A few tips for older job hunters from older job seekers face special hurdles:
Dismiss age-discrimination thoughts: Think age-neutral. Focus on “connecting” with the interviewer. Get the interviewer to understand your enthusiasm, skills, interests and ability to contribute.
Emphasize capabilities, not experience: It generally serves to de-emphasize duration of experience. Focus instead on capabilities acquired during your life.
Buy a computer and a smart phone or PDA: Showing you are technology savvy is a good thing.
Acquire basic computer skills: Start with Microsoft Office applications and the ability to do Internet research.
Avoid age references: Don’t put graduation dates on your resume. Present only the most recent 15 to 20 years of employment and summarize prior work in a single paragraph without dates or durations.
Practice interviewing: Be ready for awkward questions such as, “How long do you plan to work?” and “Do you believe you are overqualified for this job?”
Seek out age-friendly employers: Look at Borders, H&R Block and Staples. Check out AARP’s Best Employers for Workers 50+ at www.aarp.org.
Networking tools: Use Web sites such as LinkedIn.com.
Note that many of these involve making sure you are somewhat current in technology.
March 26th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
The only reason my father got the job he’s worked at for the past seven years was threatening to sue for age discrimination.
Do you think it should be an option on the table, at least?
March 26th, 2009 at 3:19 pm
He sued to get a job or to keep his job?