What is your strategy for overcoming ageism when searching for jobs?
• Do not draw attention to your age.
You might not realize this, but many people don’t even see how they emphasize their age before an interview. It would be wise to remove any graduation dates or years you underwent specialized training over ten years ago from your resume. This could allow a recruiter to reject you before an interview. Ideally, you desire to give yourself the best chance to achieve an interview with the manager. Some professionals are eliminated from the competition in the scanning process early by recruiters who are not the final decision-maker.
• Be aware of trends and technology.
Some people stereotype professionals over 40 because they think older workers aren’t aware of or skilled in the latest industry trends and technology. If you’re middle-aged, you need to continue learning and developing your skillset. This makes you more powerful in the job market and extra valuable in the workplace. Consider what additional training, courses, or certifications you can achieve to assist you to stand out from other candidates.
• Don’t directly answer illegal questions.
It isn’t unusual for an amateur recruiter or interviewer to ask illegal questions. Some of them are unaware that their question is against the law, for instance, age-related questions. Some might even know the law but ask to gather as much information as possible. “How old are you?” or “Are you planning to retire soon?” is an example of illegal questions. Rather than directly answering them, you can redirect with a comment such as, “I’m committed to working and reaching my absolute potential at this point in my career.”
• Focus on your experience.
One of the best things about being a mid- or late-career professional is having more practical experience and technical knowledge than younger applicants. While you don’t want to overemphasize your years of experience, it’s best to highlight your key areas of expertise, achievements, and honours. Naming a few of your valuable contributions, loyalty, and accomplishments can help make you look more exciting and a safer bet than some younger candidates.
• Remain positive.
Age discrimination remains a sad fact in our society, and like it or not, you might come across people in the position of power who will treat you differently. Often, you don’t know why a company chooses to move in another direction. It could be your age or many other factors beyond your control. You need to remain positive and make a point to eliminate any negative self-talk or beliefs. Recruiters and hiring managers feel the negativity and avoid hiring such employees.
My moves are simple. First of all, I go to people I know and ask them if they know any open positions suitable for me and my skills. Because my true friends know me and they will support me in their company. Secondly, I use current language and vocabulary in my resume to show that I’m still relatable and easy to communicate. Even during the interview, if I get any, I’ll try to talk the way that people talk these days; of course, not in a weird way.
Plus, I follow the news and read about new technologies now and then to stay connected and relatable. This gives me ideas about current hot subjects, from cryptocurrencies and economic moves from government to even new movies and box office. At last, small and family-based companies are easy to get into because they only care about their success, no matter who is working and helping them; so, I usually seek jobs in these companies. I’m not a well-educated person, but I heard from my friends that ageism is faded in knowledge-based companies that are working and dealing with subjects like law or physics. Even they praise and respect you more than other companies whose only purpose is to sell.
As we all know, when people get older, they gain knowledge and experience. But unfortunately, many employers look at ageing as a disadvantage, so searching for a job becomes an issue. But you have to present yourself as the best job candidate without considering your age to overcome ageism in the workplace.
First of all, I think taking an approach that highlights all you have to offer as a mature job will really work. In my opinion, it’s better to look for smaller companies and start-ups because they may have more viable options. Staying up-to-date on technological advances and job trends can be a well-served solution. Plus, know the benefits of age diversity because older workers may have more traditional business skills and communication abilities.
Make use of ageism as a filter. Let’s explain: Teams that don’t respect age are a bunch of fools. The most important thing is your life experience, not your technological experience. It has taught you how to manage your time and your job, deal with others, approach clients or customers (internal or external), cope with difficult times in your life, and many more experiences that many youngsters don’t have.
Because of your age, younger uneducated people will reject you, and you’ll be appreciated by intelligent teams that respect your life experience.
Alright, what else can you do to get past that type of ageism? I’d suggest updating your software skills. Focus on your abilities and show them you can collaborate with others effectively. Also, don’t forget to mention your prior successes. It helps you a lot.