Job Hunters Guide to Overcoming Age Issues

There’s at least one thing job hunters at the beginning and end of their career have in common. Both groups find that age affects their career prospects, and how they need to present themselves to potential employers.

Job hunters over 40 and young adults seeking their first position face extra hurdles. Long term unemployment increases with age, and the retirement age keeps rising for seniors who can’t afford to leave the workforce. Recent graduates encounter entry level jobs that require previous experience, and offer low wages that make it difficult to pay off student loans.

There are solutions that can make the search smoother. Try these suggestions for developing a strategy that suits your stage of life.

Suggestions for Older Workers:

Be creative. Most labor experts agree that many employers are reluctant to hire anyone over 50 for full time positions with benefits. If this is the type of discrimination you are facing, you may be considering legal action against a company if you have reasonable evidence. Some other options to consider are starting your own small consulting business where companies hire you on a contract basis for a period of time, or on a project by project basis. You can still earn money through freelancing, consulting, and other arrangements. If you decide to go this route, your first potential clients could be your former employers and they may also be able to refer you to business leaders at other companies within their network.

Reduce your expenses. You may have to make some adjustments to be able to afford paying for your own payroll taxes and health insurance, but it's well worth it in my opinion. Housing and entertainment are two prime areas for lowering monthly bills. Reduce or cancel entirely entertainment subscriptions and anything you don't use regularly, or haven't used in 3 months or more. It's likely something you don't need and may be able to utilize the free version if one is available instead of a paid subscription. Take advantage of any programs offered for mature people to help save even more money.

Revive your network. If you haven’t looked for a job in years, it’s time to mingle. Create a LinkedIn profile if you don't already have one, and let others know what you’re looking for. But more importantly, if you use LinkedIn, it's imperative that you use it to its fullest extent. What does that mean? It means to be successful on LinkedIn you have to give recommendations, write insightful comments on other peoples posts, and reach out to recruiters and hiring managers prior to reaching out to them for help with your job search. I would also write unique articles on LinkedIn covering topics you know well and can share insight for other job seekers or on topics that will capture the attention of hiring managers.

Streamline your resume. Trim your resume down to 1 page if you have less than 10 years of experience, and 2 to 3 pages if you have 20 years of experience or more. Focus on the most recent and relevant experiences in alignment with the work you are now seeking. Watch my YouTube video on creating an achievement based resume so you can stand out from other job seekers and get the job you deserve and need right now.

Stay up to date. Pay attention to keywords and trends in your industry. Research which technology skills are in demand. Don't be fooled, it's not coding or cyber-security, but it might very well have something to do with artificial intelligence. I still caution you not to run out and enroll in the first program you see on this. Take advantage of all the free training you can get, practice these new skills and add them to your resume now. You don't have to have a degree, license or certification in everything. You can learn some things on your own and immediately use them on your resume and in conversations with potential employers.

Consider boomeranging. If you still have a good relationship with a previous employer, explore opportunities to take up where you left off. Maybe there’s a staff opening or some contract work.

Speak up. Employers may have age-related biases even if they don’t say them out loud. Instead of hoping no one will notice your age if you leave your graduation date off your resume, and I believe you should leave graduation dates off your resume because they are irrelevant, try addressing concerns directly by demonstrating your expertise, enthusiasm for the work and the fact that you are current on trends and technologically savvy, not to mention that you will show up and get the job done.

Suggestions for Younger Workers:

Gain experience. Acquiring experience while you’re still in school is a smart move. Work during the summers or part-time during school. Consider volunteering at a nonprofit or completing a paid or unpaid internship in your field for the added experience.

Go offline. While you’re using social media and browsing internet job boards, be sure to reach out to others face to face. Invite your contacts out for coffee, and ask for referrals for job leads and informational interviews. Prepare for these meetings in the same way you would an interview by wearing interview appropriate attire. Make this the standard in your approach to finding new work opportunities. You can't prepare enough.

Focus on learning. Any job can be worthwhile if you use it to pick up knowledge and skills. Maybe you’ll find a mentor or be able to take software courses for free. Consider job shadowing as a way to pick up new skills and develop new job interests.

Try things out. As a young adult, you may have more flexibility before you take on a mortgage and parenting. This could be your chance to teach English in a foreign country or take a risk by joining a start-up company.

Ask for help. Reach out to your peers, and to established professionals in your field. Other recent graduates can understand what you’re going through. Older colleagues will often find satisfaction in assisting someone who’s just starting out so reach out to your peers in older generations. Your campus career center is also a great starting point for advice and resources.

Job hunting requires patience and persistence, especially in the early and later years of your career. Find inspiration in the success stories of others, and create your own good fortune by taking your age into account when you’re looking for your next position.

As always, I wish you all the best in your job search, career advancement, and business building! Check out my newly re-launched YouTube Channel and be sure to subscribe to watch new videos every week!