Does age matter in job hunting ?
Job-hunting obstacles are often twin problems. In one incarnation they're expectant problems, representing fears of what could or might happen, such as, "they'll think I'm too old." Their other embodiment is as an extant problem, representing something that has already occurred, like, "they thought I was too old."
Interestingly enough, these twins aren't equivalents or even comparable; they're instead mirror images. In almost every case of twin job-hunting problems, the extant problem is the real issue and is entirely rational, while its expectant twin is a presenting problem that's completely emotional. If you're facing one of the extant twins you'll simply need to focus on an appeal.
Another common element to many job-hunting problems is that if you're forced to appeal a rejection, you'll have very little time to act. Today it's unlikely you'll hear you've been rejected, since usually only the successful candidate gets notified. If you think you did well, all you can do is sit and wait for a call. If you don't hear by the time indicated, call, ask what was behind the no, launch your appeal, and pray they haven't already given the job to someone else.
If you sense during the interview that you're not coming across well, don't wait: decide yourself what is behind the soon to be coming no, and launch your appeal as soon as you get home. If you're unsure of how you did, try to find an inside source who tip you off about your chances and let you can know what was behind the no. Then jump back into the fray with your new facts and request for reconsideration.
I'm too old.
Age is rarely ever the real problem in job hunting. If you're looking for work in a field in which physical strength and stamina are a factor¡ªlet's say roofing¡ªage can be problematic. However, even in that case, your actual problem is you're looking for the wrong kind of job, not that you're too old. If physical strength and stamina aren't a factor in your work, then worries about age are indicative of a lack of confidence, enthusiasm, and/or motivation. You're blaming your age when it's your attitude that's the problem. Your real problem is you're bored, burned out, or unmotivated.
Age fears may be disguising problem clusters or individual obstacles. If you're simply looking in the wrong business¡ªyou're looking for a roofing job when at this point you should really be selling roofing products¡ªthen it's a single problem. If, however, age fears are masking a poor attitude toward self or career, then it's likely you're facing a cluster.
In the latter case, the secret is to focus on the most pressing problem: that's eliminating outward signs of your being "burned out" so you can land a job that will then give you the time to work on the other elements in the cluster.
Unless you're a career sandhog or something similar, saying that your age will be a problem means you're focusing on feelings rather than on facts. To correct your focus ask yourself: what is making me feel old and why have I lost my enthusiasm? Age should be an advantage, not a disadvantage. You have experience, wisdom, and sagacity. You're more responsible and less prone to mistakes. You may have slowed down physically, but thanks to your advanced knowledge and skill you can do in ten minutes what it would take someone without your experience ten days to do.
You can bolster your own confidence (and provide ammunition for a possible appeal) by finding out the ages of upper-level executives in the industry or company in which you're looking for a job. Is the president of the company older than you? Isn't he still competent? Is the most respected practitioner in your field the same age as you or older? Wouldn't she be a great candidate for this job?
In addition, become an expert on your own resume. If you fear your age may keep you from landing an interview, consider pruning references that scream "veteran." You don't need to provide the year you graduated college, or include a comprehensive job history with dates. Your resume can be a presentation of highlights. Stress your achievements, skills, and abilities rather than your career chronology. Prepare a separate job history and bring it with you to the interview.
You don't need to pierce your eyebrow or dye your hair to convince someone else your age isn't an issue; you simply need to appear enthusiastic and energetic. Remember: your age isn't stamped on your forehead.
Use the full repertoire of trust-building techniques: smile, lean forward, be animated, ask questions, and actively listen. Don't act as if you've heard or done it all before, even if you have. Certainly don't treat an interviewer who's younger than you with any less respect. Use recent examples to illustrate your experience and abilities, not stories from before the information age. Take it from a seventy-year-old: enthusiasm takes at least ten years off your age and smiling takes off another ten. Come off as a dynamic, energetic candidate and no one will remember you voted for JFK.
If during an interview you suspect your age may be an issue, or just subsequent to the interview you learn from a source your age was a determining factor, you need to immediately telephone the interviewer. Apologize for your "less than stellar performance" and cite the personal problem or situation that caused your malaise and kept you from offering all your ideas. Ask for another meeting to present those new ideas. It's admittedly a long shot, since an age rejection is an emotional (and illegal) judgment rather than a rational decision. Still, it's worth a try. If they've already turned you down what more can they do?
Interestingly enough, these twins aren't equivalents or even comparable; they're instead mirror images. In almost every case of twin job-hunting problems, the extant problem is the real issue and is entirely rational, while its expectant twin is a presenting problem that's completely emotional. If you're facing one of the extant twins you'll simply need to focus on an appeal.
Another common element to many job-hunting problems is that if you're forced to appeal a rejection, you'll have very little time to act. Today it's unlikely you'll hear you've been rejected, since usually only the successful candidate gets notified. If you think you did well, all you can do is sit and wait for a call. If you don't hear by the time indicated, call, ask what was behind the no, launch your appeal, and pray they haven't already given the job to someone else.
If you sense during the interview that you're not coming across well, don't wait: decide yourself what is behind the soon to be coming no, and launch your appeal as soon as you get home. If you're unsure of how you did, try to find an inside source who tip you off about your chances and let you can know what was behind the no. Then jump back into the fray with your new facts and request for reconsideration.
I'm too old.
Age is rarely ever the real problem in job hunting. If you're looking for work in a field in which physical strength and stamina are a factor¡ªlet's say roofing¡ªage can be problematic. However, even in that case, your actual problem is you're looking for the wrong kind of job, not that you're too old. If physical strength and stamina aren't a factor in your work, then worries about age are indicative of a lack of confidence, enthusiasm, and/or motivation. You're blaming your age when it's your attitude that's the problem. Your real problem is you're bored, burned out, or unmotivated.
Age fears may be disguising problem clusters or individual obstacles. If you're simply looking in the wrong business¡ªyou're looking for a roofing job when at this point you should really be selling roofing products¡ªthen it's a single problem. If, however, age fears are masking a poor attitude toward self or career, then it's likely you're facing a cluster.
In the latter case, the secret is to focus on the most pressing problem: that's eliminating outward signs of your being "burned out" so you can land a job that will then give you the time to work on the other elements in the cluster.
Unless you're a career sandhog or something similar, saying that your age will be a problem means you're focusing on feelings rather than on facts. To correct your focus ask yourself: what is making me feel old and why have I lost my enthusiasm? Age should be an advantage, not a disadvantage. You have experience, wisdom, and sagacity. You're more responsible and less prone to mistakes. You may have slowed down physically, but thanks to your advanced knowledge and skill you can do in ten minutes what it would take someone without your experience ten days to do.
You can bolster your own confidence (and provide ammunition for a possible appeal) by finding out the ages of upper-level executives in the industry or company in which you're looking for a job. Is the president of the company older than you? Isn't he still competent? Is the most respected practitioner in your field the same age as you or older? Wouldn't she be a great candidate for this job?
In addition, become an expert on your own resume. If you fear your age may keep you from landing an interview, consider pruning references that scream "veteran." You don't need to provide the year you graduated college, or include a comprehensive job history with dates. Your resume can be a presentation of highlights. Stress your achievements, skills, and abilities rather than your career chronology. Prepare a separate job history and bring it with you to the interview.
You don't need to pierce your eyebrow or dye your hair to convince someone else your age isn't an issue; you simply need to appear enthusiastic and energetic. Remember: your age isn't stamped on your forehead.
Use the full repertoire of trust-building techniques: smile, lean forward, be animated, ask questions, and actively listen. Don't act as if you've heard or done it all before, even if you have. Certainly don't treat an interviewer who's younger than you with any less respect. Use recent examples to illustrate your experience and abilities, not stories from before the information age. Take it from a seventy-year-old: enthusiasm takes at least ten years off your age and smiling takes off another ten. Come off as a dynamic, energetic candidate and no one will remember you voted for JFK.
If during an interview you suspect your age may be an issue, or just subsequent to the interview you learn from a source your age was a determining factor, you need to immediately telephone the interviewer. Apologize for your "less than stellar performance" and cite the personal problem or situation that caused your malaise and kept you from offering all your ideas. Ask for another meeting to present those new ideas. It's admittedly a long shot, since an age rejection is an emotional (and illegal) judgment rather than a rational decision. Still, it's worth a try. If they've already turned you down what more can they do?
[posted by : OFP on Oct. 23, 2009]
TAGS: job