Job Search and the Mature Worker

by Debbie Lipton

Mature workers – job seekers who are aged 45 and older – face particular advantages and challenges in their search for a new position. If you are a job seeker “of a certain age,” you may find yourself needing to combat the negative stereotypes that are associated with age. On the other hand, strategic, informed employers seek candidates who will offer the best skills to get the job done, regardless of age. In order to be a candidate that employers will consider, it is up to you to present yourself effectively. Throughout each stage of the job search, from your cover letter, to your resume, to the interview, you must articulate how you are a candidate that will make a positive contribution to the organization that hires you.

Make sure that your cover letter expresses your understanding of the employer’s needs. Read the job posting thoroughly and make the connection between the skills that are being sought and the relevant experience that you have. Customize your cover letter for each employer; it may take more time but it will bring more attention to your resume.

Does your resume reflect your experience in a flattering way? If you were at your last employer for many years, do not miscommunicate the number of years you were at an organization. However, if your career began several jobs ago, think about how many years you need to take back your work history. A rule of thumb is to go back approximately 10 years.

The interview is your opportunity to shine. Regardless of age, hiring managers are seeking employees that want to be on the job, who will feel satisfied by the work, who are ready to learn new skills and procedures, and who will come to work with enthusiasm and energy. Employers often ask questions to explore the attitudes and personal traits of all candidates. In order to be competitive, older workers must be ready to respond to these types of questions in a way that frames their age as an advantage. Below are sample interview questions, the question behind the question, and ideas on how to craft a response.

"Do you think you might be overqualified for this job?"

Good news first: if you have made it to the interview, the employer has already seen something in your resume that makes you an attractive candidate! In asking this question, the employer wants to know if you are interested in the position as a “layover” until a better job comes along. A strong response will incorporate the skills and experience that you bring to the job, your ability to “hit the ground running,” and be a contributing employee from the start.

“Tell me about how you have accommodated change in the past.”

Here, the employer is exploring how you respond to change. Older workers are sometimes perceived as being rigid and unable to quickly learn new procedures that are different than ones used in the past. Be sure to be ready with examples of how you incorporated change in past jobs and how you enjoy the opportunity to learn.

“This job requires someone with a lot of energy.”

Your work style is being explored through this question. If you are comfortable in a fast-paced environment, give examples of your work style and how you have successfully worked in this type of environment or job in the past. You may also allude to your level of physical or life activities, if it supports your profile as an energetic individual.

Remember, the mature worker often has life and work experience that cannot be accrued except through age! Think about the personal skills and qualities that often come with age: reliability, dependability, patience, an understanding of people and human behavior. Be sure to incorporate these qualities to emphasize what you, as a worker of a certain age, will bring to your next employer.

Debbie Lipton is a Human Resources Generalist for Operation A.B.L.E. (Ability Based on Long Experience), where she provides career counseling service to adult career changers. Operation A.B.L.E. is a non-profit employment and training organization that provides services to mature workers 45+ as well as to adults from occupationally, economically, and racially diverse backgrounds. In her 15 years in employment, Debbie has worked across the non-profit, government, and corporate sectors as a counselor, job search coach, job developer, trainer, and corporate recruiter. Debbie is a Certified Administrator of the Myers-Briggs Type Inventory and a Certified Professional Resume Writer. She is a former board member of the Boston Chapter of the Association of Career Mangement Professionals International (ACPI), former chair of the Career Counselors' Consortium and is a member of the Northeast Human Resources Association (NEHRA). She holds a Master's of Science degree in Human Resources Counseling from Northeastern University and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and English. To learn more about Operation A.B.L.E., please call 617-542-4180 , or visit www.OperationABLE.net.