Finding a Job as An Older Person

As time goes buy, employers are beginning to consider age to be a negative characteristic of potential employees, and the defining age of an "older person" is becoming lower and lower. This is especially true of the tech industry where many employees are in their mid twenties, due to the frequent developments in technology. Some workers in their middle thirties are even considered to be old in the tech industry. The 2004 AARP determined that workers over fifty five took over six months to find a job while those younger only need four to five months. Though this is already a problem for individual welfare and the national economy, it will continue to grow in intensity over the next five years as the population of the older workforce grows to 20%. Though this may be extremely discouraging to some older people looking for work, there are strategies that can help dramatically in the job search process.
Experience is the most valuable asset an older person has over the younger crowd. Yes, most people over 55 have also had a large number of jobs, but experience is far more important. The employer doesn't need to know every job. It is better to keep it simple, providing those jobs or experiences that are most relevant. The biggest downfall for many older workers with tons of experience is that they are computer illiterate. Regardless of the career field, job skills must be kept current, and this is especially true for computer skills. Virtually every job utilizes a computer on some level. Whether this means learning Microsoft word or tackling a new programming language, it must be done in order to be a valuable commodity.
Networking is an extremely valuable resource when looking for a job. Alumni associations and career services are an excellent place to start. Most people who find themselves in satisfying jobs did so by meeting someone or through networking, rather than a cold interview. It is the nature of many employers to hire employees that are known by friends or colleagues. This is also the time to consider a career change as most people change jobs three or four times in a lifetime. Perhaps there is something out there that is much more suitable. Contact every connection may open a door to a totally new career.
There is no disgrace in getting help in the jobs search. Professional resume writers, career centers, non-profit groups, and even libraries can be valuable tools for finding a new job. Resume writers can help tremendously by organizing the experiences, jobs, and education of a person to project age as an asset. No one should be afraid to use these helpful services in order to make themselves more marketable, but even with these tools it may take some time to find the right job. Patience is the key to job searching, especially for older workers. It is important to keep good morale and never give up. It becomes even more difficult to find a job when battling depression. Remember, there is a job out there for everyone it is just a question of finding it.

Grant Cooper is a Certified Advanced Resume Writer, author of numerous career-related articles published in journals, newspapers and online, and is the founder and president of Strategic Resumes, certified resume writers New Orleans. For more information visit www.strategicresumes.com.