I am over 60 years old and struggling with finding a suitable job. After successfully working in Fortune 10 companies for more than 20 years, I am now unable to get a position at a local hospital. Is it all because of ageism?
If you haven’t applied for a job or haven’t updated your CV recently, you should rethink the method you use to showcase your expertise and make your application more appealing. People don’t read most resumes first anymore.
An Applicant Tracking System (ATS) is widely used by employers to sort candidate information and choose which resume is reviewed. Make sure that your CV adheres to the newest best practices. Read our guide to learn more about how to ensure your resume gets past ATS.
Although age-based inequality is unlawful, it’s still better to hide your age on your resume.
Older applicants usually try to include every job they’ve ever had on their CV. Unless your past employment has a job title or skill directly relevant to the job description, you should only mention your past 15 years of experience on your resume, according to Diane Flynn, co-founder, and CEO of ReBoot Accel in Menlo Park, CA. Her company offers training and job placement services.
As Flynn says, consider what attributes the company is looking for in a candidate and look for a way to show that you are the ideal choice for the job. For example, if you’re applying for the job as a marketing manager but have had a variety of other positions before, simplify your resume to only include marketing-related experience and skills that match the job requirements.
Swartz believes that using a Hotmail or AOL email address instead of a Gmail one is another indicator of age. Some businesses may not have a positive reaction if you have a Hotmail or AOL account. The reason is that these platforms are considered old antiques. “You want to have as much control as possible, so why not obtain a more recent email address if it may be seen negatively?” says Julie Q. Brush, founder of Solutus Legal Search, LLC.
Try to find the best environment.
The truth is that not every company will welcome senior employees, and as a job applicant, you want to ensure you’re getting the right job. Identify the organizations that place a premium on experience and go after those, says Flynn.
Most individuals say they want to work for a famous tech business or startup, but such a setting may not be ideal for them since most seniors don’t like reporting to a much younger boss, she says. In this case, a college or institution that prioritizes the expertise could be a better option. Flynn says, “You may also look into firms that aren’t well-known but are seeking experienced workers who can handle numerous tasks.”
Pay attention to a company’s overall track record on diversity and age.
Research and try to contact current or former workers to learn about the company’s culture.
Try to look for organizations that treat employees of all ages with equality and other requirements that you need.
