Older workers are having a tougher time finding jobs lately, says a recent report from the Labor Department. Those 55 or older are taking an average of 30 weeks to get back to work. By comparison, younger workers are taking about 21 weeks to land jobs.
In 2006, the 55-and-older set only took six weeks to get back to work.
Why the gap? In part, older workers face what many consider age discrimination. Some employers, while bound by laws that stipulate that age cannot be a factor in hiring, skirt the age issue by saying people are “overqualified,” says a recent Associated Press story. So how are older workers dealing with these issues? From the AP story:
[T]he jobless rate for those 55 and older rose to 7 percent in June, the highest for that age group on records dating to 1948.
“This recession seems to be a little bit different” because of the “unusually large increase” in unemployment among older workers, said Richard Johnson, a senior fellow at the Urban Institute and expert on retirement issues.
Now, many older workers are taking steps similar to [Allan] Kellum’s, to try to minimize any role their age might play in hiring decisions. Resume-tinkering is among the most common strategies. [Kellum deleted graduation dates and chopped how far back his resume goes.]
But some go much further.
Dozens of people showed up at a spa in Arlington, Va., in June after it promised free Botox for up to 50 unemployed people. Customers had to display a termination letter or unemployment check to receive treatment.
Mari Negron, 49, a struggling real-estate agent in Arlington, Va., looking for new work, said she thinks the treatment will help her job search.
“I look refreshed,” she said, now that a worry line between her eyebrows is gone.
To avoid appearing out of touch, others are using their time between jobs to become familiar with the latest technologies and social-networking sites. Sharon Armstrong, a career consultant in Washington, D.C., urged one client fearful of seeming too old to discuss her use of Twitter and Facebook during job interviews.
You may not need to shoot poison in to your face to appear younger, but some see a need.
In the article, “Tips For Beating the ‘Age Discrimination Filter,’ ” experts suggest that you can minimize date on your resume, but there is nothing preventing human resources from asking you questions in an interview. From the tips article:
“If an employer is really digging into those age issues,” Kohrman said, “try some gentle way of fending off that line of questioning.
“Give something from your background that demonstrates that (you) have attributes consistent with vigor and energy and creativity and initiative and insight — all those things that some employers think only younger workers have — that counters the stereotypes.”
Other advice comes from the article, “Older Candidates: Don’t Take a Back Seat in the Hiring Process” that says to do the following:
- Change your mindset
- Go on the offensive
- Wear just one hat
- Modify your resume
- Sell results
As that article surmises: “Remember, it’s about being honest but also about emphasizing your strengths rather than magnifying your vulnerabilities. Do this, and you can find a great job regardless of the economy.”
More advice for handling and overcoming the age barrier:
Around the Web: If Age is a Barrier
Avoiding the ‘Too Old’ Stigma in Your Executive Job Search
Older Candidates: Don’t Take a Back Seat in the Hiring Process
The main thing in this day and age of technological and social innovation is that you will be able to keep up with learning all the new tricks as they come up. Have profiles on the social networking sites and use those to your advantage, demonstrate your ability to use programs as well as Microsoft Word.