Once you turn the big 5-0 and you’re unemployed finding a job is super challenging! It seems everyone doing the hiring still has Similac on their breaths! Even though the unemployment rate for older folks is lower than for younger ones, once out of a job, older workers have difficulty trying to land a position.
If you’re hitting the pavement trying to find work and are still coming up empty, perhaps these tips can help you get hired again:
Don’t wait. A common mistake that is made by so many is to wait until their unemployment runs out before they start looking for a job. Bad move! Job prospects are better when there isn’t a significant gap in your resume as far as a timeframe. Get cracking on looking for work as soon as the door hits you on your last job.
Streamline resume. Employers don’t want to read a novel when they are interviewing prospective applicants. Having a 20 or 30-year work history makes you overqualified for the role an employer is seeking to fill. Carefully craft a resume that shines a spotlight on your recent accomplishments, talents and makes sure they fall in line with the job you’re seeking. A good rule of thumb is to give employers the last ten years of relevant experience. Make sure your cover letter is well-written, sans typos and explains why you’re the perfect fit for a role.
Keep your age out of the mix! What you don’t want to do is give an interviewer a clue about your age. If your interviewer is younger, DO NOT make mention of their age which can be taken as a condescending remark. Listing jobs you held over 20 years ago will also tip an employer off as to where you might be on the age scale. Folks, ageism is real!
Let employers know you’re tech-savvy. When you are north of 50, employers seem to think that you have near-zero knowledge about technology. Make it your business to let potential employers know that you are tech-savvy and don’t shy away from it. Add a LinkedIn URL to your resume. Let the employer know about an article on their company’s Twitter feed that caught your eye. Consider becoming a regular contributor to industry-related groups on LinkedIn.
Be enthusiastic. Let a potential employer know that you are up for the challenges of the position they are offering. However, never let a younger interviewer feel that you might be after their job because you’re coming off as too qualified. Cockiness should never make an appearance during a job interview.
Don’t intimidate a younger manager. A younger manager might feel insecure and intimidated supervising you because you’re older and more experienced. Subtly, let the younger potential supervisor know that you’re a team player and that taking directions from them will never be an issue.
Here are a few great job search sites you might want to check out: