It’s harder and harder to find an upbeat message for the millions of Americans out of work, and it’s even harder for the unemployed worker over the age of 50.
Jobs that are available are going to specific skillsets, lower paid and younger workers and maybe those that look less desperate.
If you’re older than 50 and looking for work, the statistics tell you that it’s going to be tougher than ever to find a job, let alone a job that pays what you need or what you’re used to. It’s a bad situation. It’s painful. It’s out of your control.
What you do control, you must. And the following is what you can do – it’s easy to write a column and say things like, “be positive” “don’t give up” etc., but the work is when you sit down at a desk and plan it all out.
Get started as soon as you can and do not give up, be positive and stick to it.
UPDATE AND MODERNIZE
Your resume is still the key and keeping it short and emphasizing skills and achievements instead of the length of your experience is a must. What can you do for the employer now and tomorrow – not many are looking for a long term commitment.
UPDATE AND MODERNIZE
Your appearance must be that of health, energy and awareness. You have to find a way of shedding light on a positive outlook, with great skills and you need to cover up any depression or illness. And, don’t be too stylish, and not to dowdy – you need to dress the part of success.
YOUR AGE IS NOT THE FOCUS
Keep a positive, confident attitude. Keep your college graduation dates off your resume, and avoid discussing activities that might date you. If you seem overqualified, recruiters might make assumptions about how much you want to be paid. If a company wants 15 years of experience, trim descriptions of your 40-year career.
USE YOUR AGE TO YOUR ADVANTAGE
Stress your loyalty and dedication to a company. Recruiters will contrast that against younger workers’ tendency to hop between jobs and prioritize personal time over work engagements. Seek out age-friendly employers with older employees and executives. AARP has a good list.
GET CONNECTED
It is a fact. Your experience in a down market means you will cost more than someone without experience. Your age may make you appear slower and less energized than dumber and younger inexperienced applicants. You can’t change the realities we are facing. You can change how you are perceived.
I’m at the age where I’m starting to worry about this. I see younger people around me more and more, and realize I earn more than they do. I figure there’s a point where my boss will choose youth, less cost and reduced abilities.