Age getting in the way of landing a job?
Comments (0) Other’s over 50 are gainfully employed, why not you? What did they do that you didn’t?
Over 50 and looking for work can be traumatic. You are told you are overqualified, won’t fit the culture or just overlooked.
Don’t let age discrimination get you down. Look around. Many people with a bit of grey in their hair and long tenure in the workforce are employed in terrific jobs and valued as members of the business community.
The gorilla in the closet: Please, don’t shoot the messenger on this one. One of the most career-limiting aspects of a job search is your appearance; your energy level and fitness. Employers won’t tell you this, but they rule you in or out almost immediately upon seeing you in person.
If your posture is poor and you are out of breath with normal exertion, it is hard for hiring authorities to see you as hireable. It isn’t about insurance premiums, it’s about stamina and ability to keep up.
If you are overweight, dress to minimize. Men, wear braces to keep your britches from lingering under your belly. Make sure your shirt passes the two finger test.
Women, stay away from loose fitting boxy clothing that masks your curves. Chose instead tailored clothing that has darts and allude to a waist. Watch that hems are just a bit below the knee and be careful how you sit. If a you wear slacks, view yourself in a three way mirror to see if the butt is too tight or sags. Take special care with undergarments and consider shapewear if appropriate.
Overcome ageism with long term planning and short term course corrections.
Branding: Your personal brand is an identity and the story that it tells; it is the promise you make to future employers about what they can expect from you. An exceptional brand, like a custom wedding dress, is created specifically for its owner and with a particular purpose in mind.
Do you know what your brand is? Are you Superman or Clark Kent. You can’t be both. Chose a competency that distinguishes you from your peers and exploit it. What is your internal brand? Get known internally (current employer) and externally (the business community).
One of my clients, a 48 year old woman, wants to make sure she always has career options. She was known for her efforts in her field and leveraged that to become known globally. Her white papers are often quoted and she is frequently interviewed for podcasts. She is a keynote speaker, an active blogger and has a rolodex of all the shakers and movers in that domain. She reaches out to colleagues and assists them when they have questions about how to sell the concepts internally. Her generosity among her peers is noteworthy. She doesn’t have to look for a job. Jobs come to her.
Another became known for successfully implementing the Agile development methodology without missing any deadlines. He is now the go-to guy on things Scrum and Agile. He took this experience to the blogosphere. He answers questions on other blogs and belongs to LinkedIn groups Agile related. Recruiters and hiring authorities contact him monthly. He built a brand that will reap career rewards well beyond his initial success.
Networking: If you want to overcome ageism, get an introduction to the hiring authority from a respected peer of the employer. Introductions from a respected peer is the oldest and most trusted way to hire executives. If the Vice President of development introduces you to the CTO of the company you want to work for, you will get face time.
Don’t know anyone who can introduce you? Ask the most senior person you know how they would get connected to the hiring authority. Use that company or person as an example and ask if they know others like that. You might be surprised to discover they can help in ways you didn’t expect.
Social Networking: Used sparingly, social networking sites can be useful for creating bonds to people you’d not normally meet. LinkedIn is a business networking site and provides tremendous opportunity to become known to your peers.
Use the groups to ask and answer questions. Be conscious of your brand and participate where it makes sense. Contact people who appear to have the connections and expertise you are interested in. Get to know them, share links, book suggestions and such. Don’t assault them immediately with requests for help in your job search.
Use Twitter and Facebook judiciously. Connect with people and maintain a professional demeanor at all times. Don’t mention what you ate for dinner or the long run you took. Share links, ideas and encouragement. Use these sites to grow friendships. Once you have established bonds, you might mention your job search or people to whom you need introductions. If you do so immediately, you will quickly lose your followers.
Fix your resume: If your resume begins, “30 years experience leading successful teams to produce quality products,” or some other comment that leads with the number of years of your experience, delete it. Employers care about the last three years and what you accomplished, what contemporary solutions you can bring to their company, not history.
What to wear: Wear a very nice, well-fitted suit. Buy a new one if you have to. There is no substitute for a stunning first impression that shows respect for the interview process. It is likely you will be ribbed for it and some comments will be made, the point is clear, you are a serious candidate for the job.
The argument that no one in the company wears a suit is thin. They aren’t interviewing for a job. And nothing stresses age more than someone over 50 trying to dress like a 30 something. Strut your professionalism proudly.
Fix your attitude: If you have been looking for a job for a while and you suspect your age may be limiting your opportunities, it is natural to feel anger and resentment. But you must check it at the door. The interviewer you are about to face is the exact opposite so give that person the benefit of the doubt.
The person interviewing you saw something compelling in your resume and/or responded well to the introduction from a peer. The hiring authority knows you are not a spring chick and still wants to consider you for the job. Now, prove them right.
Avoid giving a history lesson. The interviewer wants to hear about your adaptability to new techniques, processes and solutions. Listen to their priorities and give contemporary examples and outcomes that relate. Don’t preach, give philosophy or lecture.
Ask what has worked before, what metrics they will use for success and refrain from saying anything generic. “I have seen that many times before” is not useful information. “When I solved this last year we xxx. It seemed to work because it increased traffic 50%.” Always mention an outcome for any example you use.
If you implement the advice above, you will rise above the competition and increase your chances of being considered for a job regardless of your age.
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More links on Age discrimination:
Listen to Peter Clayton’s Total Picture Radio podcast with Rita. “Overcoming the ‘grey ceiling.’
Rita’s website for books, blog and coaching information
Solutions to Ageism
Employers Point of view on Ageism
Overqualified? I just want a job.
What keeps you from getting hired? Ageism or attitude?
Combat Ageism. Articles and posts.
Rita Ashley is a career and job search coach for executives. In the last two years, 98% of her clients, even those over fifty, obtained their goals within six months. Is it your turn? For more support, consider career and job search coaching.
Read “Job Search Debugged” for clear and field tested advice to create a compelling job search.
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