Older Job Seekers and Job Interviews

Don’t Let Age be a Detriment to Searching for Work

Jun 1, 2009 Deborah S. Hildebrand

Whether a job seeker is 25 or 50 knowing proper interview techniques is important to finding and landing the right employment opportunity.

Why is it that so many people think that just because someone passes the age of 50 things miraculously change? Sure the hair is a bit grayer, there are a few more wrinkles, but for the most part there is really good news about being an older working American.

At the beginning of this year, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) reported that older Americans in the labor force had reached a 40-year high. In fact, workers 55+ make up nearly 20 percent of the labor pool. And while according to the EPI study every age group saw a decline in employment due to the economy, older workers experienced “more modest decreases than others.”

According to experts, the limited numbers of younger workers (millenials) will not sufficiently match the rising need for workers over the next ten years. And older Americans tend to be very loyal employees, based on 2006 figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics which indicate that workers aged 55 to 64 have been with their current employers a median of 9.3 years, while workers ages 25 to 34 have a median tenure of only 2.9 years.

For all those older American workers out there who have been hit by the economy, are looking to change jobs or want to re-enter the workforce, there are a few things to keep in mind.

What Older Americans Need to Know Before the Job Interview

Older workers should prepare for job interviews in the same way that younger workers do. That means practice interview techniques, learn about the position and employer, develop a list of questions to ask, and other suggestions that interview experts routinely make However, there are other steps that older workers should keep in mind when preparing to get back into the interview game.

• Get Current on Technology: That means older job seekers should know about things such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, YouTube, PDA (personal digital assistant), BlackBerry, iPhone, and IMing along with the latest computer software packages that employers utilize.
• Reassess Skills and Abilities: In many cases older job seekers may very well have skills and experiences that their young counterparts do not. It is important that they ensure they have a good grasp on which of their talents are most sought after and be prepared to discuss these thoroughly.
• Sell Results Over Years: Once older candidates know what talents employers want, it is equally important that they communicate they have these skills and not how many years of actual work experience they have. In this case it is important to think quality over quantity.
• Never Apologize: Just because someone is more mature (an attribute, by the way) that is no reason to feel it is necessary to apologize for having a history of work experience. Continue to focus on skills and abilities as these relate to the job opening.
• Know Their Rights: Finally, it is important that older workers know their rights. That doesn’t mean they should plan to sue for age discrimination every time they don’t get the job; however, it is important to be aware of inappropriate questions and potential issues.

What Older Americans Need to Know After the Job Interview

Amazingly, little has changed when it comes to closing a job interview. It is still important for older job seekers to make sure all their questions are answered before they leave, including the one about what the next steps will be. And following up with a thank you note or email is still a professional and appropriate – though not often observed – gesture. It has been known to set good candidates apart from lesser ones.

The whole idea behind a job interview is as it always has been: to introduce potential employees to potential employers to see if there is a fit. And regardless of the candidate’s skills and work experience, age does not have to be a detriment to searching for work.

The copyright of the article Older Job Seekers and Job Interviews in Career Advice is owned by Deborah S. Hildebrand. Permission to republish Older Job Seekers and Job Interviews in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Older Worker