Finding work in today’s job market can be difficult for candidates at any age, but it’s somewhat tougher in a few ways if you’re past the age of 50. Many older candidates are truly the best people to hire for a lot of different jobs and industries, but often employers hold on to untruths and stereotypes about older workers. A large part of a successful job search for an older candidate will depend on how successfully they challenge the untruths and stereotypes, and how they ultimately prove those things to be wrong.
Many older workers provide a lot of advantages to companies when they are hired, including:
- They may not require extremely high wages like many candidates, and they may not have costly health insurance requirements
- They still want to work, and they usually possess exceptionally good work habits
- They are loyal employees that rarely drift from job to job
- They are helpful and often successfully mentor other employees
- They are likely to be more safety conscious on the job
- They know the value of having paid leave, and they usually don’t abuse paid leave policies
- They can be very flexible because many older workers don’t have children living in their home anymore
- They often have the wisdom to use their extensive knowledge and experience in ways to bring success to the company
- Their extensive network of contacts can often benefit the company where they work in several ways
- They behave like professionals on the job, and don’t engage in workplace drama as much as others
- Their critical thinking and problem-solving skills are highly developed as a result of their life and work experiences
Even if you are past 50, there are still things you can do that can make a difference in the success of your job search:
- If you need to upgrade your job skills (especially computer skills), there are free resources on the Internet that you should check out before you spend money on training
- You can still dress stylishly as an older person for interviews, but be sure that you maintain your professionalism in what you choose to wear – current trends in clothing may not be interview-appropriate for candidates of any age
- Once you apply for any job, it’s your mission to make sure you know as much as possible about their open job and their company – connecting the dots between your background and what the employer wants makes a big difference that could lead to a job offer
- You should demonstrate your excitement about possibly getting a job opportunity as much as you can and in every way possible – most employers want to hire people that want to work for them
- Part of the image you’ll project to employers should show them that you do not want to retire anytime soon – many employers will assume that you’re a short-timer who’s “marking time” until retirement, and you won’t stay with their company for very long
- Always make employers aware that you’ll add a lot of value to their company – in other words, they’ll get a lot of bang for their buck when they hire you; emphasizing your value can deflate concerns they may have that you’re an overqualified candidate
- When you create a resume, be mindful about the way you write your resume information – some information that you provide may tip off the employer that you might be a lot older than your competition
- With resumes and interviews, the information you provide to employers should always be recent and relevant; employers need to see that you’re up-to-date with your job skills, your training and education, and what you’ve achieved for past employers during the recent 5-15 years of your job experience should match what they desire
Discover more useful information to help you conquer possible age bias by attending the Job Search When You Are Over 50 workshop.
