Job search presents unique challenges for those over 50

Unemployment isn’t easy for anyone, regardless of age, but unemployed people over 50 may find it especially difficult to find work.

Whether it’s a byproduct of age-related discrimination or any of a host of additional variables, jobless older workers often struggle to find work.

Unemployed men and women older than 50 who are trying to find employment can consider the following strategies as they look to rejoin the workforce.

Revisit your resume.

Unemployed men and women over 50 have no doubt updated their resumes to reflect their most recent professional experience, but they may need to trim some of the fat in regard to their work life 10 or more years ago.

Today’s hiring managers may only be concerned with recent experience that illustrates skill sets that are relevant to today’s jobs. Those over 50 may consider their experience from 20 years ago invaluable, but if that experience does not meet the specific needs of the jobs they’re now seeking, they should remove it from their resume so hiring managers can quickly access the more relevant information from their work histories.

Embrace 21st-century job hunting.

Finding a job in the second decade of the 21st century is unlike job hunting in previous decades, and it’s completely different from the way people looked for employment 30 or more years ago.

Networking can mean the difference between unemployment and landing a job. Go to job fairs attended by hiring managers, and join professional organizations that host events where professionals in your field can gather.

Turn your age into a positive.

Job seekers older than 50 should accept the likelihood that their new managers and/ or hiring managers will be younger than them.

When interviewing for a job, people over 50 should make an effort to showcase their enthusiasm about working with and learning from younger colleagues, while also noting their desire to commit longterm to a company. Some hiring managers may surprise older applicants, viewing them as potentially more reliable than younger workers who are simply looking to gain some experience in a particular industry before moving on to the next opportunity.

Make use of your existing downtime.

Another strategy that unemployed people older than 50 can try as they look for work is to make better use of their existing downtime.

Enrolling in online courses can give prospective employers the impression that older applicants are both tech-savvy and willing to learn new things. Each of those things can help men and women over 50 overcome any unjustified, tech-related stigmas that hiring managers may attach to older job candidates.

“Whether it’s a byproduct of age-related discrimination or any of a host of additional variables, jobless older workers often struggle to find work.

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