Age discrimination is alive and well and in some instances there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. It affects everyone, but it’s worse for women. Can you pursue legal action? Sure, but it’s an exhausting and time consuming process with an uncertain outcome. Is that where you want to spend your energy?
You might not be doing a single thing wrong. Still, it never hurts to take stock. Here are some ideas—some might apply and some won’t.
I read something recently that talked about it not being age as much as energy. We probably all know someone who seems ageless because we’re so focused on what a cool personality they have and on their willingness to learn and grow. Does anyone care that Betty White is turning 100? Heck no. She’s amazing!
I would start by taking inventory. Does your resume list every job you’ve had or a graduation date, making it easy to calculate age? Leave graduation dates off. Only go back 15 or so years with experience. I know you’re getting interviews, so this might not be an issue, but why give people ammunition?
Taylor your resume and cover letter to each job. Make sure your resume format is current.
Look for other things that identify you as not current, including your email address. For example, yahoo is a big no. I kept my old yahoo address for newsletters and when I order things, but that’s it.
Ask a friend to give you honest feedback about what you’re wearing to interviews, or go to your local job center and see if they have job search classes. They are usually free, and when I signed up, the feedback about what I said and how I was dressed was super helpful.
When is the last time you changed your hair style or (if you wear it), make up? Looking stuck in time can hurt your chances. What does your body language convey? Do you walk and move with confidence and energy?
Take advantage of free classes. Indeed offers some great webinars on job searches, including for older workers, as does AARP.
Come up with an authentic and clear message about why you are seeking the type of work or schedule you’re interviewing for and practice saying it. If you think people are assuming you won’t be interested in a job at a lower level, hit that perception head on.
Practice your answers to common interview questions. Do mock interviews with a friend who’ll provide candid feedback.
Consider volunteering in a field related to the type of work you’re seeking. It will boost your confidence, keep your skills current, allow you to give back to your community, and expand your network. And, who knows? It might lead to a job with that organization.
When I lost my job to a departmental restructuring (was age a part of that? maybe, maybe not) it took me a year to find the right job. Along the way, some hiring managers were kind enough to share how close I’d come to getting a job and why the other candidate edged me out, but that’s rare. Most of the time we’re left to draw our own conclusions and those conclusions aren’t pretty.
My year long job search was soul sucking. I constantly evaluated and adjusted and asked for feedback from people I trusted to tell me the truth. Sometimes, there was nothing I could have done differently. Sometimes there was.
Keep moving forward. Take advantage of all the resources at your disposal. You never know when that job you applied for might finally be the one.
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