Tips for Job Seekers Over 50

 

If you’re a job seeker over 50, out of work, and looking to land a new gig, you’re not alone. Many older Americans are finding themselves in this position and feeling the tension that comes with looking for a new job as they approach retirement. In today’s ever-evolving world, seasoned workers are being required to learn new skills and freshen up old ones.

What to do if you still want to keep working?

1. Ask yourself how many more years you want to work. If it’s only five years, you can try to stay in your current field, perhaps with a smaller company. But, if you want to work for 20 more years—as many people do—develop a plan that you find exciting. And, keep up your skills and join professional associations.
2. Decide how you want to live those years and what you must do to get there. Plan through age 90. Develop a vision for the next five years, 15 years, and so on. Your 50s may be different from your 60s, which may be different from your 70s. But, you can engage your brain for many years to come.

How to overcome the prejudice against older workers

• Look spiffy! Invest in some new clothes.
• Act the part….and, tell yourself that you are valuable talent for hire.
• Self-confidence and positive enthusiasm are both very sexy!
• Appear energetic. Talk about going skiing or hang-gliding!
• Be willing to pitch in—don’t see any task as being beneath you.
• Remember that maturity and experience count. Many companies staffed with young people still want a few gray heads around to call on the big corporate clients and to
  help the company avoid big mistakes.
• Don’t confuse age prejudice with salary prejudice. If people don’t want you because you cost too much, then don’t say that it’s because you’re too old. Address the salary issue. Find someone who is willing to pay you what you are worth.
• Look to those companies with fewer than 1,000 employees. They need people who can hit the ground running.

Tips for over 50 workers

• LEARN how to market yourself. Older people are often used to being in one place for many years. They work hard, but don’t know how to promote themselves to the world.
• DEVELOP new skills. Everyone else has to—why should you be different? Don’t say: “I’ll learn it after they hire me.” Learn it now. Keep up-to-date. Things are changing. Consider part-time or temporary assignments to learn new skills.
• PROVE yourself even though you don’t feel you should have to. Recent grads and older workers both think that they have already proven themselves, but they are both out of sync with the market. Today, job search requires a more proactive approach.
• NEVER use your age as an excuse for not being hired. Maybe the problem is something else. Try to figure out what it is!

Good Hunting!

Articles to help people over 50+ in their job search

The Ultimate Guide To Job-Hunting Post 50-Forbes — “If you’re 50-plus and have experienced a job loss, or you’re simply looking to switch gigs, take heart in the fact that your career isn’t over. We spoke to two experts—as well as a few people who’ve been there themselves—for dos and don’ts advice on how older workers can better market themselves in today’s job search … and get hired.”

Ask The Headhunter: Beating Age Discrimination — Hired at 63! PBS: “Seniors can — and do — get hired, as long as they do what all job-hunters must: convince employers they can boost a company’s bottom line. In this special Making Sense edition of Ask The Headhunter, Nick shares insider advice and contrarian methods about winning and keeping the right job.”

Too Old To Find A New Job? Think Again. Fortune — “Worries about age bias often keep people in their 50s and 60s from embarking on a job hunt. But these days, seasoned managers are in demand….Granted, that’s much higher than the unemployment rate for people 55 and older in pre-recession 2007 — a tiny 3.1%. But on the other hand, for proof that experience is king, contrast that current 5.3% with the rate for new college grads (ages 20-24): a whopping 13.5%.”

Why A Friendly Reconnection Can Boost Your Career. Fast Company — “You know that feeling when you reconnect with a long-lost classmate, colleague, amigo, or amiga? As Wharton professor and Give and Take author Adam Grant explains, what you’re experiencing is the power of a dormant tie–a part of your network that is surprisingly powerful and surprisingly overlooked.”

Job Search Tips For Executives Over 50

Exchange from the ExecuNet Online Forum

I just read an article in the local paper about job search for execs over 50 and it said to eliminate everything on your resume that suggests your age ie no jobs listed beyond 15-20 years ago, don’t list companies that went out of business some time ago, no dates for when college attended, military service, include working out or running as hobbies if you do them, write young, speak young and do your best to look young.

In my case I run 40-50 miles/week and 5 hours/week of weight training so to me including that as a hobby (which I have never included before) probably could be of value but with all the rules about what a resume should and shouldn’t be these days, don’t want to get outside acceptable standards. I have been Pres/CEO/COO of companies for over 30 years, taken a $300M and a $10B company public and now that I actually have to look for work after starting, running and closing my own mortgage company, I’m shocked that I don’t even get calls on jobs I’m qualified or even over qualified for.

What thoughts do you career coaches have on this subject of resume change?

Thanks, Thomas

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Hello Thomas,

I’ve heard the same things, but I think the whole “hide your age” thing is overplayed. There is value in those graying temples, especially with the kind of experience you have. It seems you’re trying to portray yourself as being much more youthful, rather than emphasizing the significant strengths you bring to a potential employer. Bottom line: If it is not related to your career take it off your resume!

In summary, don’t hide what got you here. The “ageism” thing is, in my humble opinion, overblown. Get your resume to two pages, concentrate on your key accountabilities and heavy-hitter key results, and then work it. Network for all you’re worth. It always does take time, but the same leadership skills that got you to the level you’ve attained now have to be focused on your REAL job……which is getting the next one.

Don’t Give Up!
Peter

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Dear Peter,

Nicely said…well done! You provided great advice here for Thomas. I could not have said it better myself. Today’s forward thinking companies should be so lucky to have a senior group of employees on hand to train, mentor and coach the middle executives to be better at what they do so they will be BETTER MANAGERS OF PEOPLE once they move up into senior management. When the baby boomer retirement really starts to kick in (note: 1/3 of senior management will retire within the next 2 years!) and the top leaders of corporate America start their long-postponed exodus — most companies will be dying to have expert talent to help them survive and compete or they will fail!

Good Hunting!