4 Tips For Older Job Seekers Facing Discrimination

“I’m 58 years old, out of work… and I’m not ready or financially able to retire. My age is really making it difficult to find a job,” laments a job hunter.Sound familiar? An AARP June poll reveals that more than 25 percent of Massachusetts residents age 50 and older report that they or someone they know has experienced age discrimination. Despite the fact that it is illegal, it is nonetheless very real.

As an older worker, you can’t eliminate age discrimination. But you can learn what lies behind it and take steps to differentiate yourself from stereotypes. By doing so, you increase your chances of receiving serious consideration. Here’s how:

1. There is a natural inclination to believe that older workers aren’t up-to-date with their skill sets. Tip: Don’t be stuck in the past, and keep up-to-date with all things in your field. Show off recent training courses, certifications, or other credentials. If you aren’t up to speed in your area of expertise, understand that employer rejection may be about your knowledge and skill sets, not your physical age. You can’t go back to being 28, but you can continue to learn no matter how old you are. Also, be sure to delete references to outdated resources like DOS and WordPerfect 5.0 from your resume.

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