NEW BOOK BY HOST OF ”FEISTY SIDE OF FIFTY”
By Mary Eileen Williams, M.A., NCC
If you’re over fifty and looking for work, you probably have a slew of preconceived notions about how bad the job market is for older applicants. You are also likely to have a number of concerns and questions that need to be addressed.
In the course of my twenty years of experience as a career counselor and job search specialist, I’ve counseled thousands of midlife career changers and jobseekers and—believe me—I’ve heard it all. Here are a few of the typical concerns that surface:
I’m too old to be competitive in today’s youth-oriented marketplace.
I haven’t updated my resume in over fifteen years and have no idea what they’re looking for now.
I realize I’ve got skills but I’m not sure how to name them or be able to speak to any of my accomplishments at work. I did my job and did it well, but I don’t know how to market myself. In fact, I don’t like tooting my own horn.
I don’t have a college degree.
My technical skills aren’t that up-to-date.
How can I interview with someone who’s in his or her thirties?
And making matters even more discouraging, seemingly everywhere we turn, the job market is described with words such as “bleak,” “slow to recover,” and “with limited prospects.” This, we’re told, is especially true for the older applicant.
There’s no doubt about it—ageism is alive and well in this country. However, if you’re a jobseeker who is over fifty, you probably remember the phrase we used to say in our youth with such smug conviction: “Don’t trust anyone over thirty!” We can’t deny that boomers coined the phrase “generation gap,” so ageism is far from new.
Regardless, there are certain key strategies you can use that will highlight your age and experience, and make you more attractive to potential employers. Now, I’m not suggesting we delude ourselves with pie-in-the-sky fantasies and wishful thinking. What I am suggesting is that we take a deep breath and get some perspective:
The media knows bad news sells so that’s just what they spin: bad news on just about everything.
The figures they cite are drawn from generalities and take no account of the personal drive, focus, and energy an individual puts into his/her job search.
Certain industries and occupations are far more welcoming to older applicants than others. Why not concentrate your search on fields that appreciate the knowledge that age and experience provide?
If it looks like an employer will not appreciate the experience you bring, move on! Do NOT waste your valuable energy seeking possibilities that are limited at best. Even if you are hired, they’re not likely to afford you opportunities for growth within the organization. Move forward and place your energy and focus on new opportunities where your experience will be welcomed (and appreciated!).
Determine the potential age-related objections an employer might hold regarding you as a candidate—do something about them (if needed) and create a list of ways you can overcome these objections.
Turn your age into an advantage.
Yes, there’s no doubt about it—age truly can be an advantage! So now let’s turn to ways that you, as an older applicant, have it all over those young whippersnappers:
You have market knowledge and a skill set gained over years of experience.
You have an extensive network of clients, customers, coworkers, and colleagues developed over a lifetime career.
You are likely to be more flexible and can present yourself as a full-time employee or as a consultant.
You are not necessarily assertively climbing the corporate ladder so you won’t pose a threat to the more aggressive up-and-comers.
You have the knowledge and ability to mentor younger workers and teach them valuable techniques and tools that translate into ongoing success for the organization.
You have life skills gained over years of experience dealing with people. You know the importance of being responsible, showing up on time, following through to complete assigned tasks, managing emotions at work, and being a contributing team member.
The workforce is aging. Workers over fifty represent one of the fastest growing labor groups in the country and you fit right in. The cost of replacing experienced workers can be as much as half their annual salary, so companies are recognizing that recruiting and retaining workers over fifty is sound business practice.
And these are just a few of the pluses you bring. Your attitude about your viability as a candidate and your potential for finding work underscores everything you do. Anyone actively seeking employment needs to project an aura of energy, enthusiasm, knowledge, and confidence. This is especially true for those of us with a few years under our belts. Some of the more unkind stereotypes have us being “old,” “tired,” “unenthusiastic,” and “technologically inept.” So let’s get out there and prove them wrong!
Mary Eileen Williams, M.A., NCC, has twenty years of combined experience as a career and life transition counselor, job search specialist, university instructor, and writer. As a Nationally Board Certified Counselor with a Master’s Degree in Career Development, she specializes in working with job seekers in midlife and showing them the latest techniques for landing a job in the 21st Century. Mary Eileen is the host of the popular blog and radio show “Feisty Side of Fifty” www.feistysideofifty.com.
LAND THE JOB YOU LOVE: 10 Surefire Strategies for Jobseekers Over 50
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