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Age discrimination? Should I simply retire?
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Age discrimination? Should I simply retire?
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Question: I am 61 years old and have been out of work since Sept 2005. I will be 62 in March 2007. I have been sending out resumes and making contacts for nine months now with no results. Many people
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Forums » Topic Forums » HR Career Forum » Age discrimination? Should I simply retire?
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Age discrimination? Should I simply retire?
posted at 10/19/2006 8:46 AM EDT
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Posts: 38
First: 9/29/2006 Last: 3/10/2008 |
Question: I am 61 years old and have been out of work since Sept 2005. I will be 62 in March 2007. I have been sending out resumes and making contacts for nine months now with no results. Many people have told me that employers don't want to hire people my age because they figure they will decide to retire just as they get them trained.
Makes sense, considering research has shown the Baby Boomers want to retire at the average age of 63. I have done everything to keep my age a secret, but with the availability to access all sorts of info on anyone and everyone via the Internet, it is impossible to keep anything under wraps. Do you think I am wasting my time and should I just forget it and plan on collecting Social Security when I become eligible in March? By the way, I was very happily employed and would have stayed with my employer indefinitely. However my company was acquired by another firm who transferred our accounts to their office in Boston and closed up the office in Philadelphia where I worked. As I did not wish to relocate I took the layoff package. So here I am. Several of my former co-workers who are my age or thereabouts, as well as myself, will be awaiting your opinion. Thank you. Cecilia Morgan Hi Cecilia- It just so happens that various Five O'Clock Club coaches have a specialty in working with those of us who are older. I passed your question on to Renee Rosenberg, author of the forthcoming Five O'Clock Club book (due March, 2007) Achieving the Good Life After 50: Tools and Resources for Making it Happen. Here is what Renee has to say: Dear Cecilia, The mass media sends the message, "Age discrimination exists; aging baby boomers find it hard to find work." If you choose to accept this grim forecast, then you are indeed suffering under the handicap called "your age." Age discrimination certainly does exist but at the Five O'Clock Club, clients in their 50s and 60s are successfully finding meaningful work. 61 is not "old." You can have a good many years of work ahead of you if you choose. We believe that you do have a choice: to accept defeat, or to change things around by adopting the right attitude and the right positioning statements. First, begin by taking a step back and looking at the big picture and asking yourself, "What do I really want?" "Do you really want to continue working?" If so, "full time or part time?" "Paid or volunteer?" "How much longer do I want to continue working?" If you want to continue working, don't let your feelings about age discrimination stop you from achieving your goal. Remember-you are not a stereotype. Unproductive negative thoughts can cause you to lose sight of your value to an organization and direction, and can detour you from your path. Instead of giving up or becoming discouraged, follow these 10 tips: 1. Take time to reflect. Ask yourself, "What is my purpose in life?" 2. Acknowledge yourself as wise and experienced. 3. Know what skills you have to offer. 4. Have confidence that you can present your unique strengths effectively to employers. 5. Visualize yourself doing your best and getting what you want. 6. Stay focused on the steps you need to take to achieve your goal. 7. Don't undervalue your own strengths and talents. 8. Be enthusiastic and always maintain a sense of humor. 9. Focus on achieving your goal. 10. Think positively instead of negatively. It may be that your job search strategy is at fault and that factors other than age discrimination are influencing your job search. These factors can be: asking for too high a salary too soon, looking for work in a declining industry, not having a targeted resume focusing on your strengths and accomplishments in the field you are targeting, and not positioning yourself properly by not promoting your experience and energy. Your worry that employers assume older candidates may retire soon after being trained, is a legitimate concern, both for you and for the employer. Baby boomers however aren't the only generation that employers are afraid may leave shortly after being trained. Many employers regard recent college graduates, who have not yet found their path, as being a bad risk because they are perceived as ungrounded and flighty, picking up and moving for a better opportunity or at the slightest whim, sometimes right after getting hired. Boomers are actually considered by many employers as being more reliable and dedicated to the organization than their younger counterparts. Barriers exist for all generations, however focusing all your energy on them rarely helps. If you really want to commit to long-term employment, then position yourself in your cover letter and in the summary section of your resume in order to put the employers' minds at ease. If you are looking for a position that you hope to keep for several years, mention your excitement about the possibility of growing with the company. You may even want to consult with a career coach to assist you in creating a strong positioning statement and targeted resume and cover letter. Even if you do plan to retire in a few years you could still be a compelling candidate. You might consider tackling the problem head on; if you suspect that your age or your proximity to retirement is prejudicing perspective employers. State how they can benefit both from your maturity and experience in dealing with people as well as your knowledge of the industry. Knowing the needs of the employer and knowing and communicating what you want and bring to the table in terms of skills, knowledge and experience can go a long way in securing a job, if you know how to position yourself and communicate your strengths accurately. On a positive note, recent AARP studies have noted that job opportunities for older workers will increase as large numbers of boomers retire and the number of younger workers in the workforce declines. These studies state that skills shortages will push employers to look toward mature, experienced workers to fill the job openings. The choice is always yours. Your attitude can make the difference. Why not move ahead believing you can get what you want if you plan and prepare properly? Cecilia- I would add just one more point to Renee's. The Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that those who are 55 and over take 4 weeks longer to find a job than those under 55. The trick is that they include only those who are searching. Many people over 55 stop searching because they fear discrimination, or think every rejection they get is a proof of discrimination. But those who keep searching don't have that long to wait to become employed again. Target those small to mid-sized companies that would die to have someone with your experience. And perhaps our readers will have additional advice for you. Good luck. -- Kate Wendleton President, The Five O'Clock Club www.fiveoclockclub.com |
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