People today are surprised to see that forty has actually become the new sixty, in the job market at least. The moment you hit your forties, and for some it has even been their thirties, the number of jobs you can apply to seem to become a mere trickle. This is because prospective employers feel that you won’t fit into their ‘younger’ company profile. What’s more, your experience which you might have valued in gold a few years back could turn out to be a brick around your neck. So, what do you do in such a situation and how can you turn it around to make it work for you?
- Exude confidence – Sometimes older people tend to portray themselves as under confident especially when faced with a much younger work force. They’re already giving up before the battle has started. So don’t make that mistake and make sure you brim with confidence, no matter what your age, because underneath it all, you know how to do your job.
- Against the stereotype – Older people are often stereotyped in various ways. They’re usually viewed as being scornful of the younger generation and more importantly, people think that they are resistant to change. So, you have to work against this stereotype to prove that you are nothing like that and that you can gel very well with the younger set.
- Learn – It’s never too late to learn. You don’t have to be a genius to learn how to use computers and even though this can be self taught, you can also enroll in a course if you want to learn everything the proper way. This way, you will be at an advantage.
- No self deprecation – People sometimes dig their own graves when they make remarks like, ‘In my generation, we did things this way’ or ‘I don’t know how you young people manage it’. You are immediately giving scope to the interviewer to slot you amongst the oldies who cannot even fend for themselves.
- Lose the dates, keep the experience – Don’t make it a point to mention all the dates in your resume. Stick to important facts relevant with your experience in the field and not the year you finished university. In fact, don’t use a chronological list in your resume. Try to make sure you highlight your experience and not when you got it.
- Go low profile – Sometimes bigger organizations might not be your cup of tea. In fact if you are headed into the job market after a few years’ sabbatical, it could be a bad idea to try and make the plunge into a big organization. Plenty of things in the world of management have changed in the recent years and you might feel like a fish out of the water. A good idea would be to try your luck in smaller organizations where they are more flexible and open to the idea of experienced individuals as opposed to ‘aged’ individuals.
Today’s world might be full of a younger workforce. But it’s also the place where internet and telecommuting have helped many a person get a job, despite their age. Remember, age is just a number.
