Do you need more evidence that our world of work is becoming completely topsy-turvy? Here’s mine: I have now begun fielding calls from grown children seeking career help for their unemployed parents.
It’s not uncommon, of course, for parents to seek help for their kids, with the younger worker most often being a struggling 20-something, or a recent graduate trying to launch a career.
Now a new generational wrinkle is presenting itself with 30-somethings calling to ask advice not for themselves but for their elders. As Americans continue the trend of working into their 70s, it may become common for adult children to help parents navigate the path back to employment.
Admittedly, if you are the adult child in question, you might find the situation a bit tricky. Following are some tips to get you started.
1. Don’t assume the answer is digital. If your parents need to strengthen computer skills or build their comfort with online processes, that’s an important issue on its own. But saying that the jobs are only online or implying one needs to be a digital wizard to be eligible for work is not only incorrect, but extremely de-motivating. Besides, your folks may be more computer-literate than you realize.
2. Pinpoint actual computer issues they may be having. If your parents do lack computer skills, or have not been exposed to networking tools such as LinkedIn and Twitter, then helping them accelerate their learning would be a service.
3. Ensure they have an updated resume. Depending on your skills in this area, you might help create this document. Otherwise, steer them to a service, workbook or online tutorial so they can complete this step quickly.
4. Ensure they have a job search or career plan. Regardless of one’s age or work history, the most critical step for moving forward is to have a plan for the next work. Without this job target, seekers of any age are relegated to a wait-and-see process of replying to ads.
5. Be a networking contact. Even if you work in different fields, forwarding your parent’s resume to friends or colleagues, or bringing your parent to your own networking events will help in several ways. For sure, they may benefit directly from the new contacts, but they will also be reigniting their networking processes and pushing their own comfort zones, both of which are essential for successful job search.
6. Help update their look. If you don’t have the skill to evaluate your mother’s wardrobe, or the nerve to confront your father about his scraggly sideburns, find someone who does. Without honest feedback, your folks could be consigned to unwitting age bias from looking outdated.
7. Keep your eyes open for part-time jobs, potential consulting opportunities and other stopgaps that will help your unemployed parent both financially and psychologically.
8. Email or call regularly to check on the search. The trick is to convey your support without sounding like a nag. You also should watch for signs of depression or emotional distress so that you can increase your level of support or find others to help when necessary.
9. Guard your parents’ finances as you would your own. Request a temporary no-gift policy, treat them to dinner sometimes instead of assuming the opposite, and otherwise ease the emotional burden they may be feeling over not buying extras for their kids or grandkids.
10. Respect their decisions. Your parent may decide to change careers, sell the family home, seek more training, retire early or do something else you would not have envisioned. If you have a view to offer, do so and then clam up. And as much as possible, remember that age really is just a number. Don’t let ageism define your response to your parents’ plans, and try to help them avoid the same pitfall if you can.
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