EmploymentDigest.net

Out of Work, But Too Young to Retire

Posted on 15. Nov, 2008 by Bill in Employment News

You’re 50 years old or older. Your job was recently eliminated. The economy is stagnant. You can’t afford to retire.

Are you ever going to find another job?

Probably.

Is it going to be easy?

Probably not.

It takes longer to find a job at age 50 than it does at age 30. (By the way, if you’re over 40, you’re in the same boat – so don’t start feeling too smug!)

It’s more difficult to land a new position once you’ve hit a “certain age” for a number of reasons. Two have less to do with the chronological number per se and are more a function of your level of experience. First, once you’ve gotten to this point, you’re more expensive. Second, you’re likely to be looking for jobs higher up the corporate ladder (which are always in shorter supply regardless of the state of the economy).

Then we have the reality of age bias. You may be perceived as apt to be less energetic and more likely to be a “short-timer.” The hiring company may wonder whether you’ve kept your skills current – whether you are up to date regarding the latest technology and trends.

And so on.

Your prospects aren’t hopeless; far from it. However, you need to be aware of the potential pitfalls and adjust accordingly.

To get you started, here are a few things to think about:

- Plan for a longer job search; prepare yourself mentally. It’ll help you to maintain a good attitude and stay focused.

- Know the advantages you have, and how to play them up. For example: the issue of stability. It’s true that older workers are often deemed less desirable since it’s assumed they’ve got retirement in their sights. However, companies who’ve had any kind of experience with workers from the millennial generation are coming to grips with a new reality. These employees, as a group, tend not to stick around – and it doesn’t take much for them to jump ship. The older worker, ironically, may offer an employer far more stability than the younger one.

- Are you current? Mobile marketing, social media, texting…the list goes on. You’ve got to be conversant with the trends and the technologies, and know how they’re being applied.

- Get creative. Understand how to market yourself. Know what you need to do to continue to broaden your network…how to generate income while you’re looking for your next opportunity…how to tap into the vast resources available to you…what you need to do to your resume to make sure you’re not excluded from consideration out of hand.

Your search will require a different approach than it would if you were younger, but success is well within your reach. Turn the tables. Make the 30-year-old compete with you!

Rebecca Metschke is the author of The Interview Edge, a comprehensive career guide for those who are serious about their careers. Gain a professional advantage using proven tips, tools and strategies that will help ensure you’re as marketable as you can be. http://www.TheInterviewEdge.com

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