Baby Boomers: Catch up with Technology

Baby Boomers catch a lot of flak for not being as technically adept as their younger peers. Yes, the "Echo Boomers" (aka, the Millennials or Generation Y) have the distinct advantage of having been weaned on technology for the past 10 to 15 years, and I learn a new techie thing each week from my two teenagers.

So, taken as a whole, the Echo Boomers have a distinct technological advantage over their parents' generation in the workplace. That advantage, though, could become larger as the recession eats away at thousands of jobs. That may allow some companies to dump higher-salaried, not-so-technically-savvy Boomers in favor of cheaper, younger talent who - arguably - have an easier time finding ways to use technology to boost revenue and cut costs.

What's a Boomer to do? Learn the technology you don't know and become more marketable. Start with the following:

LinkedIn. If you have a profile on LinkedIn, that's a good start. Many professionals already use this site, and more employers are checking it out for potential talent. Build your network and join some interest groups where you can start or jump in on a discussion. You never know when a comment catches the eye of someone who wants to know more on the subject and will reach out to you - possibly with the intent of discussing a job opening.

Facebook, Twitter, etc. This might be more impressive to the younger set than having a LinkedIn profile. Yes, Facebook, MySpace and the like are more the purview of teens and 20-somethings, but, utilized correctly, they can widen your network of people with similar interests. Just don't post or say anything that could potentially come back to bite you professionally. I've never warmed up to Facebook, but two fellow Boomer friends have suggested I start a profile. I just might.

Texting. I've been doing a bit of this, usually with my daughter when the messages can be handled in less time than a typical call on the cell phone. It can be fun, but make sure you get the best possible deal from your cellular service provider if you plan to do a lot of it.