09/03/2021
It Is Never Too Late to Have a Career
This is a true story that some trainers here know me and actually helped me to recruit this group of job seekers.
I was doing sales training for elderly Singaporeans at my previous workplace. They came to us through the employability courses that we were offering with WSQ programs. Many completed the courses and had difficulty getting a job. I am not even sure if they were expecting any real employment prospect.
These were some feedbacks.
“Are you sure anyone would give us a job. We are old already.”
“Ah Boy, I am 60 years old.”
“I don’t know computers.”
“Past 50 years old already, people want younger workers.”
“I apply for so many jobs. No one give chance.”
I was the General Manager then. It was disheartening to know that our older Singaporeans were so discouraged and had given up on ever finding work. And many of them also had chronic illnesses. Perhaps, some of them really believed that they were too old and also, they were somehow condemned by their illnesses. I wanted to do something. I approached my CEO and convinced him to allow me to recruit and manage the sales department.
For two years, I recruited sales people from those attending our employability courses. I literally conducted weekly career talks and sales training spending one and a half day empowering new recruits by enabling them to change their mindset about age and illness, guiding them in using their smart phones and helping them to learn sales techniques.
In every class, I would write in big letters on the white board “Survive and Prosper”. I would make them do an exercise that goes like this.
“I want all of you to make a list of all your monthly expense item and write down the amount that they are spending on each item.”
“Now total that amount. It’s for one month of expenses. Now write down what you want to save each month. Also think of one thing you love to do this year. How much would it cost?”
“Add the three amounts together. That is what you want to earn monthly.”
“The average Singaporean is expected to live to 85 years. Minus your current age from 65. That is how long you will need to have money.”
“Take the number and multiply that with your monthly expenses. What is the number?”
One common example is a 65-year-old man with the amount of $1,500. So, it’s 20 years x 12 months x $1,500 per month. The number comes up to $360,000.
“Do you have $360,000 in savings?”
I have trained about 800 recruits in two years. Only one person said yes to the question.
Most of them joined our sales team. Some did not stay long but were gainfully employed as full-time sales staff or on part-time basis. I left the company a year ago and there were more than one hundred of them still working there. A few of them became sales leaders and others transferred to the administration department.
There was one uncle who stayed till age 85 and I was sad that he passed away last year. He was healthy and fit despite the age.
Survive & Prosper means knowing your career priorities, and for some it is to earn income first (get a job) and then to pursue career excellence.
Career Excellence = Good Income, Meaningful Work and Professional Growth. A client of mine requested to add “Happy Workplace” to the formula.
If it not too late for those 60 years and above to start a sales career, it is never too late for anyone to plan for an excellent career.
“Ah Boy, I am 60 years old.”
To that I replied - “You must stay healthy and fit. I am going to hire you.”
It is never too late.
