, layoffs, furloughs, or company closures, (i.e., COVID-19 pandemic), is considered a skill.
Does any of this sound familiar to you? Then you too may be a member of the “Baby Boomer Club.” Take inventory of where you now stand considering your current employment situation. This may be the first time you have ever had to take a personal and professional inventory to determine a new career path transition.
There is an unlimited amount of career and assessment resources available to you on the web. Workforce Solutions routinely shares a wide variety of resources with our customers to assist in research, career exploration, and employment. Here are just a few to get you started. Wishing you the best in your job search!
Resources:
Texas Career Check
A source for Texas career and education exploration. Includes a 60-question interest profiler to match your interest with the type of work preferred.
Occupational Outlook Handbook
Career information on duties, education, training, and pay outlook for hundreds of occupations.
O*Net Online
A source for Career Exploration and job analysis.
AARP
United States-based interest group focusing on issues affecting older workers.
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WorkInTexas.com
The largest job search database in Texas.
Workforce Solutions
Learn about the local labor market, access talent, employment opportunities, and resources to compete in the Houston-Galveston area economy.
Job Search Training Seminars
Workforce Solutions offers free job search seminars in its career offices and at community locations. Learn how to look for a job, revise resumes, interview, and network.
BlogForce
Workforce professionals are here with tips for employers and career advice for anyone looking to find a job, keep your job or get a better job.
Where the Jobs Are – (Complete Spreadsheet)
A list of occupations projected to offer the largest number of employment opportunities in the Gulf Coast region now and in the future.
Targeted Industries List
Industries with a projected growth of at least 5,000 job openings from 2012-2022.
Frieda Carmouche is a member of the Regional Facilitator team specializing in training, assisting students, job seekers, employers and career center staff throughout the Gulf Coast region. As Facilitator, she is comfortable with individual coaching, as well as large group presentations. Frieda has proven experience in training jobseekers within various age groups, ethnicity, and cultures regardless of ability or social-economic status. As of October 2019, she has been given the honor of serving as the Regional Team Mentoring Coach to further assist in the career development and growth of newly hired Training Facilitators. She obtained her BFA in Graphic Communications and minored in Psychology from The University of Houston Central Campus. Frieda is a native Houstonian with a passion for workforce development and has been employed by Workforce Solutions for over 20 years.
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