How To Overcome Age Bias In Your New Reality Job Search

The future of work is still about humans and connection.

It is about people of all ages, experience and levels. Many employers are starting to look beyond aiding a workforce to work remote. They are working towards building a more skilled, agile and resilient future. Many employers will have several generations working for them.

Leveraging combined skill sets, strengths, experience, and knowledge in this context will be critical. It is a core foundation for adapting and remaining resilient for the future.

Employers are open to having new conversations about different ways of working. I reckon the resilience shown by more senior employees in the COVID crisis will be up for discussion.

Our older workforce can leverage the opportunity to help organisations rewire their DNA. 

Direction

Networks

Adaptability

This can only affect their impact and cultures on a favourable basis. Many older employees have a deep emotional connection to their actions and purpose they apply in their career. 

They are loyal, resilient and empathetic to younger generations career challenges. They understand the conflict and chaos many are going through now in this pandemic. 

They know how to listen. Listening to your people and understanding and responding to their needs is vital. I am forty-four years young, and I have recently had an influx from many younger generations asking me to mentor them in their careers.

I facilitate outplacement work with many generational profiles. The varied perspective I gain as a result of such a broad, diverse and multi-generational outlook has been momentous for my life and work. I am very grateful for this learning to leverage my skills as a career coach.

So how can older employees and job searchers show we deserve our seat at the table? 

How can we prove we deserve a second chance if we want to change career or face redundancy now?

How do we show our adaptability and resilience to enable a whole new level of work and opportunity for ourselves and potential employers?

1. Understand the Realities Behind Age Bias:

Age bias in hiring is unfortunate and wrong, but the harsh reality is that it exists. The first step is to understand why age discrimination occurs in some organisations. If you know and understand the reasons for it, you can navigate it from all perspectives to your benefit. 

During your search, relevant and factual information is vital. It is advisable to investigate why some organisations may choose a younger worker. 

Many times it is not age that an employer has a concern about, but other issues that you need to address.

Cost:

Mature professionals have often built up a higher salary level compared to younger professionals. 

Companies are often decreasing management roles, and lowering salary budgets, creating much more competition for fewer senior-level jobs.

To address this, you'll need to research your market to understand the demand for your skills and the current salary ranges for your role.

Flexibility:

Many companies expect employees to work harder and longer, travel, be open to relocation, adapt to significant change and learn new technology fast. 

They may assume that these challenges may not inspire someone with a strong and stable background. If this does inspire you, then make sure you consistently state this and highlight related accomplishments on your resume/CV.

Dated Skills:

Today's organisations move and change faster than ever - how will you keep pace with them? Studying new market trends and terminology, attending webinars, and updating your resume/CV with new skills and education can make a significant impact.

2. Create an Ageless Personal Brand of Your Personal Best

When creating a resume/CV and social media profiles, leave your age out of the equation.

Let Go of the Antiquated Resume/CV Formats:

Your Resume/CV is marketing collateral. You do not a complete biography. Focus on the last 10 to 15 years of your experience, and of relevance to the roles. Also, remove dates on education from more than ten years ago.

Reinvigorate Your Professional Look:

Consider updating the way you represent yourself. I'm not suggesting you try to be something you are not. But instead, realign with something that you are and want to be on a personal and professional level. It radiates quiet natural confidence. 

Consider updating your headshot and, have fun with a makeover. A change is good as a rest when reinventing yourself.

Elevate Your Energy:

Companies want confident, passionate, purposeful, hungry, enthusiastic, and value-driven professionals—ones who are eager and inspired to innovate improvements and tackle challenges head-on. 

Keep yourself healthy by eating well, exercising, and taking care of your mental health throughout your job search. Pay attention to what lifts and lowers your mood and energy.

How are you performing on a physical, mental, emotional and spiritual level daily? 

How are your creativity, emotional resilience and general outlook on things?

What are habits killing or suppressing all the above?

How do they cause you to regress?

Another glass of wine might sound like a good idea. Maybe it is when the occasion and timing are right to sit back and chill. 

But if it moves to a third or fourth regularly in the middle of a job search, it can become a big deal. When you are dealing with complex decision making about where to next, it can leave you discombobulated and agitated.

Cultivate forward focus and energy by shifting habits to your benefit. Be conscious and consistent with your well-being choices. If you feel yourself begin to drain and pull away from your direction, return to the primary health fundamentals of sleep, exercise and nutrition. It will enable you to return to a clean system from which to operate. 

3. Research & Tailor Your Search

No matter what your age, it's important to fine-tune and align your search for the greatest success.

Focus on Relevant Jobs:

If a job requires 5+ years of experience and you have 25+, it is more than likely they will specify you as overqualified.

Networking on a conscious level and with relevance to opportunities you seek as well as applying to positions that match your experience on a realistic level is so important. If you are open to taking a less senior role, make sure you are clear about this. You will need to be able to explain the reasons behind it upfront.

Explore the Culture Fit:

When choosing your targets, look for companies that hire and value mature and experienced workers. You can review the demographics of a company's staff by reviewing employee professional social media profiles (e.g. LinkedIn). Study the backgrounds, demographics, and qualifications for those in your desired role.

Leverage Your Network:

A considerable advantage you may have over younger workers is a highly developed network. Remember if you are an experienced professional you are likely to have these benefits younger reinventers may not have. Take stock of all the advantages you have. 

If you decide to transition into another industry, don't forget your friends and family. They may well have connections in other sectors they can introduce to you.

Ask questions to find out who they might be willing to introduce to you. 

Next Steps

Research your current market: demand, salary ranges, jobs, and target companies in detail.

Update your skills and the terminology in your resume/CV to meet current market needs.

Re-brand your marketing campaign: resume/CV, professional social media profiles, and online/offline image.

Focus your job search on the right companies and individuals.

For more tips and advice see my LinkedIn or book a one-off discounted session here