Over 50 and Seeking a New Job? (Part 2 of 2 Part Series)

Certainly as we get older we’ve heard the stories of those that couldn’t find work and companies that are just wanting to hire the new kids on the block. We notice because it is natural to have feelings of insecurity, and it happens that companies sometimes do seek less experienced candidates. While companies cannot legally discriminate against age, there are factors considered in the hiring process that in a roundabout way may cause more experienced candidates to be screened out. What are those and what can you as an older candidate do about it?

  Fact - You are selling yourself against all other applicants, young or old. You must sell your advantages. In Part 1 of the series we examined key factors including:

Energy, Relocatability, Cost, Experience, Training, Contacts, Dealing with People, Problem Resolution.
  Now, how do you position yourself correctly so that you are selling your advantages, and what should you watch out for, what not to do?
 We recommend including the dates of employments and dates of your degrees on your resume. Whether or not you include the dates of your degrees, career experts have varying opinions. In most cases, it is a good idea to include them. If your resume attempts to indicate that you are younger by leaving out graduation dates or eliminating 10 years of early career history, you could run the risk of surprising the interviewer and disqualifying yourself -- not so much because of age, but because you have misled the employer. 

1. One of the most important factors that employers are looking for is length of time in a job and the chronology of your career positions. They are looking for stability in an employee. As a more seasoned candidate, this can be a big advantage for you. Thus, include your dates.
2. Employers do not want “job hoppers” and generally, younger candidates have a high tendency to move around a lot early in their career. It isn't difficult to calculate the general age of a candidate. So why make the employer do the math? Leaving out the dates of your degrees may also make it appear that you have something to hide. 
3. What's more, many employers will verify degrees and will ask you to provide graduation dates, so you might as well provide them. 
   
4. During the interview process, avoid the "been there, done that" attitude. Instead, show interest, commitment, enthusiasm and energy. "If you're bored with your profession, you can be sure that comes through in an interview.
   
5. Study your prospective company. Learn about what is going on there. Find people you may know there. You are competing with other candidates in the interview. The more you know about the company and the position, the more advantage you will have. Your recruiter is a great source of information here.  
   
6. List your training, skills, certifications, and industry affiliations. It shows your active involvement and desire to be current. 
   
7. For professionals who are in their mid-50s and older, it will be harder to overcome potential employer biases. If you are a youthful 55, perhaps you could post a professional photo of yourself on LinkedIn, which most recruiters check these days.  
   
8. Get in style – Make sure that what you will wear to the interview is suited well to the company and in style. Learn what is typical attire at that company and for that job. Ten year old suits or worn out business casual wear, clothes that do not fit well, or are just plain out of style may not make the right impression. A small investment here can make a difference between you and the next closest contender.

Your experience can and should be a real advantage in getting that next job, but only if you are prepared to sell yourself. You must know what the company is looking for and where you have advantages. You must differentiate yourself from the rest of the applicants. The bottom line is, well, the bottom line for the company. If you can demonstrate that you can deliver a better bottom line, then likely you will get the job. Good luck and put your best foot forward.