The Top 10 Ways to Handle the "Age" Issue
by Ross Macpherson, President, Career Quest
It's an age-old problem: once a job seeker hits 40, age discrimination suddenly becomes an issue. We've all heard the stories and we've all read the studies - perfectly talented workers passed over for their younger counterparts. It's a real issue - so real, in fact, that legislation has been passed to try to prevent it. But does it still exist? Sure it does. But should it stand in your way or slow you down in your job search? Absolutely not. Are there things you can do to address it? You bet.
The truth is that most of the traditional myths about older workers are exactly that - myths. They simply aren't true. But you may still have to sit across from someone who isn't as enlightened as we are. So, what do you do? You have to shift emphasis away from your age and toward your ability to contribute. You want your age to be an asset not an obstacle, and I've listed 10 tactics older job seekers can employ in their job search to help them make age a non-issue.
1: Keep current
This is not a new concept because we recommend it to everyone. However, while everyone can benefit from updating their skills and knowledge, it is especially important for older workers. You have to remain current in the technology that applies to your field as well as the movements and trends within your industry.
Put it this way, if it's been even 3 years since your last professional development course or program, then you need to enrol in one now. And you might as well make it something fantastic - a new skill or advanced program with cache - that could pay off in your job search. Read the right articles, take the right courses, and stay current in your field.
2: Get involved
Join and be an "active" member in a professional organization. Attend their networking meetings, take their professional development programs, offer to give presentations to position yourself as an expert in your field, write an article for their newsletter or magazine. All of these things demonstrate your excellence and marketability in your industry, despite your age.
Another great way to get involved is to volunteer your expertise for
local charities or non-profit associations, and work in a capacity that
will generate tangible results that showcase your value. You can market
this experience in your resume (which can fill employment gaps nicely),
keep your skills fresh, and show how your skills are still vibrant and
needed.
3: Don't age yourself on your resume
First of all, make certain that you have a current up-to-date and contemporary resume. Styles and approaches have changes over the last 10 years, and since your resume is your most important marketing tool, it needs to be fresh and contemporary in style and strategy. If you have trouble yourself, there are extremely gifted professional resume writers out there who can help.
Also, even though you may have 30 years of fantastic experience, don't go back more than 10-15 years max (that number reduces to 5-10 years for IT positions). Your earlier experience can be summarized with statements like "Previous employment includes senior positions in sales, marketing, and …"
4: Avoid language that might age you
Does your cover letter start with something like "Pursuant to your advertised position…" or "As per your position for a .."? I hope not, because people haven't written that way in decades. Avoid stuffy language that gives away your age. Business writing is more relaxed now - what I call "business casual". Make your writing professional and impactful, but not staid and stuffy.
5: Contemporize your appearance
Many of us 40 and beyond have become creatures of habit and stick to old tried-and-true styles. Watch out. That look that you've had for the past 15 years may feel comfortable but might be aging you when you step in front of a potential employer. Get someone to help pick out new clothes, get a new hair style, and buy some nice new shoes.
It might sound puerile, but the truth is your stodgy and outdated appearance will imply a stodgy and outdated attitude. On the other hand, if you look sharp and contemporary, that's the first impression you'll make. So go polish up your appearance and bring yourself into the new millennium.
Note: Don't get carried away. I once met a woman in her late 40's who went to interviews dressed like she was 19. Yikes. Getting contemporary doesn't mean dressing 30 years younger. . .it simply means looking current, fashionable, and well kept for today's business world. So leave the bare midriffs to the kids, and for goodness sake don't go piercing anything!
6: Get Fit
In Donald Straits article "There is No Such Thing as Age Discrimination," he claims you are more likely to be discriminated against for your poor health than your age: "If you have a double chin and a pot belly you will be perceived as a health liability who is lazy, and without the energy or vitality to work hard, long hours with dedication and commitment. This might not be fair, but it is a fact, so get fit." So now's the time to make a concerted effort to improve your health, because it will help with your overall demeanour, posture, appearance, and attitude.
7. Show flexibility & willingness to learn
Your experience is an asset, but you don't want to come across as having
all the answers because of your experience. Avoid the "Well that's
the way WE did it" attitude. You know your stuff and you've had tremendous
success with it in the past, but in today's corporate world where new
theories and technologies emerge daily, you also need to convey the openness
and flexibility to learn more about their ideas as well.
8. Get creative with job options
If you have grown children, use that to a strategic advantage. Consider
offering and marketing flexible working options that younger candidates
with growing families can't provide (flex hours, compressed weeks, off-hours,
travel, etc.).
9. Never bring it up yourself
I continue to be amazed at the clients I meet who complain about age discrimination, and yet talk about their age (or imply it) throughout any conversation. Avoid comments that suggest your age, or that suggest age is an issue with you. Don't tell stories about your grandchildren, or refer to your impending retirement, or say things like "I know I might look a bit older than the other candidates" or "Back in the dark ages when I was at university". If you do this, you might as well throw out retirement homes brochures and refer to the interviewer as a "young whippersnapper". Keep your conversation professional and focused on their needs and your ability to meet them.
10. Get the right attitude
This is the big one - the best way to handle the perils of age discrimination is with an upbeat attitude. If you can demonstrate contemporary state-of-the-art skills that can produce results in today's marketplace, and do so with energy, enthusiasm, and vigour for life and your next challenge, then age shouldn't be an issue.
In your resume, your cover letter, and your interviews, talk about your ability to excel in the job. Offer to show them how can you jump in and solve their problems. Use the enthusiasm, vitality, and confidence earned over a career's worth of experience to blow your younger competition out of the water.
And here's my final bit of advice: if you still continue to experience it, or believe you are, let it go. Chances are the company that discriminates against age also discriminates against others things too, and you're better off without them. Instead, focus your attention on things you can control, consider it their loss, pity their poor misguided attitude, and put your energy into those companies who will welcome the amazing talent you have to offer.
Best of luck!
© 2004 Ross Macpherson
About the Author
Ross Macpherson is the President of Career Quest, a Certified Professional Resume Writer, and a Career Success Coach who has helped thousands of motivated professionals advance their careers. To receive more valuable career advice, sign up to join his monthly newsletter "Career Accelerator" by visiting www.yourcareerquest.com.
NOTE: You're more than welcome to "reprint" this article online as long as it remains intact and unaltered (including the "About the Author" info at the end), and you send a copy of your reprint to ross@yourcareerquest.com
