(Photo Courtesy of Muriel Miralles de Sawicki via stock.xchng.)

A mid-50s government worker is nearing retirement and looking for a lower-paying job with less responsibility.

She has been applying for jobs that fit the bill, but no one will hire her, even though she has two graduate degrees and decades of experience.

“She has two double-whammies against her,” says Brandon Smith, a career coach and workplace consultant, “the ‘5’ in front of her age and then this career in government work.”

Smith says the private sector sees “state employee” and thinks “slow-paced,” “status quo,” “resistant to change.” And her age make them think she won’t be around very long.

His solution for Karen, a listener who sent us an email: become a “solo-preneur.” What that means and how to do it on this week’s Working on GPB Radio.