Over 50 and Looking for Work? Don't Let Age Be a Factor

It's ironic. You've worked most of your life and have reached a point where you are now a wealth of knowledge and experience. You can be an asset to any organization, but many of these organizations no longer want you. Despite laws against age discrimination, you know it exists. They may not say it's because of your age, but you know that at the very least, it's a factor. So short of cosmetic surgery and falsifying your birth certificate, how do you overcome this obstacle?

Like any other job seeker you're competing against, it comes down to marketing. How can you differentiate what you're offering from the rest of the applicants? You must be able to separate yourself from the crowd and convince the person hiring that you are the most desirable selection. I know, it's easy to say, but in reality, how do you do that?

In order to effectively market yourself, it's critical to understand why hiring decision makers are afraid to make a commitment to older workers. Once you understand what makes them hesitant, you can use that knowledge to better counter their arguments, and show why you're worth employing.

One area that employers look at is energy level. In some organizations, professionals are expected to work 50-60 hour weeks or more. Six and seven day work weeks are not unusual. Most older workers are not as willing to work those kinds of hours. They've reached a point where they are looking for more balance in their lives. They no longer want to spend the great majority of each week dealing with the stresses of work. To overcome this, you must be able to communicate that you have learned how to work smarter, and are more efficient with your time. You've learned that it's not the amount of hours that you put into your work, it's the amount of work you put into your hours. You have to convince them that you are no less committed to the success of the company, and that the hours you do spend working will be quality time, and not just putting in hours.

Another area that employers look at is longevity. At fifty years old, employers figure you have 13-15 years before you start looking toward retirement. If they were to hire a thirty year old worker, there is closer to 35 years before retirement. For the same cost to hire and train, they have the potential of an additional twenty years of work by hiring the younger worker. The reality is, the younger worker will probably not spend the rest of their career with the same company. Loyalty to the employer is largely a thing of the past. In toady's work place younger workers change jobs on an average of once every seven years. As you get older it becomes more difficult to change jobs. If you are hired, the company will have use of your services for twice as long as they will get from a younger worker.

There are other factors as well, such as increased health costs and concerns. These are valid concerns for the company. Statistically, older workers will cost the company more than younger workers. Your defense is your experience. What yo bring to the company is of more value than your less experienced counterparts. What you can contribute will more than offset the risk of increased costs.

Your main two tools in marketing yourself and counteracting these arguments are your resume, and yourself. If you have the experience, make sure your resume reflects that. Although general wisdom says to limit your resume to one page, your experience may require a longer resume. Make sure your points are kept brief, but if you've got something to say, this is your chance to say it. You have to show your value to be able to get the interview. Once face to face you will have a chance to go into more depth, and really sell yourself.

Once you get the interview, make sure you don't play into the stereotypes. Don't allow yourself to appear "old." Make sure your refreshed and awake. allow your energy to come through. While you don't want to try to overly hip, or younger than you really are, you don't want to appear outdated. Make sure your wardrobe is updated and the clothes you wear reflect today's professional styles.

You've got the experience. You've been through so much, and have so much more yet to give. Show them what you've got. Don't give up. The right position is out there, so go and get it.