Resist ageist attitudes and keep doing what you love
At a time when so many people happily continue to work after 65, why should it be so hard to find employment when you’re 50? There’s no sense in it – people over 50 aren’t likely to need as much training, they often have a better work ethic than school-leavers, and a lot of them have incredibly valuable experience and skills.
But businesses are ignoring them, for one reason only – ageism. According to Statistics NZ, it’s costing this country in lost economic opportunity and skill, an estimated $2.3 billion that could be spent into communities, and a $760 million tax windfall for the government.
It’s not just about dollars, either. If ageism was removed, many thousands of over-50s would live more comfortably, more easily save for their retirement, and, with a better standard of living, probably relieve the pressure on health and social welfare systems.
Discrimination, excuses and shots in the foot
Wise Ones founder Kate Ross says her specialist recruiting company deals with hundreds of people who have encountered ageism, and therefore can’t find work and save properly to support their retirement.
“I know of some recruiters who won’t look at candidates if there’s a whiff of them being over 50, which is just nuts. Why would anyone disregard all this expertise?” Kate asks.
“This is blatant discrimination against a growing section of our population who are the most experienced we have, at a time when we are facing a skills shortage. Ageism is an economic and social issue affecting all of New Zealand and needs to rise up the business agenda.”
Our birth rate is dropping and our population is aging, so where are skilled working people going to come from? It’s time businesses stopped shooting themselves in the foot, and woke up to the blindingly obvious economic benefits of employing people over 50.
If you’re one of those over-50 people looking for a job, here are some ways to combat the ageism that’s keeping you out of the workforce.
Tweak your resume
Leave out the earliest dates in your resume – the ones that could rear the ugly ageism head. That 20-something HR person doesn’t need to know that you graduated in 1980, just that you got the qualification. Also leave out those first gofer jobs and concentrate on more recent experience – make the most of management positions and directorships. Keep your resume short – just a couple of pages with skills and qualifications at the end – no-one will read four pages of job experience anyway. Get help writing a resume here, if you need to.
Then put all the good things about being older into a cover letter. And there are lots of good things!
Be comfortable about your age
It’s a positive that you’ve reached this point, with all those skills and work experiences to offer, so write your cover letter and go into the interviews with confidence. Mention that you’re less likely to party hard on weekends, so ‘Mondayitis’ won’t be a problem for prospective employers. On top of any industry-specific skills (do list them!), you’ve also already developed a work ethic over the years and will need less training.
Get ready for those interviews
Getting an interview is a win, and it pays to be prepared. Practice answering questions, smiling and presenting a confident front. Be ready to mention that you’re able to mentor younger workers, help solve problems and rise to the challenges facing a prospective employer.
Don’t forget technology
This is one of the assumptions hiring managers make – if you’re over 50, you must not be able to manage a computer, tablet or smartphone. You know it’s not true, and you need to show it. Apply for the interview by email, maybe from a Gmail web browser extension. You can start your interview by whipping out your smartphone and turning off the sound, so it doesn’t interrupt the chat. That way, you subtly confirm to your interviewer that you’re tech savvy.
Contact the right recruitment agency
There are companies out there, like Kate Ross’s Wise Ones, that specialise in recruiting older workers. They’ve identified the businesses that have discarded ageism and recognised the value of employing older staff. They’ll work to place you, and other older people like you, into jobs that need your skills and experience. Or check out jobs on LinkedIn – don’t bother with companies where the average age is in the 20s, but concentrate on businesses that seem to have plenty of staff in the 40-50 range.
Get canny about your retirement
A comfortable retirement is likely to cost you and your spouse more than your $600+ in Super. It’s a good idea to aim for about $1000 a week, and save for that extra $400. Your life expectancy is about age 86 for men and 89 for women, and a savings plan can tell you how many hours and years of work are ahead of you to reach your retirement goal. It may be easier than you think.
Keep in contact with your mates
Networking is one of your best assets when you’re looking for work. You’ve had time to collect plenty of friends and acquaintances in all kinds of industries, so when you need a job, start networking hard. Don’t leave anyone out – ring up old bosses, colleagues, people you mentored back in the day – let them know your skills are available. Don’t be shy – you’re looking for work!
Take a job offer – even part-time
It’s a lot harder to get a job when you don’t have one, no matter what age you are. Since it’s way easier to get a job when you’re employed, it pays to take what’s on offer in the meantime, even if it’s only part-time. That way you have some breathing space before you continue your search, and if the part-time job gets the bills paid, so much the better.
Don’t give up – you’re worth it
It’s easy to get down about job-hunting, and sometimes you just want to rest. Do give yourself time to recoup your energy, but don’t give up.
Remind yourself that you are valuable, and the New Zealand workforce badly needs you. Keep in touch with friends and colleagues, practise your interview skills, explore every avenue for employment and write an inspiring cover letter to your short, succinct resume. Some company somewhere will thank its lucky stars it hired you.