Dear Deb:

I am working with a 54 year old man who is no longer able to work in the construction trades due to a back injury, is unwilling to learn computers and tells every employer I send him to that he is a high school drop-out. His reading and math skills test out at a eleventh grade level, but he is unwilling to take the high school equivalency exam. He’s a really nice guy and I want to help him, but do not know what to suggest next.

Since your candidate can no longer do his previous job, you must “change where you look”. It is easiest when changing where you look, to maintain either the field or title. In his case, I suggest staying in the construction field and brainstorming what positions exist within it the which do not require computer skills, heavy lifting, or reading and math skills above the tenth grade level, but which do utilize the knowledge and network he has developed through the years and his “nice guy” personality. A few ideas include inspector, estimator, equipment sales, equipment rental customer service person, hardware store salesperson, “How To” Instructor at a hardware store, dispatcher, safety officer. There are dozens more.

Ask him why he feels it is important to tell his prospective boss that he is a high school drop-out. You may find that he does not feel qualified for the job, or that he does not want to do that type of work and is therefore sabotaging himself. If he wants to leave the construction field, explore his other Fields Of Fascination – what are his hobbies are?, how does he spend his free time?, what does he read about or watch on TV? Then brainstorm positions in those fields for which he is immediately qualified?  This will also make him less likely to sabotage. We often find that workers over 50 years old are more receptive to “retirement jobs”, where they get paid for doing things they enjoy in field which fascinate them. They are tired of the grind of work, but realize they must work because the “gold watch at 65 and golden years of leisure” no longer exists. A retirement job allows them to make a distinction between to two periods of their life.

Photo by Saad Akhtar

Technorati Tags:
construction, back, injury, solution, field, change, barrier
Add to: | Technorati | Digg | del.icio.us | Yahoo |