Athena D. Merritt’s recent article in the Philadelphia Business Journal alerted me to an interesting partnership between IBM Corp. and the U.S. Department of Treasury: The FedExperience Transitions to Government program.
Designed to serve as a model for other companies and federal
departments and agencies, IBM will match its experienced workers who
are leaving voluntarily with some of the 162,000 federal jobs that are
expected to become open in 2008. This scenario looks like a variation
on the familiar saying, “when a door closes, a window opens.” The
retirement of fellow Boomers and new vacancies will create
opportunities for those who are leaving private sector jobs, but not
yet ready for the golf course…
As of January 25th, there were 642 federal job vacancies in the Philadelphia area. The Federal government offers a broad range of opportunities for
experienced workers, and the government is becoming a more flexible
employer: check-out the opportunities at USA Jobs®. Those considering government employment might also consider nearby state capitols: Harrisburg, PA, Trenton, NJ and Dover, DE.
Many BabyBoomers expect to face age discrimination in their quest for their next job, especially in the corporate arena. Consider that state and federal governments are likely to be
among the most non-discriminatory of employers (Federal law prohibits
discrimination based on race, gender, national origin, religion, and
age; local statutes may extend protection based on other factors not
related to job performance.)
Candidates whose experience has been in the private sector may find
the federal and state application process to be daunting: candidates
must express their value via Knowledge – Skills – Abilities (KSAs). A
career professional can guide you through this process; it is similar
to other assessments that are part of the “tool bag” of career
strategists. Links to information about this process are available
through the United States Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
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Very interesting stuff. As a DC resident and member of the non-profit world, I would also like to point out the range of opportunities available for boomers in the non-profit space. Increasingly, non-profits are facing pressure from donors to operate more like a private sector, but often cannot pay competitive salaries to lure the best private sector talent. But if boomers are separating from their private sector careers and looking to do more than golf and play bridge, perhaps they’d be willing to take a less well-paying job to work in the “doing good” sector. I am seeing this first-hand – my organization has recently filled a few positions with private sector refugees who are looking to put their valuable experiences in the business world to good use. Keep em coming, I say!
(as long as they don’t take my job, of course)