Peter N.
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What should older workers do about age discrimination.
It’s not right, but it’s there. What should older workers do, especially in a market like this where finding a job is hard for anyone (regardless of age).
Good Answers (26)
Stuart F.
LinkedIn Expert, Social Media Consultant, and Career Coach
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There are companies who prefer young workers, and there are companies who prefer older workers. Older workers offer experience and expertise that cannot be matched, maturity, a realistic perspective, and a commitment to doing a quality job. So, it starts with realizing your worth, and focusing your efforts on companies that will appreciate what you bring. As a recruiter, I placed a lot of older clients with companies who wanted their experience. As I get older, I find that accepting reality and working with it in a positive way gives me an advantage I didn't have when I was younger!
Francisco L.
Quality and process improvement
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Be prepared, flexible, and learn new tricks.
Help those around us to learn what we know.
And give our enlightened employers more good reasons to hire older workers.
Fungus
Clarification added August 3, 2009:
At least, that's what I try to do.
I learned it from people who are older than I am, and still very active.
On the other hand, I don't have any evidence that it works.
I am a optimist by my own choice.
Be introspective. Make sure you are doing everything you can to land a new position.
It is frustrating, however, when you look at a job description, & it is essentially a copy of your resume, yet not even an interview.
It makes you start to think of other alternatives, such as ???.
Tom Potter
Mark M.
Accounting & Finance Smokejumper, CPA (inactive)
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Consider dropping graduation date and only going back 10 - 15 years on your resume.
That's what people are doing out here in Hitech, where if you are > 30, you are consider old
Make sure your computer skills are current and your are intermediate with Word, Excel, and beginner + with Outlook, Access, and PowerPoint.
Keep positive and don't carry a chip on your shoulder.
Sahar A.
Diversity& Inclusion|Leadership training|Social Media Marketing|Social Media Training|Public Speaker|Culture Competence
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Peter:
Physically wise, I would do whatever it takes to look younger in an interview dye the hair with a lighter color in females have their nails done etc..., or darker in males I would also dye the mustache and beard if any (I would get rid of a beard or guatee) as they make people look older
I would wear colors that are not necessarly very day I would say dark blue suit with a light color shirt and a great tie and not necessarly white shirt with a classic red/ burgundy tie
Be energetic. believe in themeselves to walk with confidence to the interview, you will be surprised how dying the hair can take years off
On paper I would only mention the last 15 years of experience no one really cares or ask for beyond that unless it is like an CEO position
I would mention all the skills/ transferable skills though from old jobs without going back in dates
Since it is illegal to ask the age or date of birth thi smight shave few years we do what we have to do to survive and win
Cheers,
Sahar Andrade
Peter R. L.
CEO at PERLU Investment, Banking Liaison, Large Global Project Fundings, Financial Trading Programms & Pecious Metals
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Discussing the topic right now with some others old and young here; I get the following from the group as an answer in a nut shell;
- Set up a league of older and younger workers; an innovative cross mix of an innovative force in order to bring experience as well as freshly new knowledge and skills together for compettetive, comparative offers to the markets, in order to bypass age discriminators.
- The new working environment will be nothing near to an extrapolation of the past. The new era will have to be a mix of old skills and fresh ideas, especially in todays crises ridden markets, yelling for new ideas and directions.
- Cross knowledge inspiration - old / young but as well young / old.
- Experiences connected to new ideas and new knowledge. The more; aged have to be open for this new way of working and be not only in mentor roles but in co-creator roles.
- Here is no space for arrogance or higher, lower salary disputes.
This is demanding cooperation to projects and assignments in the widest scope in order to re-innovate societal views on work, accomplishments as well as newly re-innovated ways of working.
And.., that Jack S. of a human resource person not seeing this, only deserves the boot, his days are numbered anyway, as today it will be the only way forward in a work place where both unique skill sets (young and old) are required to hold ship. To hold a drifting ship where many lost the direction - and newly to be analysed co-created directions will have to be set or to be found fast. Yes we can, but only together!
Clarification added August 3, 2009:
Inspire each other in order to find new ways of working, where adaptables are the only future survivors!!!
Heidi T.
Editor at Wordsmith Pros
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View your age and maturity as a strength. Sell it as such. Every team of younger workers needs a leader, coach, or mentor. Shoot for that job!
Be willing and able to learn, be flexible, and adapt quickly to change. Dress in keeping with the times. Wear one thing stylish, from this year.
Margot C.
Content developer & strategist, operationalizer, problem-solver, all-around good ol' gal
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Maybe this article (below) I wrote for Monster.com will be of some use.
Links:
Rita A.
Executive Coach, Career refinement and job search support. Amateur photographer and struggling fiction writer.
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What should older workers do about perceived ageism? Assume it does not exist and put your best foot forward. Don't place the hurdle in front of you and others won't.
Sometimes ageism is just an excuse:http://www.jobsearchdebugged.com/blog/?p=248
And if you feel you are being judged as overqualifiedhttp://www.jobsearchdebugged.com/blog/?p=316
Your challenge may very well be your job search process is not strong enough. Start there instead of jumping to the age issue. Lot's of people over 50 get new jobs; review your job search to determine, why not you?
During this past tough job market two year period, I have worked with several talented executives and technology leaders 45-60 and every one uncovered multiple jobs, landed multiple interviews and received (and accepted) terrific jobs. Even Microsoft hires people over 45-50. It's about what you can deliver, not your age.
Rita Ashley, Job Search Coach
Author: Job Search Debugged
Author: Networking Debugged
ritathejobcoach@gmail.com
Links:
Perform at a high level and better understand generation x'ers.
Best,
Bill
Christian R.
Senior Consultant - Infrastructure Architecture / IT Project Portfolio Management / M&A / VC Funds Management
Sue the company for millions of dollars.....
- chris
An older worker should concentrate on being proactive as opposed to reactive. This means that an older worker will need to make sure that their qualities are apparent and even emphasized in the entire hiring process. When a person is in the reactive frame of mind they will tend to concentrate on what is being done to them, not how are they communicating their skills. A prospective employer would have to be very blatant about the discrimination in order to make a justifiable case. Concentrate on the positive, do not look for the negative.
Phil L.
Information Technology Manager/Consultant
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Laugh.
Michael K.
Accredited Investment Fiduciary Analyst(TM), 401(k) Fiduciary, Cefex Analyst, Executive Coach, Trusted Advisor
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Excel. Have a passionate and compelling attitude.
Play to your strengths and be prepared to attack areas for improvement. Keep up your network. Have a presence on LinkedIn, Facebook, and perhaps Twitter.
Be perceived as comfortable using technology and state of the market tools.
Be committed. If all that doesn't create an advantage for you with a potential employer, the employer doesn't deserve you.
Al C.
CEO Alkol Bioenergy
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In Brazil most just forget trying to find a job and they just independent workers or start a company.
Actually I think that´s the proper thing to do.
I always thought jobs are only for learning how to eventually run a company or be independant.
Officeassistant jobs
Best salary of the industry Improve your status.
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In the police department, there is mandatory retirement at the age of 63. Because of this, we recently lossed a dedicated, exemplary police captain more than capable of doing the job (and then some). He was a true leader.
Truth is, many officers are not ready to go at that age. And it is a tramatic experience to be forced out. A hard-working officer, ideally, should be able to retire on his/her own terms, when he/she is ready. However, policy says otherwise.
What I say is this: do not allow anyone to make you feel less useful on the job because of your age. Continue to plot your own path, and be assertive in doing so. Stay focused on what makes you happy, and pursue those things passionately. Be proud of your accomplishments and value your expertise. Be confident -- take yourself seriously. Your years of experience matter and should be considered priceless to the organization in which you work!
Vince P.
Executive Search Consultant at Preng and Associates
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Age is irrelevant. It is all about what value you can provide. Identify your transferable skills and put them to good use.
Stay positive. Always believe you are special.
Be flexible. Look for opportunities to coach and mentor.
Darlene Z.
ResumeEdge.com, ResumeEdge.ca, JobInterviewEdge.com Managing Editor at Nelnet Career Services
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Make certain you do NOT put exact years of experience in your opening summary. For example: Instead of writing "Skilled professional with 30 years of experience in accounting and finance..." write "Skilled professional with comprehensive experience in accounting and finance..." Then make certain to back up the "comprehensive" with at least two quantified accomplishments.
The accomplishments, if quantified, will draw the hiring manager/recruiter deeper into your resume.
Try to make the first half of the first page so stellar - with proven accomplishments (quantified with dollar figures, percentages, and time periods) and by dovetailing your experience with the hiring authority's needs - that the individual won't be thinking about your age.
Once an individual is excited about your candidacy, their worry about your age diminishes. The trick is to market your expertise, not your years in the industry. Go back no more than 15 years (10 for IT). Leave off dates of education. Yes, it may raise a red flag; however, if a hiring manager/recruiter is excited about what's on your resume before reaching education, the year you graduated won't matter as much.
Remember: a resume is a marketing document. That means you tell the company what value you can bring. No candidate is perfect, nor does anyone have a perfect past. Just make certain to keep all of your shortcomings (including the perceived problem of age) out of the picture.
Stay on point with what you can do for the targeted companies.
Darlene Zambruski
ResumeEdge.com, ResumeEdge.ca Managing Editor
Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)
Links:
Christopher R.
Business book ghostwriter
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Even though age discrimination is wrong, I would imagine some enterprising people would want to start companies that harness experience and maturity by only hiring those with 30 + years of work experience.
Companies that only hire the over 55 crowd would be filling a niche: maybe a gaping hole. Who is leading the way?
Becky R.
Senior Human Resources Manager at California Independent System Operator
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Of course there is always the option to litigate. But in this economy it's hard to prove. And why put so much of your energy into something that's so negative?
I think you just have to persevere until you find a match with an employer who appreciates your wealth of experience, knowledge and abilities. They're out there; tenacity is a virtue in this job market!
Maryan P.
Certified Ghostwriter – books. Author’s mentor and editorial services.. Always seeking quality clients.
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If you can prove discrimination you may have an ethical obligation to consult an attorney and pursue legal action. If not, shift your search - as I'll show below, and know this:
Older workers are the tender workers. We tender do a better job. We tender have solid experience. We tender show up. We tender have a work ethic. Learn how to sell your prospective employer on the benefits of trusting the quality you bring to the table..
Now - take a look at Seniors4Hire.org or Retireeworkforce.com, or Workforce50.com and RetiredBrains.com for starters. Search for the top ten senior friendly companies - like Appleby's and U.S. Bank. Colleges, universities and local school districts value mature workers. Look your best with or without hair dye, polish your resume. Brush up on interview skills with a professional and present your most confident side.
Links:
Zulkifly H.
Z-J'S
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self make over .
Tirthankar S.
Trading & Commercial (Steel & Commodities)
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Ignore.
