After 45 years of age, people start finding it difficult to get on new jobs and be recruited in new companies. Once the 50 mark is hit, the possibility of gaining a good position for a standard employee seems nearly impossible. Which is why most of the people try to settle down before they become of age. However, this is not a set rule. There are possibilities for getting good jobs even after 50 if you try at the right places at the right time.
An article on mainstream.com says, ‘Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 have seen their median income decline by 7%’. This implies the decline in growth, sustainability and job security for individuals of this age especially in the corporate sector. However, Brian O’Connell gives 5 tips of landing a job after 50.
Use new online media. Younger people are more likely to use social media to look for work than older Americans, especially business-focused platforms such as LinkedIn. Companies expect and even demand that applicants use technology and social media in the job hunt process, as they’ll often be using those same technologies to solve problems on the job and to network with clients. If you can make the case you’re highly visible on LinkedIn and Twitter, your target employer will likely give you a longer look. [Check how to create a social resume.]
Retrain at every opportunity. The Boston College study says 12% of older Americans looking for work had enrolled in career retraining programs, compared with 20% of younger job-seekers. “Given that older workers may be more likely to have been laid off from industries suffering permanent structural declines, and may not have skills that readily translate to currently available jobs, they are more likely to need longer-term training and education programs than younger workers, particularly in the increasingly knowledge-based economy,” the study reports.
Don’t date themselves. Employees don’t want to see specific dates, such as college graduation dates, on a resume. Hiring managers call that an “age-defining” gaffe. Instead, focus on the target employer’s goals and missions and give solid, specific examples of your experience. In other words, do what you can to take age out of the equation.
Think about all kinds of jobs. Employers love energy and initiative, no matter what an applicant’s age. Older workers can also take the bull by the horns by offering to start working part-time or on a contractual trial basis to prove they can do the job. That lowers the “risk/downside” factor for employers and makes for a wider, more open path to full-time employment.
Network. Yes, plenty of job applicants and even employees roll their eyes over the term “networking.” But talking to friends, mentors, former co-workers and workers at companies you’re targeting is an extremely positive use of time. A study by ResearchGate showed that networking leads to more (and more) diverse job opportunities.
Although, the chances may seem little to you but companies still love the experience that old people bring to an organization. If not a job, then a person can take up the role of a consultant and start training multiple people and organizations as a whole to continue to be a strong position in the industry.