The document provides 3 tips for older workers to overcome age discrimination in the job market:
1. Brand your value by understanding and promoting the vast skills, stability, wisdom and experience you possess rather than hiding your age.
2. Wage a good offense by using language that counters perceptions of older workers being slow, resistant to change or lacking technology skills, and indicate short-term and long-term career goals.
3. Pay attention to your appearance to make a confident first impression and avoid visual cues that could age you, such as outdated clothing or hair. Staying upbeat is also important to overcome biases.
Thomas Calculus 12th Edition Textbook and helping material
Beat Age Discrimination in the Job Search
1. AGE DISCRIMINATION:
3 Ways to Beat It
Dorothy Tannahill-Moran
dorothy@nextchapternewlife.com
www.nextchapternewlife.com
2. The Truth About Ageism
■ It’s the only bias that people tend to
accept – the statistics tell the story
■ Average length of job search for 55+ =
52.4 weeks; younger = 37.4 weeks
■ “Discouraged” older job seekers in
August 2011 – 287,000 in Dec 2007-
53,000
■ Age related law suits: 2006 = 16,000
2010 = 23,000
Dorothy Tannahill-Moran,
2
www.nextchapternewlife.com
3. Perceptions
■ Older workers cost more due to higher
salaries
■ Seen as less productive = slow
■ Seen as less healthy (although
statistically healthier than young
women)
■ Resistant to change
■ Not technologically up to date
Dorothy Tannahill-Moran,
3
www.nextchapternewlife.com
4. More Perceptions
■ Close to retirement and kicked back
■ Close to retirement and have a nest egg (so not
a big issue without a job)
This isn’t true for most of this group yet as a
culture that loves youth – we all tend to believe
some of this
Dorothy Tannahill-Moran,
4
www.nextchapternewlife.com
5. Tip #1: Brand Your Value
■ You have to “get it” about what you bring to a
future employer
Vast wealth of skills
More stability
Wisdom and perspective
Experience depth
If you don’t understand the value you possess, no one else
will.
Dorothy Tannahill-Moran,
5
www.nextchapternewlife.com
6. You Wear Your Brand
■ How you talk about yourself to network and
employers
■ What’s reflected on your resume
■ Something to be proud of rather than
hidden
Dorothy Tannahill-Moran,
6
www.nextchapternewlife.com
7. Tip #2: Wage a Good Offense
■ Use words and terms that counteract the
perceptions
Slow: use energetic, action oriented, relentless
No tech skills: learn new things and put on your
resume
Resistant to change: did you change processes,
systems, organization, did you embrace learning
Indicate short term AND long term career goals –
have a vision for the future
Dorothy Tannahill-Moran,
7
www.nextchapternewlife.com
8. Tip #3: Pay Attention to Your
Appearance
■ Sorry, first impressions are visual
You can only make 1 first impression
■ Keep your clothing & hair current – it’s a quick
way to age yourself
■ Carrying yourself with confidence and energy
■ Smile and know your brand value
■ Be upbeat
Dorothy Tannahill-Moran,
8
www.nextchapternewlife.com
9. Cope the Right Attitude
Judging people is innate – you can’t stop it but you
can help people not classify you
Do your homework on a company – know if they have
known age bias – and avoid them
You don’t want to work for you people who “don’t
want your kind” – you’ll be miserable
Just know: With bias you are in a marathon, not a sprint.
You will have to work harder and longer – do whatever
is necessary to stay positive (it shows)
Dorothy Tannahill-Moran,
9
www.nextchapternewlife.com