Overcoming Age Bias—Strategies for Job Seekers 50+
- amy Leighton
- Aug 19
- 2 min read
Even though an employer isn’t legally allowed to discriminate when hiring an employee based on age, it inevitably happens. So if you’re over 50, you might be wondering how to overcome this age bias that some people experience. At this age, you’ll likely have to relate to younger generations to land a job, which you might find hard to do. Before you stress, think about the following strategies if you’re over 50 and looking for a new job.
Embrace your age and its advantages. You can try to hide your age on your resume by leaving off dates and not using Yahoo or Hotmail as your email address, but that may not be overly effective. Instead, it might be more useful to embrace your age and what that allows you to bring to the table. As an older person, what you have that newbies don’t have is wisdom and experience. So, capitalize on that when you are writing your resume, cover letters, and other correspondence with an employer. Don’t miss an opportunity to talk about how quickly you can hit the ground running due to your background and how you have the maturity to stick with a position without job hopping.
Refresh your skills. In your 50s+, you’ve been in the job market for a while, and when this happens, there may be certain skill sets that you’re rusty on. This happens when you concentrate on specific duties for many years. For example, if you’ve been exclusively in sales for the last two decades, you may have missed out on what’s going on in the digital world and AI. So, one of the best ways to compete with younger generations is to be up on the latest technology. Two ways you can do this is through taking courses and volunteer opportunities.
Think about where you may be judged. The obstacles job applicants over 50 most encounter are being judged for their stamina and ability to fit in. So, think about how you can prove the opposite. Show a lot of energy and enthusiasm not only for your job but for your life. Be intrigued about getting along with the generations that come after you. Consider that an employer might think they have to pay you more and therefore, you seem more expensive to hire. Counter this by offering a reasonable salary for the position you’re applying for.
Another interesting tip from Kerry Hannon, an expert and contributor on career transitions, is to stay fit and look after your health. Exercise may not have much to do with your job directly, but an employer picks up on the fact that you take care of yourself. It gives off a different energy. So, don’t focus on having to look young as much as taking care of your body. It’s another subtle way you can tell an employer that age won’t matter in your ability to do your job.
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