I have noticed something recently in my travels around the country. Whenever I talk to groups of businesspeople about presenting themselves in the best possible light for job interviews, more people over the age of 50 are seeking my advice on overcoming age bias in their job searches. These sorts of questions seem to be on the uptick lately, which is why I’ve chosen to tackle this topic in this week’s article.
Some employment experts will tell you that age bias happens less these days, but my guess is that those individuals are all under the age of 35! For people over 50 years old, age bias is something that must be faced and reckoned with. But, don’t fear—you can choose to tap into your years of experience and hard-won expertise to become the dream job candidate for any organization.
Plan the work … work the plan
When you’re over 50 and find yourself looking for work, start by doing the following:
Stay positive!
OK, let’s just start with the most difficult point first. Even under the best of circumstances, remaining positive while searching for a job is hard. But remember, even if your last employer decided to move on from you, many future employers will welcome you warmly. You just have to get out there and help them find you!
Start your job search right away
Don’t take more than a few days off before starting your job search. Many searchers want to take a break and that’s OK, but set a date to get back “on the job” and stick to it. Don’t wait until your unemployment benefits run out to start looking for a new position.
Work your network
At 50+ years old, you most likely have a sizable network of people you can contact for help with your job search. You just need to use them! Let your network know that you’re looking for a job. Tell them what kind of position you’re seeking, and ask if they know of any openings they could point you toward. Most important of all, if someone in your network can give you a recommendation, that can eliminate about 85% of the barriers to an interview. (Studies show that the most successful way to land a job at any age is to “know someone.”)
Shorten and “brighten” your resume
As a 50+ person, don’t turn your resume into a laundry list of all the jobs you’ve had for the last 35+ years. In general, keep the spotlight on the last 10 years of relevant experience for the position you’re applying for. If you need help, use any available resources to update and modernize your resume—including on-line tutorials. (They’re often free, and many of them are excellent.) You want your resume to look fresh, polished, professional, and contemporary—just like you’re going to look when they eventually meet you in the interview!
Explain why you’re not overqualified
Having 20 or 30 years of work experience can make you seem overqualified for many positions. To combat this, make sure your cover letter conveys your enthusiasm for the job and explains why you’re the exact right candidate. Later on, in your interview, explain any work gaps, and why you’re applying for something for which you might seem overqualified—and be sure to reassert your eagerness to fill the position.
Tips for battling age bias during the interview process
When you get your interview, follow these guidelines to make a great first impression on the hiring manager:
Reassure a younger manager
Chances are the manager conducting the interview will be younger than you, and—to be blunt—possibly much younger than you. He or she might see you as a bit of a threat, so it’s important to let them know you are OK with the role for which you are applying, that you don’t want their job, and that you’re expecting to take direction from them.
Don’t let age become a topic under any circumstances
Even if the interviewer is the same age as your youngest child, don’t mention it—don’t even joke about it. Leave it alone. If the other person makes a joke about their age, just smile and don’t say anything. If they make a joke about your age, then that is most likely illegal and you have other options to think about (for starters, like definitely not working there!).
Check your look
Let’s face it. You may need to make some changes and update your professional image. Like it or not, first impressions are all about how we look. So for starters, head out and do some observing. What are people wearing these days? How do they style their hair? (I remember, way back in the 80s, when I finally had to have a gentle talk with my mom about her iridescent blue eye shadow—which, by the way, came back a few years ago!) I’m not suggesting that you adopt the latest trends (I don’t even suggest that for fresh-out-of-school job seekers), but you want to make sure your clothing, hairstyle, make-up, and accessories are up to date.
Demonstrate your fluency with technology.
This will probably be the kicker during your interview. You carry the burden of countless jokes and memes about older workers not being able to use technology effectively, so make sure you do everything you can to let them know that you are tech-savvy and continuing to keep up with new developments.
I believe the most important thing you can do to overcome age bias is to demonstrate your comfort with technology and social media. There are many subtle ways to let potential employers know you’re tech-friendly: Include your LinkedIn URL on your resume, mention an interesting article you found on the employer’s Twitter feed, or be a regular contributor to industry-related groups on LinkedIn.
Resources to help experienced people like you find great jobs
The key is to find the companies and positions that are looking for mature, experienced workers. The following job search sites can help you do just that.
This site gears itself to Baby Boomers and has plenty of resources to help you decide what to do with your life. It’s more than just a job site; it’s a life site, with excellent content.
Built for the 55+ crowd who are rapidly approaching retirement, but definitely aren’t ready to sit in a rocking chair just yet (which I hope you never will be!).
This job search site has over 1 million members. You can post your resume here and search for full-time or part-time jobs online. The web site boasts of helping you “beat age bias!”
This site is much more of a straightforward job-listing site broken down by industry and state. It also allows you to sign up for job alerts, which is a nice function.
Putting Your Human Capital to Work
Your human capital—a term that relates to your ability to earn a living—is a huge asset. If you find yourself out of work after age 50, you might have to update your look, your resume, and possibly some job skills. However, don’t be discouraged. Think of it as investing in yourself—and what could possibly be more important than that? So don your positive attitude and your stylish new jacket and hit it!