Overcome Job Search Ageism

Looking for a job is difficult, but what is more tasking is searching for a job that does not discriminate job seekers who are above 50 years old. You could actually sense it during an interview, when the prospective employer would first ask questions like, "Would it bother you to have younger people in positions above you?" or "When did you graduate from college?" or other inquiries related to age.

Although companies do not admit it, study shows that an individual older than 55 would take seven more weeks to look for a job compared to someone below 55. Another report states that a younger worker sending a resume is 40% more likely to be called for an interview than someone at age 50 or older. Stereotypes against older workers still linger in the minds of many managers, such as they are not willing to try new things or don't have experience with technology.

However, there are ways to overcome it.

Overhaul your resume - Instead of putting everything in your resume, including job information when you were younger, rewrite your resume focusing on what you can do and how you can do it, rather than when you did it and for whom. Remember to put the more recent work experience on top of your list. If you want to highlight something from your job 20 or so years ago, add it in your CV under "additional skills" without specifying dates.

Recheck your accomplishments - Take time to make an inventory of accomplishments over the course of an entire job history. You may discover some awards you have won that you did not put in your resume. Now is the time to put them into good use by putting them in your resume.

Be prepared for uncomfortable questions - Although it may be improper to be asked about your age, it is not an illegal question. When asked, simply state your age with confidence and make it clear that you can handle the job you are applying for. If you are good at what you do, there are jobs for you.

Look the other way - Several 50+ job search experts suggest focusing your efforts on industries that tend to be more friendly towards older workers, even if it's not the industry you have spent your career. For instance, health care, finance, and even homeland security give great opportunities for older people.

Never show your weakness - If you are stricken with age-related problems such as arthritis, don't make it obvious to your prospective employer. Prepare beforehand on where to park your car or how to rise up from your chair to lessen any strain involved in getting to the appointment.

Look for other resources - There are many sites that are created to help your dilemma about job searching at above 50. AARP (aarp.org), for instance, helps individual job seekers with their resume skills for free and publishes a yearly list of older people-friendly companies. Meanwhile, Monster.com features a section called "Careers at 50+" that includes helpful resume tips for older job seekers. A blog for the 50-plus set called Gen Plus (genplus.blogspot.com) offers a good discussion about issues facing older workers.

If you feel a company is biased against older workers or job seekers, you may want to refer to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on what constitutes age discrimination. Address is "eeoc.gov/types/age.html".