Career Advice Podcasts & Job Seeker Network
Make Age an Asset
Job seekers over 50 can make age an asset
courtesy of CareerBuilder.com
This is the age of downsizing and corporate cost cutting. Those shown the door in favor of younger and lower-paid employees may be asking themselves: "Have I reached my expiration date? Is this the beginning of the end?"
"Age biases do still exist. All kinds of biases exist in the workplace," said Patti O'Neal, an executive at the career services company Lee Hecht Harrison. "But the question of age is becoming less of a factor in building a strong work force."
O'Neal said companies are waking up to the fact that younger workers are more apt to jump from company to company in an effort to build a career while the older worker is more likely to stay the course.
Does that mean someone can waltz right up to a human resources director and expect to be worshiped for his or her experience? Not likely. It will all come down to what a company is looking for at a given time.
Some companies value the immediate cost savings a younger employee can offer in terms of wages, but once convinced that experience and skills are more cost effective, age becomes less of a factor. Once a job candidate understands what is marketable and makes him or her different from other job candidates, O'Neal offers these tips.
Keep professional skills current
One of the myths about older workers is that they are not as technologically savvy as younger generations. A job seeker who is proficient with computers should list all the software programs he or she can use.
Consider taking a computer class to learn some new programs. Continuing education is vital at any age.
Network
Positions at upper levels are not as likely to be advertised, so networking is particularly important for the older professional in the job market. Identify organizations that view experience and skills as relevant to their business equation.
Volunteering in the community or joining the board of a local organization can provide the opportunity to meet peers and showcase skills and abilities.
Focus on accomplishments
Turn around perceived hurdles regarding age by demonstrating vitality, experience and work ethic. Focus on strengths and experience during the interview.
Give the impression of someone who can get the job done and who comes to the table with unique qualifications.
"Don't apologize for your age. Don't ever joke about it or even mention it. Don't assume that age is even an issue. If you do, you create the energy that could possibly put off the interviewer. Be proud. Allow all your experience, skills and wisdom to shine. That's what they are hiring," said O'Neal.
"A company either has to buy talent or build talent. Be be articulate about your skills and demonstrate you are a learner," O'Neal added.
courtesy of CareerBuilder.com
This is the age of downsizing and corporate cost cutting. Those shown the door in favor of younger and lower-paid employees may be asking themselves: "Have I reached my expiration date? Is this the beginning of the end?"
"Age biases do still exist. All kinds of biases exist in the workplace," said Patti O'Neal, an executive at the career services company Lee Hecht Harrison. "But the question of age is becoming less of a factor in building a strong work force."
O'Neal said companies are waking up to the fact that younger workers are more apt to jump from company to company in an effort to build a career while the older worker is more likely to stay the course.
Does that mean someone can waltz right up to a human resources director and expect to be worshiped for his or her experience? Not likely. It will all come down to what a company is looking for at a given time.
Some companies value the immediate cost savings a younger employee can offer in terms of wages, but once convinced that experience and skills are more cost effective, age becomes less of a factor. Once a job candidate understands what is marketable and makes him or her different from other job candidates, O'Neal offers these tips.
Keep professional skills current
One of the myths about older workers is that they are not as technologically savvy as younger generations. A job seeker who is proficient with computers should list all the software programs he or she can use.
Consider taking a computer class to learn some new programs. Continuing education is vital at any age.
Network
Positions at upper levels are not as likely to be advertised, so networking is particularly important for the older professional in the job market. Identify organizations that view experience and skills as relevant to their business equation.
Volunteering in the community or joining the board of a local organization can provide the opportunity to meet peers and showcase skills and abilities.
Focus on accomplishments
Turn around perceived hurdles regarding age by demonstrating vitality, experience and work ethic. Focus on strengths and experience during the interview.
Give the impression of someone who can get the job done and who comes to the table with unique qualifications.
"Don't apologize for your age. Don't ever joke about it or even mention it. Don't assume that age is even an issue. If you do, you create the energy that could possibly put off the interviewer. Be proud. Allow all your experience, skills and wisdom to shine. That's what they are hiring," said O'Neal.
"A company either has to buy talent or build talent. Be be articulate about your skills and demonstrate you are a learner," O'Neal added.
Views: 8
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by T. Ray on -
Yeah yeah, you make it sound so good, trotting out your less-than-one-percent examples of older hirees beating out the pups for a job. Careers.com is useless for older job seekers and is crawling with ravenous opportunistic "recruiters" who vie en masse for every legitimate job opening, and who want twenty-something candidates or thirty-somethings at the latest, preferably with a glowing college degree and a red-hot current job they can steal you away from. The experience that comes only with age seems to count for nothing once someone gets to be around 50 or so. The only thing I can think of that would change that is NOT some rah rah article such as yours, but would be for the government to legally mandate employers to hire a certain percentage of older workers, just as they did years ago for women and minorities.
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Permalink Reply by Tobi Baker on
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Luckily in some industries age isn't so much of an issue. Typically this is the case when entry to the particular industry is particularly tough, or takes many years of study. Which is why so many experienced doctors and engineers are so highly sought after. A friend runs a agency that specialises in automotive engineering jobs and the bulk of his most sought after candidates are those on the grey side :-)
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