Lotta Merhammar helps and guides people who are far outside the labor market. A profession she is convinced that she would not have done as well without her previous professional and life experience.
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-After my switch at the age of 45, I realized that my
previous skills from the stage came in handy in my new
professional life
Lotta is a trained professional classical singer
(opera singer) and freelanced for a long time on the big
stages but came to a point where she realized she needed
to make a switch.
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- Even though I love the music, the art form and being on
stage, it was tiring. I found it getting tougher and tougher
to fight for the assignments and the uncertain job market
that the freelance life entailed. I got tired and slowly felt
that maybe I should do something else in life.
The turning point came when Lotta was 45. A difficult time,
a close relative had passed away and she felt lost.
Unlike when she was young and applied to the
Opera Academy, she did not have an obvious plan
or passion for what she wanted to devote the rest
of her professional life to.
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- It was a shaky period, I didn't know what I was good at, I had my whole professional identity based on singing. I had a hard time motivating myself, the only thing I knew was that it was time to do something else. Change industry.
One thing led to another. Lotta received an offer to work for a so-called complementary actor to the employment agency. There she had to coach people in and outside the cultural industry, write applications and tenders.
- It was instructive as I discovered that I was quite good at what I did. Unfortunately it was a shaky industry, everyone got fired at the company I worked for, applied for a similar workplace but it didn't work there because of bad leadership.
All said and done, Lotta searched for the "other side"; the employment agency and there she found her calling and passion.
- I really enjoy my job, which I have had since 2016. I work with coaching those who are far outside the labor market. Here I really get to use my previous skills in a new context. Now I also support my colleagues in all the changes the authority needs to introduce. I like to speak in front of people, create slideshows, meet, inspire and guide people, take a seat and be creative.
Lotta is passionate about encouraging others and has several top tips when it comes to motivating people who have ended up outside the labor market.
-Changing your mindset is not a quick fix. It must be remembered that the skills acquired in life, regardless of whether they are university credits or practical experience, can be worth their weight in gold in new work environments. I also want to emphasize the importance of "finding yourself - not your profession" When you know who you are, you also know what you are good at and then it is easier to find meaningful employment. And dare to believe that you can enjoy work you didn't think you would like when you were younger. If my 40-year-old self were to look at what I'm doing today, she wouldn't believe it.
Lotta speaks of today's 50-plus people as valuable to employers.
- We must fight ageism in the workplace, there are still prejudices and myths that people over 50 are lazy, cost more, etc. It's the opposite, there are so many well-educated sharp people in upper middle age today.
2. Which industries would mainly benefit from employing more people aged 50+?
"All industries that have to do with people. You build empathy and have your own experience of different phases in life. You have had your own thorns in life, and know how you got through them. LHS, the hard school of life, is not to be despised. And, many industries would benefit from having competent personnel who are done with the "career". And 50+, that's when you start to sink into yourself and don't have to prove anything to others, but can offer your skills".
3. With the experiences you have today - what would you say to your "20-year-old self"?
"That you will dare more than you do today. That you will be less stubborn than you are today. And that many things you don't value today will be priceless. Also, collect and remember good advice, even if they are not relevant today, they will be in 10, 20 or 30 years from now. And then be able to be a key to a good choice at a crossroads".
