How to fight ageism in your job search

If you’ve been in the workforce for a while, the chances are good that you’ve seen or experienced age discrimination at work — as two out of three workers between ages 45 and 74 have, according to AARP. People often think it’s most prevalent for employees 50 or older, but it can start even earlier.

“Ageism is a reality in today’s job market, and employers may not hire someone older, fearing they’d have one foot out the door to retirement,” says Alexandra Levit, chair of DeVry University’s Career Advisory Board.

Older employees are generally more experienced — and might make more money, which can make them a tougher sell to a recruiter who’s looking to pay less.

Here are a few strategies you can employ to keep the -isms at bay:

Be prepared to talk long-term plans

“Although it’s illegal for interviewers to directly ask how old you are, they can back-channel the question with remarks about how long you plan to keep working,” Levit says.

No matter what, express enthusiasm for your work. “You need to reinforce the skills and experience you bring to an employer,” says Susan Peppercorn, a career transition coach and CEO of Positive Workplace Partners, “and the fact that you want to keep using those skills and perhaps mentor younger people to teach them some of the things you know.” tionally, some businesses summary section on your may not be worth your time. résumé. While some recruit“There are companies [that ers think it’s old fashioned, I know of ] that won’t hire others think it’s a great way Know current someone over 40,” Pepper- for experienced and older technology corn says. workers to provide a suc

It’s important that you’re Read online reviews at sites cinct description of your current in your industry — such as kununu.com, where experience. It can be used and the tech that it uses. current and past employas a way to showcase some

That doesn’t mean you ees can rate their employof your past achievements must be fluent in every platers based on a variety of while highlighting your curform. “You do not want to factors, including attitude rent technical skills. sit there and talk about how toward older workers. “We have found that much you love Snapchat,” Networking can also help recruiters and hiring mansays Nancy Halpern, an exec- you weed out the better agers tend to lower their utive coach with KNH Asso- places to focus. “It’s espe- bias when they see modern ciates in New York City. “You cially critical for more mature skills listed on a prospective can’t try too hard. No one workers, because the only hire’s résumé,” says Marina expects you to be the tech- way to really understand the Byezhanova, co-founder and nology whiz, but nor do they culture of an organization is director of candidate expewant you to be a dinosaur.” to network with people who rience for headhunting firm

At the very least, list any are familiar with your target Pronexia. “Even if these skills social media profiles on your list of companies,” Pepper- do not directly pertain to the résumé so an employer can corn says. position in question, seeing see that you’re comfortable Pay attention to the age of them on a résumé signals with the technology. If there employees when you visit to the person reviewing it are other platforms, apps, an organization for an inter- that the applicant is a lifeor programs that are used view. Look for a range of long learner, not afraid of in your field, be proficient employee ages rather than acquiring new knowledge.” in those as well. a concentration of people Some career experts rec

“I’ve worked with people in their 20s. ommend omitting graduawho are very skilled in what “Obviously, the kind of tion dates from your résumé they do, but they’re not up job and the subject matter if you graduated college more to date on technology, and it of the job responsibilities than 25–30 years ago. “I’ll has hurt them every time,” will be relevant,” says Cynalso advise that they elimiPeppercorn says. thia Pong, a coach and facil- nate the first few jobs they’ve

If you’re not a tech whiz, itator with Embrace Change had if they entry-type posienlist the help of an adult Consulting. “But if you can tions,” Halpern says. “Start child or friend, or consider find the overlap between with a mid-level position and taking an online course if you companies that are better its accompanying dates.” need assistance. For online for more senior workers and options, try Coursera.org. positions that match your skill set and passions, that would be the sweet spot.” Find the right company

Ageism or not, not every Retool your résumé employer is going to be a There are a variety of good fit for you. Some com- things you can do with your pany cultures trend younger CV to help recruiters see past — startups, for instance — and their own prejudices. you may not want to be sigThere are two schools of nificantly older than everythought on whether you one else in the room. Addi- should include a career