Thanks to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, it is illegal for employers to discriminate against applicants due to their age as well as other protected classifications. But unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that finding a job in your 50s or 60s is as easy as it is for younger job seekers.
The average duration of unemployment in July 2023 for people ages 55 to 64 was about two weeks longer than people ages 35 to 44, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
To ensure you can land a great job no matter your age, job seekers over 50 should follow these best practices to demonstrate their competency and eliminate biases:
- Start your job search right away.
- Use your network.
- Reassure a younger manager.
- Don’t mention your age or the interviewer’s age.
- Optimize your resume.
- Explain why you’re not overqualified.
- Demonstrate your fluency with technology.
1. Start Your Job Search Right Away
Don’t wait until your unemployment runs out to start looking for a new position.
“It does seem like prospects are best for the unemployed as soon as they leave their jobs, so it might be a good idea to start job searching in earnest right at the beginning, rather than easing into job searching while on unemployment,” says Joanna Lahey, an associate professor at Texas A&M University who studies age discrimination.
A large gap on your resume and a growing sense of frustration with the job search process can make it even more difficult to get hired again.
As soon as you lose your job or decide it’s time to leave, start browsing opportunities on LinkedIn, job boards and with your network.
2. Use Your Network
Although there are many modern ways to find jobs online and through social media, having contacts at the company you would like to work for is still one of the best ways to find out about openings and get hired.
“The No. 1 way to find a job is through personal contacts,” Lahey says. “You can avoid a lot of implicit discrimination if someone who knows you is willing to vouch for you.”
3. Reassure a Younger Manager
Some managers may feel uncomfortable supervising someone who is more experienced than they are.
“The big thing to keep in mind is that the person supervising you or making the hiring decision may well be younger than you are and insecure about supervising someone with more experience,” says Peter Cappelli, a management professor and director of the Center for Human Resources at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School.
“So, it is important to let them know you are OK with the role you're applying for, that you don't want their job and that you are expecting to take direction from them,.” he adds.