One of my recent clients is 69 years old. In fact,
most of my clients are over 50, and the topic of ageism comes up a lot. In my 12 years of experience marketing clients into six-figure positions, I’ve really only seen advanced age as a true obstacle in the Midwest at age 58 or older (the East and West coasts are a little different). However, just because it's an obstacle, it doesn't mean you can't overcome it with some proactive strategies.
For older workers, here are the concerns a hiring manager may have about you:
Is this person in good health – are they going to cost me a lot of sick days or higher insurance premiums?
Do they take a long time to get up to speed, especially if they don’t have any industry experience?
Are they out of date with the latest technology or skill set?
How long are they going to be around before they plan to retire? I don’t want to hire someone for just another couple of years.
If ageism is a concern for you,
there are several things you can do to proactively counter an employer’s assumptions using the following techniques during an interview:
Give examples of how active you are, even if it’s how you like to hit the golf course on warm days like these.
Tell stories of how quickly you learn. If you’re a constant learner, mention the last book you read or course you’ve taken. Or tell a story about how quickly you got up to speed with a new application or new material and how quickly you were able to make a contribution to the company using that knowledge.
Show how up to date with technology you are by making sure you’re glancing at your smart phone to look at messages before being led into the interview, or take a tablet in with you and perhaps show off your LinkedIn profile to them in the interview, which should be an expanded version of your one-page functional, or skills-based, resume.
You might even mention how many more years you plan to work, and that you’re looking for a good “long term fit” in your next employer.
A decision maker can’t ask about the subject of age, but it doesn’t mean that he or she won’t be thinking about it. Give yourself the opportunity to sell yourself past your advanced age by bringing up these things proactively.
Here’s to a successful search for your perfect job!
If you’d like help with your search, you know we’re available here at CRC. Just call our office at (816)600-2478 or email me at Tammy@BeyondJobSearching.com . Whether you need to rebrand yourself for a successful career search, or interview and negotiation assistance, we can customize a program that fits your needs.
