Job Interviewing After 50

Are you a senior looking for a job?

Hi Folks,

I have two friends looking for work. Both are seniors. One friend has been looking for only a few weeks – the other for almost two years. Both are well educated and experienced professionals. After sending out dozens (probably hundreds) of resumes and enduring multiple interviews, neither man has the promise of a job.

Your first thought was probably that these are tough times with double digit unemployment, but remember the companies that interviewd these men had job openings – they just didn’t hire these men. Age discrimination is against the law in the United States but you can bet that the HR people are well versed in using other terms to turn down senior job applicants. 

But here is some good advice for the over 50 job seeker.

Woody

Job Interviewing After 50

Submitted By: Jason Kay

If you are over the age of 50 and are actively seeking a new job you may have noticed that it is harder than you ever remember finding a job. You may have heard terms such as you are overqualified and the like but what it all boils down to is that many 30 something year olds don’t want to hire someone who reminds them of their parents.

If you are finding it increasingly difficult to interview, fear not, there is hope for you yet to land a great job and age has nothing to do with it. Basically it is all in how you present yourself. Here is how you too can improve your chances in an interview even if you are over 50:

• Sell Yourself: When in an interviewer it is important to try to sell yourself by giving yourself a brand image. This will address the ever important question that all interviewers ask themselves, ‘What’s in it for me?’ This brand image should be summarized in a few short sentences and address the issues of who you are, what your biggest strengths are, and most importantly what you bring to the table.

• Show Passion: Never have the attitude that you are desperate for work and instead approach the interview as though this is something you have wanted to do your whole life. If you show that you are indeed passionate about learning and working it will convey your commitment as a hard worker and will likely garner more good than bad.

• Down Play the Long Term: Many employers today are looking for a quick fix to their employee problems and are not really interested in how long you plan on staying with the company. Instead of harping on the fact that you are a long term player, harp on your skills and show the potential employer how you can be the quick fix they are looking for. Worry about your longevity at the company later; just get your foot in the door first.

• Don’t Talk too Much: Because you have worked in the ‘field’ for so many generations you undoubtedly have many wonderful sorties to share, but the interview may not be the best place to do so. Stick to answering what is asked of you and save your stories for the water cooler after you get the job.

• Talk Money: There is saying that money talks; it actually screams. Money trumps everything including your age so make sure that you convey to the potential employer what you can do for the money you expect. Bottom line is, that if you offer more bang for their buck then they probably won’t care how old you are.

Finding a job at any age can be a real challenge and the challenge only gets tougher as your age progresses. But if you approach an interview with a sound strategy using the tips provided you can have the potential employer thinking more about your skills and how those skills can help the company than they are thinking about your age.

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