Pointers for the Over-50 Job Seeker
Written by Carol Kanchier
Recognize the warning signs of layoffs and stay current in your specialty.
Susan writes: Finding a good job is difficult. I’m 50 and convinced when people read my resume they figure I’m older than their ideal candidate. What to do? I have more experience and wisdom than 25-year olds, but won’t work for peanuts.
Susan’s story is common. But increasingly, many adults 50 and older are finding and keeping rewarding jobs. As baby boomers reach 50, few want to retire. They have 20 to 25 years of meaningful work ahead. Moreover, companies are realizing they need experienced workers to maintain productivity.
Nevertheless, age bias exists. The major stumbling block to older workers getting and keeping desirable jobs are myths and stereotypes that blind some decision-makers from hiring the over-50 crowd. Do you subscribe to negative stereotypes?
Negative myths suggest older workers:
The realities, supported by research, suggest older workers rate higher than younger counterparts in qualities such as:
- Wisdom, maturity, perspective, humour and judgment
- Experience and academic skills
- Attendance and punctuality
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Work ethic
- Loyalty and trustworthiness
- Supervisory skills
- Time management
- Responsibility
- Fewer accidents, turnover and outside distractions
Mature workers are just as productive and open to direction as younger co-workers. They take fewer family leaves, and can integrate older technologies with the new. Moreover, having older people on staff increases productivity of younger workers.
What can you do to counter “age stereotypes”?
Make age a strength. Capitalize on positive attributes of age and alleviate fears about negatives. Address age biases.
Here are suggestions:
- Weatherproof your career. View career development as open ended. Make ongoing decisions about yours. Be open to coincidence. Learn to risk.
- Recognize warning signs of layoffs. These include rumours, few large contracts and a little support for work. If you sense a layoff, talk with a supervisor to determine specifics.
- Stay current. Read professional journals, attend conferences, take courses, volunteer for challenging projects. Network. Join professional, trade, alumni or civic groups.
- Prepare for job search. Study the market. Consider small to medium-sized companies. They’re fast growing and hire mature workers.
- Research companies of interest. Know the industry, competitors, how you fit the culture and what you can offer. Practice selling yourself in interviews.
- Prepare a resume. Combine strengths of functional and chronological formats. List accomplishments first, and recent employment history second. Use key words listed in want ads to define skills and accomplishments. Include numbers, dollars and evidence of quality. Omit dates of degrees and earliest jobs. List recent training and positions. Fill employment gaps with consulting, education or volunteer experience, if true.
- Make favourable first impressions in interviews. Radiate energy, friendliness, confidence and competence. Look savvy and contemporary. Outdated haircuts and clothes reinforce stereotypes that older workers resist change. Sit or stand erect. Slumping projects exhaustion and age.
- Demonstrate strengths. Arm yourself with examples or anecdotes to reinforce strengths. Referring to past accomplishments and skills, explain how you’d tackle problems. Show how judgment, experience and consistent achievements enable you to make significant contributions.
- Demonstrate enthusiasm and passion for the work. Show you’re in tune with industry trends and have required technical skills. Demonstrate ability to mentor less experienced co-workers. Speak comfortably of your flexibility, tolerance for ambiguity and openness to new ideas. Emphasize patience and good health.
- Confront salary issues. Demonstrate why you deserve your desired salary, and that it’s within your occupational range. Consider options. For example, small additional pension costs are offset by your experience, stability, and ability to produce high quality work immediately.
- Maintain optimism. Your attitude about age influences employers. Accentuate your ability to contribute. Believe you can continue to grow and produce.
Remember:
- John Glenn returned to space at 77.
- Mildred Wirt Benson, Nancy Drew author, wrote a column for the Toledo Blade until her death at 97.
You have many productive years ahead. Pursue your desired work and lifestyle.
