Job Hunting Tips for Those Over 50

A quick perspective on job hunting for those over 50 years old.

Technology: Most employers assume a twenty-something candidate has computer skills. And most assume those over 50 don’t. List in your resume any computer applications in which you’re fluent and any certifications you’ve earned.  Make sure employers know that you have the skills needed to do the job for which you’ve applied and that you have both experience and technical know-how.

Ability to Learn: Speaking of certifications, consider returning to school to earn certification in other skills that are in demand, ex. project management, human resource management, web design. Some employers assume older workers have obsolete skill sets and are resistant to learning. Not only do the additional skills make older workers more competitive but recent schooling is evidence of initiative and learning agility.

Flexibility: Older workers are sometimes thought of as inflexible. But an advantage a seasoned worker has over his/her younger counterpart is his or her extensive experience. Make sure your resume information demonstrates your flexibility as you successfully managed the variety of challenges handed to you.  Showing flexibility, especially in your people skills coupled with your work experience, is a real win.

Each year AARP lists the top companies for older workers (www.aarp.org). Best opportunities currently are in retail, health care and teaching.

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Pamela Corbett is an executive coach, career and outplacement counselor, organizational consultant and psychotherapist with her own practice, Spectrum Psychological Services based in Winston-Salem, NC. Licensed in North Carolina and trained in clinical psychology (Penn State and Indiana University of Pennsylvania), Pam is a certified Master Practitioner of NLP and is certified in the entire suite of Career, Leadership, and Organizational Architect Tools. Pamela has been providing executive assessment, development planning, coaching, and training through her own business and as adjunct faculty with the Center for Creative Leadership since 1986. Pam’s earlier work experience includes a veterinary hospital start-up, television production, insurance claims negotiation, inpatient and outpatient psychotherapy, and teaching at Wake Forest University. Her coaching profile can be found at TheCoachingAssociation.com.