I had over 35 years experience in my field before I started teaching it. It really helps to be a "content expert" when you have day-to-day experience you can share with your students. Also sharing blunders on the job as well as successes lets them know they will learn even more when they actually get into the workplace.

Older students who are afraid they won't fit in or won't do as well as those students who are 18 or 19 and fresh out of high school - They need to know they have strengths that will benefit the entire class. Older students usually have more focus. They are a settling influence on the younger students who many times look up to them and ask for advice.