I know 24 is a young age to retire but you heard it here first I’ve #retired

Retiring at 24 seems hasty to me. Bynes, whose roles include Nickelodeon’s “All That” and the feature film “What a Girl Wants,” might stick to her word and stay out of the film industry for the rest of her life. After all, at her age and with her (presumed) wealth, she has the chance to pursue many other opportunities. Still, if you’re in your 30s, think about the decisions you made in your 20s. Chances are they weren’t always wise decisions. After all, Bynes did announce her retirement under the Twitter handle Chicky, which sounds like a name she might rethink when she’s older.

Time will tell if Bynes can resist the lure of the industry forever.

If she decides to backtrack on her plans, she’ll be in good company

*Update* She’s back!

Many celebrities have announced their retirement only to revive their careers shortly after. You can’t blame someone for realizing that life isn’t as exciting when they’re not doing the thing they love the most. However, celebrity retirements and unretirements are interesting to compare to the professional exits of your regular, everyday worker. Many people worry that they won’t have enough money to retire. Others push off retirement for several reasons. Perhaps they don’t want to spend their days on hobbies and want to stay in the field, so they switch to part-time or contractor status. Many employers ask their would-be retirees to stay on at the company until the new batch of workers has the knowledge and skill to replace them. And many retirees who like their quiet time at home don’t want their spouses ruining their golden years, so they don’t allow them to completely retire.

Here is a list of notable retirements that didn’t last very long.

Muhammad Ali
After an unprecedented boxing career, Muhammad Ali retired in 1979. The man had beaten virtually every boxer in the world at that point, so it made sense to go out on a high note. However, the next year he decided to fight Larry Holmes and another year later to take on Trevor Berbick before finally retiring for good.

Lily Allen
File this retirement under TBD. Last year Lily Allen wrote in a blog post that she wouldn’t record another album. She also decided to give up social media, which meant pausing her MySpace page and Twitter account. Then she came back to  Twitter earlier this year and has composed new music for other projects since, in addition to appearing at awards shows. She says she still won’t be writing and recording music for albums that she plans to release herself, so this might be the promise of a pseudo-retirement that she keeps.

Garth Brooks
In the 1990s, Garth Brooks managed to make country music palatable for an audience that often dismissed it as a lesser genre. He sold records and concert tickets at historic rates and then decided to retire in 2000. He decided to walk away from touring and releasing new albums until his youngest daughter was 18. Aside from performing a few charity shows and releasing box sets of older material, Brooks kept his promise. Last year he announced his return to live shows by doing a residency in Las Vegas. He’s neither touring nor making a new album, so he’s only somewhat out of retirement. For now.

Brett Favre
In March 2008, Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre announced his retirement after 17 years in football. During that summer, Favre gave interviews suggesting he would be returning to football the following season, and, after some turbulent discussions, he was traded to the New York Jets. Following a short stint with the team, he moved to the Minnesota Vikings. Talk of retirement surfaced again earlier this year, so his future remains to be seen.

Jay-Z
When one of the most famous rappers of all time announced his retirement with the release of 2003’s The Black Album, people scoffed. Sure, Jay-Z would be going out on top with a career spanning eight albums and hits, not to mention critical praise and millions of fans. Plus, a year later he was named president of Def Jam Records. So Jay-Z didn’t need to work, but in late 2006 he released a new album and has only gained popularity since. In fairness to Jay-Z, he told Entertainment Weekly, “It was the worst retirement, maybe, in history.”

Michael Jordan
Few athletes have the iconic status of former Chicago Bulls player Michael Jordan. For that reason, Jordan’s retirement on October 6, 1993 was watched by everyone. Unsurprisingly, his return to the Bulls was watched just as closely less than two years later. After deciding to retire one more time from the game in 1999, Jordan said he was 99.9 percent sure he wouldn’t play another NBA game. Of course, that pesky 0.1 percent pulled him from retirement in 2001 when he decided to join the Washington Wizards. He retired once again in 2003, so this one might be the retirement that actually sticks.

Frank Sinatra
When Frank Sinatra announced his retirement in 1970, he was already a legend. With his Rat Pack days and a series of memorable songs behind him, he could’ve stepped out of the limelight and still be considered an icon today. However, in 1973, he decided three years of retirement was enough and returned to music with “Ol’ Blue Eyes Is Back.” He continued to record for the next three decades. In 1980 he recorded a rendition of “Theme from New York, New York,” which went on to become a signature song and a staple of New York City’s soundtrack. Maybe coming out of retirement was good for him (and the Yankees) after all.

So, will your retirement be a done deal or do you think you’ll be tempted to return to work? Any other celebs whose unretirement we forgot to include?

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Recently, President Obama relieved Gen. Stanley McChrystal of his job as commander of all U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan because of negative remarks he and his aides made about several officials in the Obama administration that were published in a Rolling Stone magazine article. The comments made were pretty clear that the general did not agree with many of the policies and decisions made about the war in Afghanistan.

McChrystal isn’t the first U.S. general to be sacked by a Commander-in-Chief. George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman are among those who have done the same during wartime. In a statement, the president gave his reasons for the decision:

The conduct represented in the recently published article does not meet the standard that should be set by a commanding general. It undermines the civilian control of the military that is at the core of our democratic system. And it erodes the trust that’s necessary for our team to work together to achieve our objectives in Afghanistan.

While not everyone is going to be the subject of Rolling Stone feature, more and more people are airing grievances about their bosses to the public via FaceBook, Twitter and text … and getting in trouble for them. For every story you see in the newspaper about this issue, I bet there are many more that aren’t reported. Just this week, a friend told me she might have to let an employee go based on a FaceBook post.

So can you disagree with your boss without losing your job? Yes, but it’s how you do it that can make or break your employment.

Most importantly, you should address the issue directly with your boss in a respectful manner. Joseph Grenny, coauthor of “Crucial Confrontations,” gives some tips on how to do this.

1. Get your motives right. Sometimes we wait to bring up concerns until we’re irritated. This is ineffective because at that point our goal is no longer to be constructive, it’s to punish. Before opening your mouth, ask yourself, “What do I really want?”
 
2. Start with safety. Begin by clarifying your respect and your intent. Help your boss understand that your intent is to provide a different viewpoint you feel will help achieve your mutual goal.
 
3. Start with the facts. Once you’ve created safety, you start describing your concerns facts first. Don’t lead with your judgments or conclusions. Start by describing in non-judgmental and objective terms the behaviors that are creating problems.
 
4. Don’t pile on. As you lay out the facts, monitor safety. If your boss becomes defensive, pause for a moment and check in. Reassure them of your positive intentions and allow them to express any concerns they have.
 
5. Invite dialogue. Finally, having shared your concerns, encourage your boss to share their perspective. Invite dialogue. The result of your openness will be a greater openness on your boss’s part as well.

Have you ever been fired for something you said about the boss? Have you ever let anyone go because of something he said? Tell us.

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Whether you’re a recent grad or a career changer, there’s a common catch-22 that comes with embarking on a new occupation: You can’t get a job without experience, but you can’t get experience without a job.

 How many of us have said, “I’ve got the brains and the know-how, I just need the chance to prove it and start building my experience”? Today our guest blogger Wendy N. Powell, author of “Management Experience Acquired: Necessary Skills for Successfully Managing Any Employee” (Synergy Books, May 2010), tackles this nagging issue. Powell has spent more than 20 years of her career advising managers at the University of Michigan and is currently on the business faculty at Palm Beach State College and the University of Phoenix. Here’s her advice for this common conundrum:

When you need experience to get experience
By Wendy N. Powell, author of “Management Experience Acquired: Necessary Skills for Successfully Managing Any Employee”

One of the most common questions from job candidates is “How can I get experience when jobs require experience?” Overcoming this “career catch-22,” however, is within your reach; the key is preparation. Here are some tips to land a job without experience, whether you are a new grad or changing careers. 

1. Evaluate yourself
Are you truly ready to search for a job or do you need to spend time catching up on current work trends? Perform a critical and honest personal audit of your style and skills. Think about the type of employee you want to be and list the qualities that come to mind. This list will help you discover any issues that you need to work on prior to your pursuit of a job. Once you have addressed these issues, you will move ahead with your search with more confidence. To employers, confidence translates to readiness for the job. 

2. Stay current
The good news for new grads is that many hiring managers place considerable importance on current learning experiences. Because conditions change and techniques evolve, a recently conferred degree often holds more weight than a degree received years ago. If you have contemporary learning experiences that relate to what the company needs, explain what you have learned and how you can apply that knowledge to their company.

The bad news for career-changers is that earning a degree doesn’t mean you get to stop learning! Always read about the current issues in the profession(s) of your choice and have a plan in case your present career choice doesn’t work out. You might even consider taking classes at a local college to learn new methods and technologies. If you keep abreast of modern business practices in your desired field, you will be well-prepared to describe how your experiences will contribute to the success of an employer.

3. Do your homework
As you should do in any job hunt, research the company and identify the specific requirements for the position in which you are interested. Before you submit your résumé for a job, find out what the company does and how they do it. Once you understand this information, you will be better able to relate and apply your knowledge and experience from school or a different field of work to the needs of the company.

4. Find a role model
Choose someone whom you admire at work or school and ask that person for guidance in modeling your chosen professional behaviors. Most people will be pleased and willing to help, as imitation is flattery.  Emulate the employee you want to be and be ready to demonstrate these traits in searching for a job.

Use this experience as preparation to respond to behavioral questions in the interview process. Employers ask questions such as, “What would you do in these circumstances?” and “What have you done when this type of situation has happened in your workplace?” With prior consideration and the example set by your mentor, your responses will be well-practiced and sharp.

5. Donate your time
Yes, I am suggesting you work for free. No, I am not suggesting you quit school or your current job to do so. Plenty of companies, nonprofits in particular, are more than happy to accept the free labor of someone without copious amounts of related experience. Are you an accountant hoping to break into advertising? Volunteer a few evenings a week to put together a small campaign for a local charity. Unfortunately, new grads often don’t have an income to support them while they search for a job. Sometimes, it might be beneficial in the long run to take a position short of your dream job while you earn valuable experience in an internship or volunteer position.

Don’t forget, the selection process is a place for you to shine. Be ready to explain why you are the best candidate for the job, whether it is a career change or a new business endeavor. You may not have the job experience, but you can still demonstrate to the boss that you are ready to do the work. Be the job candidate the company can’t refuse to hire.

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This spring there seems to have been an explosion of positive employment news that’s left skeptics wondering, “Is this news too good to be true?” and job seekers crying foul. 

While we are not out of the woods yet, President Barack Obama was cautiously optimistic in a recent radio address. “Even as we have come a long way, we still have a ways to go,” Obama said.  “No matter what the economic statistics say, I won’t be satisfied until folks who need work can find good jobs.  After a recession that stole 8 million jobs, this is going take some time.”

Considering some of the most recent indicators that the economy and employment are improving, one can’t help but be hopeful:

• For the third consecutive quarter, more employers are projecting they will increase head count in the next three months while fewer employers are expecting staff cuts, according to CareerBuilder’s Q2 2010 Job Forecast. Twenty-three percent of employers plan to add full-time, permanent employees in the second quarter while 8 percent plan to downsize staffs. Looking at actual hiring for the second quarter in 2009, 18 percent of employers reported they had hired full-time, permanent staff while 17 percent reported they had decreased staff.
• In its April 2010 Industry Survey, the National Association of Business Economics reported increased job creation for the first time in two years. The share of respondents expecting their firms to add employees over the coming six months rose to 37 percent, from 29 percent in January’s survey. The percentage of firms cutting jobs moved lower, to 13 percent in April from 28 percent in January. “After more than two years of job losses, job creation increased in the first quarter of 2010, suggesting a better outlook for hiring over the next six months,” said William Strauss of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.
• In April, Moody’s Economy.com reported that, “based on data through February, 205 metro areas nationwide appear to be in recovery, 21 more than in January. By population size, the largest metro areas to move into recovery (January-February) were Santa Ana, Calif., Nassau, N.Y., and San Jose, Calif. Smaller metro areas are more likely to be in recovery at this point than larger ones; although more than half of all U.S. metro areas appear to be recovering, they represent only 41 percent of total metropolitan gross domestic product.”

This map from DismalScientist.com shows states that are moderating and recovering from the recession.

Unfortunately, it’s not expected to be smooth sailing when we come out on the other side of the recession. As difficult as it may be to believe given today’s still shaky employment situation, economists are projecting a labor shortage  soon.

“By 2018, with no change in current labor force participation rates or immigration rates and an expected return to healthy economic growth, we will have more jobs than people to fill them,” wrote Barry Bluestone, dean of the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University, and Mark Melnik, deputy director for research at the Boston Redevelopment Authority, in their report “After the Recovery: Help Needed.”

The report, which was sponsored by MetLife Foundation and Civic Ventures, a think tank on baby boomers, work and social purpose, predicts that within the next eight years there could be at least 5 million job vacancies in the United States, nearly half of them (2.4 million) in social sector jobs in education, health care, government and nonprofit organizations.

The report identified 15 jobs expected to provide the largest number of potential new career opportunities in the coming decade.   

1. Business operations specialists
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 1.6 million*
Current U.S. salary: $44,522**

2. Child-care workers
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 532,1000
Current U.S. salary: $24,354

3. Clergy
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 217,700
Current U.S. salary: $51,746

4. General and operations managers
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 502,200
Current U.S. salary: $94,706

5. Home health aides
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 552,700
Current U.S. salary: $27,345

6. Licensed practical and vocational nurses
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 391,300
Current U.S. salary: $44,738 for LPNs; $39,272 for vocational nurses

7. Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 4,223,000
Current U.S. salary: $30,494 for nursing aides; $33,822 for orderlies; $24,695 for attendants

8. Medical assistants
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 217,800
Current U.S. salary: $35,986

9. Medical and health service managers
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 99,400
Current U.S. salary: $39,956

10.  Personal and home care aides
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 477,800
Current U.S. salary: $27,345

11.  Receptionists and information clerks
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 480,200
Current U.S. salary: $30,887

12.  Registered nurses
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 1.04 million
Current U.S. salary: $61,423

13.  Social and human service assistants
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 153,900
Current U.S. salary: $34,324

14.  Teachers
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs:  2.68 million
Current U.S. salary: $54,273 for all; $35,810 for elementary; $47,603 for high school; $68,456 for  post-secondary

15.  Teacher assistants
Total job openings due to growth and replacement needs: 412,700
Current U.S. salary: $24,429

 *Total needs over the entire 2008-18 period according to Bureau of Labor Statistics (http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_102.htm)

**Average annual salary according to www.CBsalary.com

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For cash-strapped workers, a tax return can be a much-needed income boost. According to a new CareerBuilder survey of more than 5,200 workers, more than half (56 percent) of workers report they will use their tax return to pay off bills that have accumulated. Does this sound familiar?

While many workers indicated that they will use their tax returns to tackle bills, others said they will use their refunds for the following:

• Put into savings — 34 percent
• Make home improvements — 12 percent
• Go on vacation — 11 percent
• Pay back money I owe to people — 8 percent
• Invest it — 7 percent
• Buy a car — 2 percent

With America still reeling from the Great Recession, 78 percent of workers said they currently live paycheck to paycheck; up from 61 percent who said the same in May 2009. In addition, economic pressures have resulted in some workers downsizing their investments to help make ends meet. Nearly one-in-five (17 percent) report they reduced their 401 (k) contributions in the last year.

Before they can even think about receiving or spending their tax returns, many unemployed taxpayers are simply concerned about filing them. Some major questions include:

• What job search expenses can be deducted?
• How do I claim unemployment benefits on my tax return?
• What if I can’t pay my taxes this year because I’m unemployed?

If you’re one of these people, here are some resources you might want to check out:

• Click here to go to the IRS’s Tax Center to Assist Unemployed Taxpayers. It’s fairly comprehensive and provides many tips in English and Spanish.
• The IRS has also set up a YouTube channel with short videos that address many taxpayer questions including the ones I mentioned above.
• Finally, a CNN blog gives a very high level look at deductible job search expenses and who qualifies.

Later this week: Tax tips for freelancers

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In an age of Facebook, Twitter and FourSquare, we’ve gotten used to broadcasting any and all information about ourselves. But when it comes to your résumé, it might be best to take a cue from architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who coined the phrase, “Less is more.”

Today’s guest blogger, Catherine Jewell, tells job seekers to follow this advice when writing their résumés. Jewell is the Career Passion® Coach and author of “New Resume, New Career,” a résumé makeover book featuring 50 real-life career changers. Here are six things she says you should leave off your résumé.

What to leave out of your résumé
by Catherine Jewell, author of “New Résumé, New Career” 

Once upon a time in the ’70s, I saw a résumé with a full-length photo. It was for a vibrant, 20-something account executive in advertising. I envied her the chutzpah to include her photo. It made the résumé come alive. You could see her eagerness and professional demeanor.

That was then. So much has changed. Employers want to avoid any chance of discrimination about age, gender, sexual orientation, religion, marital and parental status, and ethnicity.  The less you say on the résumé, the more likely you make the cut. Each word, phrase and sentence needs to be carefully selected to prove that you are the right person for the job. Specifically, here are some things to take off your résumé:

1. Graduation dates
Include your degree, major (if it is relevant) and the institution. But take off the date. Age discrimination is a concern for many people looking for work. Avoid tempting reviewers to do the math to discover your age.

2. Irrelevant experience
If you are applying for sales and you have substantial experience in IT project management, downplay the irrelevant experience and create new achievement statements that support your experience with customers. Make your non-sales experience sound more like sales. Shorten job entries that don’t support your sales message.

3. Jobs in the dim, dark past
The rule of thumb is to include your last 10 to 15 years of experience. If you need to prove expertise you gained long ago, you might use the title “Other Relevant Experience” and describe your achievements, without the dates of employment. Baby boomers should be careful not to include 30 years of experience. Why give hiring managers a clue you are over 50 until they meet you in person?

4. Personal section
Résumés of the past often included personal information such as marital status, family members and even church membership. All of that information is illegal to collect, so don’t include it. Also eliminate references to hobbies, clubs and political views. A “Community Work” section can show your leadership skills, but stick with noncontroversial organizations such as Rotary, Lions, the Chamber of Commerce and recognized  nonprofits.

5. Gaps in history
Eliminate gaps in your work history by filling in with short, truthful statements. “Homemaker sabbatical” will explain a five-year work hiatus and allow the interviewer to focus on your history. You can also fill gaps with part-time jobs, direct sales positions or consulting projects.

6. Photos
These may not be on your résumé, but once a potential employer has your full name they might as well be. Polish all social networking profiles and remove any unprofessional or embarrassing photos. Ask your friends to clean up social networking profiles for you, too. If you are gray or balding, you might consider removing your photo during your job search.

Your résumé is designed to present the professional you. Write it with a job description in mind, avoiding any details that might detract from your single-minded pursuit of that job.

Catherine Jewell is on a personal quest to help everyone find perfect work. She is the Career Passion® Coach and author of “New Résumé, New Career,” a résumé makeover book featuring 50 real-life career changers. For more than 25 years, she has studied career planning and has coached more than 600 adults through midlife career changes. Jewell speaks at conferences about Career Passion® and provides résumé writing, career testing, group tele-classes, and coaching by phone or in person. Her new book is available online and in bookstores now. For more information, check out www.CareerPassionCoach.com or contact her at cj@careerpassioncoach.com.

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In Sunday’s New York Times, writer Michael Luo touched on a phenomenon that is occurring throughout the country: overqualified workers who are satisfied just being employed. As Luo points out, many job postings give the basic requirements for candidates, but many applicants have experience and education that theoretically qualifies them for much higher positions. When these job seekers find themselves in these positions, they experience some insecurity but have some satisfaction that at least they’re working.

Academic research on the subject confirms that workers who perceive themselves as overqualified do, in fact, report lower job satisfaction and higher rates of turnover. But the studies also indicate that those workers tend to perform better. Moreover, there is evidence that many of the negatives that come with overqualified hires can be mitigated if they are given autonomy and made to feel valued and respected.

The new variable in all of this is the continuing grim economic climate. Many workers’ ambitions have evolved, after all, from climbing the ladder to simply holding on to a job, any job. Turnover would also seem to be less of a concern amid predictions that it could be years before unemployment returns to pre-recession levels.

As a result, Luo points out, many overqualified workers are struggling to accept their current situation without letting insecurity appear.

For his part, Mr. Carroll admitted that he had caught himself often trying to drop his credentials into conversations at his new workplace.

“Obviously that stems from maybe some embarrassment at the level that I’m at,” he said. “I do want people to know that, to some extent, this isn’t who I am.”

Have you found yourself in this situation in the last couple of years? How have you dealt with being overqualified? Some job seekers have said that “overqualified” is a useless term because all that matters is whether or not a person wants the job and is qualified for it. Do you agree? Let us know your thoughts.

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Who invented the standard nine-to-five workday? He or she must have been a morning person because if I were setting the workday hours, I’d push it to start at 10 a.m. at the earliest. Why?

While I’d love to be the type of person who just jumps out of bed alert and perky every day, it just doesn’t work for me that way.  Take this morning:

When I heard my favorite DJ through my alarm at sunrise, I hit my snooze several times in an attempt to squeeze as much time out of my slumber as possible. This is my typical M.O. — not very good for someone who actually read an article yesterday about how to become a morning person.

But despite my tendencies to linger in bed as long as possible, I have to say I am fairly punctual arriving to the office — most of the time.

Seems I’m not alone. A new CareerBuilder survey reveals that 16 percent of workers said they arrive late to work at least once a week, but that’s down from 20 percent in last year’s survey. An additional 8 percent said they are late at least twice a week, down from 12 percent last year. What’s the cause of the decline in job tardiness? Could it be the economy?

“Some workers may be more concerned with the nuances of their on-the-job performance these days, resulting in fewer late arrivals,” said Rosemary Haefner, vice president of human resources for CareerBuilder. “Regardless of the economy, though, getting to work on time can be more of a priority in some workplaces than in others. It’s important for workers to be aware of their company’s tardiness policies and make sure to be honest with their manager if they are going to be late.”

In the survey, workers shared a variety of reasons for being tardy, led by traffic (32 percent) and lack of sleep (24 percent). Seven percent said getting their kids ready for school or day care was the cause of their lateness, while the same amount said bad weather was the culprit. Other common reasons included public transportation, wardrobe issues or dealing with pets. All of these reasons seem legitimate, and I’ll bet all workers have fallen victim to at least one.

In my defense, I’d have to say that not waking up on time — once in awhile – is a fairly typical (and acceptable) reason for being late to work. So is adjusting to daylight saving time. (Note: This is legit only in springtime when we lose an hour from the time change.) But then there are the excuses. It seems people will use any excuse for being late for work.  Here are some of the real-life excuses hiring managers have heard from their employees explaining their tardiness:

• I got mugged and was tied to the steering wheel of my car.
• My deodorant was frozen to the  windowsill.
• My car door fell off.
• It was too windy.
• I dreamt I was already at work.
• I had to go to the hospital because I drank antifreeze.
• I had an early morning gig as a clown.
• A roach crawled in my ear. 
• I saw an elderly lady at a bus stop and decided to pick her up.
• My dog swallowed my cell phone.

A final word of caution to those of you who are punctuality challenged: While some employers are more lenient with worker tardiness, others have stricter policies. Thirty-four percent of employers said they have terminated an employee for being late.

What’s the best excuse you’ve heard or used? Tell us  below. 

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With electronic job applications and ATS systems being the norm, it’s difficult to really make a statement because hiring managers are often viewing stripped-down versions of your résumé. All that time you spent formatting your resume might not even matter depending how a certain employer receives and processes job applications. 

And even if your expertly formatted résumé reaches the intended hands, it’s even tougher now to stand out from the competition when there are more and more job seekers vying for fewer jobs. You really need to do all you can to differentiate yourself.

If you’ve been using the same basic résumé for your entire job search and are getting ho-hum results, it might be time to do a gut rehab — deconstruct your resume and rebuild it. Watch this video from CareerBuilderTV to learn 10 ways to get employers to notice your résumé:

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According to a new CareerBuilder survey, 43 percent of workers 35 and older currently work for someone younger than them. For workers 45 and older, the figure climbs to 53 percent. And for the 55 and up group, the number leaps to 69 percent. While you can still think of many complaints to lob at your boss, the old standbys of “he should’ve retired 10 years ago” or “she’s been in the industry so long she’s lost her edge” are passé. Today’s bosses are young and far from retirement.

When asked if reporting to a younger boss was difficult, young workers expressed the most trouble. Here is the breakdown of workers who find taking orders from a younger boss difficult:

• 16 percent of workers 25-34
• 13 percent of workers 35-44
• 7 percent of workers 45-54
• 5 percent of workers 55 and older

What’s the problem and what can you do about it?
Are you one of these workers whose boss has fewer candles on the cake? If so, these complaints might sound familiar to you.

• “They act like they know more than me when they don’t”
• “They act like they’re entitled and didn’t earn their position”
•  “They play favorites with younger workers”

Experts over at PrimeCB, a site dedicated to career opportunities and guidance for mature workers, stress the importance of working together. We are talking about your career, after all, so ignoring your troubles won’t make life easier. Here are some of PrimeCB’s tips:

Understand others’ point of view: You and your boss are coming from different points of views. You don’t necessarily share experience, education or work history. Neither of you is wrong—just different. So try to be open to the other person’s approach.

Adapt your communication: Whether you’re interacting with your boss, co-worker or direct report, you should always be mindful of what communication style is most effective. Many (though not all) younger workers favor new technology to communicate, such as IM and e-mail. Some older workers (though, again, not all) prefer to talk face-to-face or at least pick up the phone. Both parties should work to make communication go as smoothly as possible.

Keep an open mind:Neither you nor your boss is inherently right (or wrong) because of your age and work history, or lack thereof. Approach each other as two professionals and base all judgments on performance. Making assumptions about your boss because he looks like a high schooler or she’s the same age as your daughter doesn’t do you any favors.

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