Over Easy; 5008

Overeasy with host Jimmy Hart. And Mary Martin. Thank you welcome once again to over easy. There's a lot of things that are changing in the way we spend our later years of our life. Retirement is one of them. What used to be a regular milestone for most people is now just one of many options. In fact some experts are telling us. That economic pressures may team up with a new appreciation of the older worker to make retirement as we want to do it less and less popular in the end. And the opposite of retirement of course is employment and staying on the job are getting a new job is something more and more people are exploring at age 65 and beyond. The question is how does an older person get a new job. Later on in the show we'll put that question to Eileen Swartz an employment counselor. She's had a lot of experience with older job seekers and I think you'll discover there's a lot that you can do to

find just the job you want of any age. And we'll hear some of those suggestions today. And when it comes to continued employment our first guest is his own expert in the forty one odd years since he decided to become an actor Burgess Meredith hasn't stopped working. In fact this may have been one of his the busiest years with five films a successful TV series and a busy schedule as a spokesman for the world's dolphin population. Can you believe all that. Or does it take to keep a career like that going let's ask our expert ladies and gentlemen Mr. Burgess Paris. Thank you. Yes yes this is right. Promise. This time yesterday I was in bed. But listen you know how long we've talked about working things out. And at long last it's here today again and I hope it never ends. All right we'll keep

it up. I want to ask him something. Did you know that Burgess made his acting debut in Peter Pan with you know honestly. He played a boy. That was evil I guess. Yes I believe she will be coming on the show and I was one of the last boys down at the Civic Repertory Theater which no longer exists. Really I took a girl down one time to go about any one number one line and then only one line I remember which was my mother used to say I wish I had a check book of my own. Never forget. I don't know how long ago that was but you still remember that one. Well it's widely known that you have a tremendous interest in dolphins. Do you think the story of animals and their habits teaches something about people.

I don't know. Not to be lonely I think. I don't know what we learn from them we don't seem to be learning anything we kill them faster than we communicate with them. I am involved with them because I'm chairman of the human dolphin foundation and here we are now in San Francisco at the present moment and about eight hours from now that from here there are two dolphins. That the human dolphin Foundation and we have a whole group of young scientists there and we're all trying to talk with them. Are you you on one. Why don't I know that you that you I help you raise money or money to do that. Are you going indicating with Rosalie the names of Joel Levine and Rosalie de gives and what do you actually talk to them Have you been able to know if I had the world would have been exploding because of the

implications of talking with an alien race is enormous. I mean the government spends millions of dollars sending signals into outer space trying to you know hoping that somebody will answer. If they did we were not going to say probably paid to play him bark or something. But so we're trying to get these animals to talk. And they are have a very. Intricate system of communication with each other. And we're trying to learn that and then get in a similar language that both of us will talk together it's very complicated but any way you can see them if you go to a marine world here. Very good you have two children your daughter Tyler is in our guest and your son Jonathan is a composer. Yes well he was born in your mid 40s. Do you think you bring different values in attitudes to fatherhood at this stage this stage of life than you might have when you were younger.

I mean we're not I mean if we mean having a child older then. I don't know whether I did and do you feel you know what I know about your attitude towards towards I was more grateful to have a child and then I was really nice. All right a pattern really. I had him when I felt I was one of the more than anything else in the world. And sometimes you I suppose get them when you're not so sure of that or something else was very grateful to have them. I understand you meditate four hours a day when you have the time. I don't know when you had time this last year with five films and I don't know what all that you're doing this year but what has meditating for years changed your attitude about life. Well I don't know meditating is it a private thing about a secret thing. And if. I don't talk by much but I feel it is helpful to me. I think so too right. I've been I mean I just very

much you know I don't know how to talk about it. It's something that you look inside instead of outside. You know there are two types of people in the world the. Astronaut's and psychonauts. And that's not to go to outer space. I cannot just try to see what's in the greater area of this vase and I'm kind of inclined that way. But just to get a sense of the scope of your career we would like to share a couple of examples of your work with their audience. Yeah well I are about to see is a there's a lot which you wouldn't want to see. They were both seen from a memorable film called Of Mice and Men. Sure many people remember in it Burgess plays George and Lon Chaney Jr. plays his retarded brother Lenny in the history of film there's really been the moment quite like this. You're.

Going to. I want you to sit down. And I want you to look closely at it. Have a little play. We've got to. Have. A. Plan. Well. We could. That's. Where.

You look. A. Was. Was. Was. In 1939 and now I'd like to share another scene and this is from one of the three films Burgess starred in in 1981. It's called Clash Of The Titans and it proves once more that great talent does not diminish with the years.

Thanks. Well all the. Best tell me wow wow. What do you mean where you want let's be patient for a moment. My name is Alan. I am a poet and a playwright. My name is person. I'm into the kingdom of Og by the cops. How did you get here. I'm not sure I know where this is the amphitheater of John the great city of Joplin. Apologize for all this dramatic finery and all these facts. I put them on now and then don't frighten away the curious. It makes them think the ampitheater is

all in print. Why is everything so. Oh sign of the times. This kingdom is under a curse and the city is in despair and everyone goes wrong muttering call on the line about me. Oh it is not did I. Do you honestly think you but I didn't do three I did you did within 365 days. Read me. Do you get the energy and the stamina to work that hard. You know I'll tell you you know just embrace it here yeah. Not you not every day on the set it is like the theatre you get. We did that picture that you saw in Europe. I had a wonderful time. We did it in and and France and Spain and Italy and

Malta. It was great fun. It was like a paid vacation. One thing that throws me about him always is you know you really have the most beautiful language of your own. Your choice of words YOUR he writes he writes lyrics but has the cadence of your voice just thrills me really does he always has he tanks. Well that's all right. God can't win with a tax. Do you always bring something fresh and new to your work as an actor. I think have you have you thought about retiring. Do you ever think about quitting. Ever since I was 10 I thought. You know you get tired of doing something and then you want to quit but you must realize that this business is different than others. I mean I can understand if I would if I had to had a company that I think about retiring but here you're is useful and at your own age as you are did nothing

I mean actually there are more parts for me as I go along than there was a little different. I mean I can understand people quitting when they're no longer wanted but as you need in Rocky for example you needed an old kook like him and that's what I am going to think you're in the picture. Yes. Do you think you've ever been a victim of discrimination with women once. And I've read that again with women that want to know why and how you know that one. Now thank you I don't believe it is not the other side you know you are the one who through all that I've seen you know that not all those girls that are not in the men's names now. No but that's because of the peculiarity of this business. Burgess you have set a wonderful example for most people I think in the length and scope of your

career but for a lot of people the idea of going back into the job market at a point when just a few years ago with all that was available was a gold watch and a thank you dinner. Well that can be sometimes a confusing and for some people a frightening prospect. That's why I would like to welcome our next guest right now she is an employment consultant who spent 12 years with California's Employment Development Department and she specializes in employment and Reemployment of older men and women and they Miss Eileen Swartz I'd like to welcome her. Right now how do you eat. Welcome have a seat. Many people are exploring options now working past the traditional retirement age of 62 or 65 or even 70. How easy though is it for people to re-enter the job market after they retired.

Well it's easier than you might think really for the simple reason that there are a lot of mythology about jobs and the kind of jobs that are available to people. And actually there's two different ways to look for jobs. There's something called the traditional job search and something called the Creative Self directed job search and the latter is what I am interested in helping people do. And the first approach is going to employment agencies are looking at the water ads et cetera which actually only represents about 20 percent of the open jobs at any given time. How do you find out about others. Well this is this is the techniques that I like to use is to teach people how to get into the 80 percent job openings that exist that are never advertised. And in order to do that there are some specific things you have to do. You have to learn what your skills are. You have to be aware what you want to do. You can't expect an employer to make up your mind for you. He's

not going to do it. And you also have to be able to get over the fear of rejection. Get over the fear of discrimination. All of these kinds of methodologies that have been built up over the years about employment and there have been great changes particularly in the last 10 years. So that it's important number one find out what you want to do. Number to find out what you've got to offer. Number three find out where you want to do it. Target moving in on particular employers that you want to talk to rather than wasting your time going around and around these circles. What are some of the things that a person should consider before deciding to return to work. Usually lifestyle is totally different when you are tired. Yes it is and frequently it will depend on how long they've been retired and if the person comes out of retirement and stays out maybe 5 years or so then they're going to think it's terribly difficult to get back in. But actually

they need to do the same thing that a recent college graduate needs to do to get a job and that is to analyze what they want to do with their life what they want to contribute what areas they feel they could be effective in and then get busy analyzing all those the skills. Do men and women face different employment problems. Actually to a degree yes. Women seem to be under more stress than Then when they're looking for work. And this is usually due to the fact that women have been socialized to believe that they don't have nearly as many skills as they really have. And they take the stereotype themselves. Men stereotype themselves as evil. Well my dad for instance will stereotype himself by thinking that whatever he's done for the last few say years is the only thing you can do. People tend to think of themselves as job titles rather than as people performing jobs.

I've heard from a lot of people that I know who want to get jobs they say will they. They say I don't look young enough. You know and I think that's wrong I think that to one. If you can can do all kinds of things to go out and like even young people have to you know make themselves right look terrific. Right and you go out with and you get yourself all gussied up and go out and get a job. Well yes but you see some for young people too right. But some people are afraid to get out. That's I understand that and I have been that's really getting over that fear of going across the street exactly. And if that fear can be coped with. And the important thing about skills analysis which is something that I do a great deal of talking about is that what it does is to rebuild confidence. Every time you go once you can go the next time in that they're on the fourth and never stop trying I also recommend to people that they interview as often and as frequently as they can whether or not there's a job there because the more interviewing they do the more they increase their interviewing skill and you don't give up.

I say don't give up no persistence is part of the day for life right in the beginning exactly Burgess are not only known as an actor but a producer. You've directed you've written this having a range of skills like that make it easier to work in the sauce of a metaphysician is that I am a brawler and musician and I don't know it. It gives you a variety. In life. For example I'm. Out About as many films as I can take. For a while and I'm going back and directing a musical on Broadway now. I just like to change I don't know. It doesn't cause cause any confusion you just feel feel what the content of the script is if it is that the content appeals to you as something you want to act in that's one thing and more direct it's another or two on the stage or on film. So I mean I'm lucky enough to be able to take any of those choices and it's sometimes helpful to keep me from stagnating.

Well you never will have that problem. Look around a mouthful. You know is there anything you know something Larry Hagman I. Want to take a vacation I think. Yeah very important things that you just show people here in the audience is the importance of being flexible. Yes. And the importance of not considering yourself limited not stereotyping yourself. Being able to move from one area to another of skills and to understand that we have three kinds of skills. I love what you just said you said metaphysician etc. poet and writer. That's so for these are not ordinarily things that people think of as making jobless or getting money for. But actually the skills that you have of that kind of variety. Are useful in the job market and we have functional skills that you can do anywhere. We have adapted skills which help us get along in a certain

environment and we have job specifics and I know that. My late brother in law who is a big executive and he quit and he has it always wanted to. Carve a new small thing and he quit and began making more money and in the small things that he made and even was in the know how it is he really thought of it that he did out of it was incredibly important that people use their achievements whether they've ever been recognized by anyone else and I think if someone can so yeah you know next year as it does as princes and I can so but when we went to Brazil for all those years and I had a shop in Brazil and I suddenly started designing clothes and hats and bags and I don't know a thing about sewing so I had to have everything pinned on me a lot of ideas certainly and I had 90 actually and they were all sold a third day. Oh and in the shop. But what I mean is you think you can make make something happen. Yes you can't you can't by just

sitting there you think about it right. You have to make things happen for yourself. And in skills analysis you can't just sit back and think gee I've got all these good skills. Now what can I do with the now you've got to get it down on paper. I mean what do you say. We've been talking about people who quit jobs right and then gone back to work right. A lot of women say I'm nothing but a housewife I don't have to do anything. What do you say to them. That's my number one button and that's pushed It's to bad for everybody. But actually women who have been housewives and mothers and so forth have some of the major skills that are in today's market are highly prized. Problem Solving for one public relations for another and they're entertaining the boss and etcetera for the husband or whatever. Negotiating an arbitrating never had children without doing that kind of writing struck me and I missed it but budget management that's just a few of the top syllables this is a tally analyzing your skill rise to record everything that you know how

to do not just a particular job that you tried and made a salary. Don't just look at what you've been paid for that's a fallacy because frequently the skills you haven't been fake paid for are your very very best skills. Should a person expect any help from his employer in this area. In many large corporations there will be seminars or workshops or I just did a workshop recently for some people who are going to be laid off. From a large corporation but not always know and but the team unity offers a great deal of help. The many local employment agencies and the state employment agencies all over the world all over the country. That's the world as far as I'm concerned. Our. Giving workshops on how to look for work and there are some which are wanting and for the most we might have to do it for you so you have to mobilize yourselves in skills you think you have to want to. Sure that's right. I'm a mother as so many people I know that all of that

really do not want to that's what I like so what are you going to do about it. No but you know that morning must we all be able to teach them to want to if they don't want to help. Yes long duration does come from within. However you can help a person along by saying just what someone else did this as an example he gave us it was a brother in law. Yeah. Yes who are you. A leisure time activity to create a business. So again the motivation comes from inside. Thank you very much for Vegas I mean short time. Thank you thank you. So much. Well we are finally going to do something together for you because when I knew that you were going to come on the program and thrilled me to death I said let's sing a song together because we'd never have parties late at night

and here was this marvelous opportunity and now we're going to meet your son Jonathan who is a composer and has written this song. And when you join me on the other side. Yes you bet. Thank you. Jonathan Meredith and Jonathan you have written a song that was sent to me on a lead sheet that's what we call of music copy. And it said the title said Swan. And I learned it but I wasn't quite sure what what I was singing about until you arrived here a few minutes ago. Well when you tell me how you got that title Mary. Actually it was a collaboration with Dad and myself and it's a lullaby to Swann's because where I live in Northern California we raise swans you know. Yes we raise Swans up there we have a little ranch. But isn't that unusual. Yes it's a it's a fowl business.

A way to make money through sun and was very wonderful to me and I put the wood still in love. That's what the song how can we sing it. And if I don't remember it well you'll help me. Yeah.

Them to. Not say it's their own goal. The. Funding for this program was provided by a public television station. Yes some company incorporated and colonial insurance group.

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