Ageism - Are Fears About Your Age Justified?

"Is age a factor in finding a new line of work?" "Am I not being recruited because of my years of experience?" If you are a more seasoned employee then it is likely that you have expressed such concerns. Age segregation strikes a chord when it comes to candidates who are overlooked, especially those over the age of 50. Yes, ageism is a real thing, but it can be overcome. The following are a few strategies to help you get past age discrimination and increase your odds of finding new employment, no matter the stage of life you’re in.

Search in the Right Places
Search for job postings on sites uniquely intended to support more seasoned candidates, including the following:
 

1. Hire.Seniors (https://www.hireseniors.my/)
2. Workforce50.com (http://workforce50.com/)
3. Seniors4Hire (http://seniors4hire.org/)
4. Encore.org (http://encore.org/)
5. ExecuNet (http://www.execunet.com/).

 
Notwithstanding that AARP, the national backing and participation association for individuals ages 50 and over, has a work and retirement interface on its site as well to support older workers. Tap into these services to leverage your job search in ways that are tailored to your unique needs.  
 
Update your Skills and Resume
Search for experts like professional resume writers and career coaches who you can depend on. A team of career professionals know how to improve the appearance of resumes to elude to youthfulness on paper. For instance, this could include eliminating dates for obsolete experience from the 1980’s or 1990’s or improving the format and presentation of the resume to give a more modern appeal. This could also include demonstrating that you are adept in recent technologies and industry trends so that employers won’t count you out. A professional resume writer or career coach can also provide you guidance and insights into how to navigate your age during interviewing to give you an advantage over recent graduates or entry-level candidates who are often willing to accept lower salaries just to get their foot in the door.
 
Answer Questions in a Positive Way
Direct questions about age should never be posed during an interview. However, this does not mean that an interviewer’s opinions and judgments are not being shaped by your maturity. While it may be difficult to determine without a doubt whether the interviewer has not chosen you because of age, there are a few things you can do to quiet the elephant in the room. For instance, you can discuss examples that demonstrate how much of a quick learner you are, that you truly appreciate new challenges, and how you wish to extend your range of abilities, despite being an older worker. You can likewise feature your adaptability and versatility, alongside the capacity to step up to the plate and reveal to them that you appreciate working with and gaining knowledge from individuals of all age ranges.
 
A favorite line that we advise our coaching clients to use during interviews is, “I can run circles around any 20-year old!” Many times, such humor puts the interviewer at ease as they envision you showing their younger staff a thing or two. Also, towards the end of the interview, you could toss in another line such as, "This discussion has invigorated me and made me even more excited about your organization!" Such statements make you sound fiery, interesting, and determined – some of the traits that younger candidates often demonstrate when seeking their first jobs right out of college.  
 
Summary
The fact of the matter is that age does make a difference during interviewing and hiring but it ought not be a deterrent as there are ways in which to circumvent challenges directed towards your age. Observe the above listed tips to overcome ageism during your job search. To learn more about how to power your job search during a pandemic schedule a call today to speak with one of our career experts.
 
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