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A job plan for the over-50s |
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By Kent Johnson » So you're over 50, have just moved to Canada, and are looking to break
into the job market. Like it or not, you’re going to face a bigger
challenge than most younger immigrants.
Canada is moving slowly but surely towards eliminating mandatory
retirement, but there remains an unspoken bias out there against older
workers – at least in many companies - and unless you plan ahead and
are prepared to meet that bias head on, you could be in for a long and
frustrating job search.
For many employers, “older” workers come with some baggage. The
perception is that workers over 50 are too set in their ways, will have
more health problems, will miss more work days, will be more forgetful
and make more mistakes on the job, and will cost more to insure.
There’s also the belief that an employer will have to pay an older
worker more, and that they’ll get less for their investment when the
worker retires or moves on.
And perhaps the worst bias that older job seekers have to face is the
idea that they’re “dinosaurs”, or some kind of museum relic that’s out
of touch with the needs of modern business. And what’s surprising is
that many of the employers who feel this way are over 50 themselves!
Now an employer isn’t going to come out and tell you that you’re too
old for the job – that kind of discrimination is illegal, after all.
You’re more likely to hear something like “Your overqualified for the
position,” or “We’re looking for an entry-level worker to fill this
post.”
And this comes at a time when people are living longer, more productive
lives than ever before. Latest Statistics Canada figures show a man or
woman in this country can expect to live to be at least 79.6 years old.
And with an aging workforce and immigration levels still not able to
keep pace, many employees will continue to work well beyond the
traditional retirement age of 65.
So what are older job seekers supposed to do? Well first off, you need
to acknowledge the challenge but don’t let it discourage you. Many
companies are hiring workers over 50, and some of them actually prefer
“mature” employees because of their experience and dependability. So
you can still find a job, but it will probably a little longer than you
were expecting.
And many older workers are skipping the job search all together in
favour of starting their own businesses or moving into freelancing
opportunities. Some are turning long-time hobbies into full-time
businesses. In fact, a lot of these folks see a career change late in
life as an opportunity to explore their passions and do things they’ve
always wanted to do.
No matter which path you choose to take, you’ll need to sit down and
formulate a plan of action. If you decide that you want to seek a new
job instead of starting your own business, here are some tips to help
you get started:
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Seek out companies that are actively hiring older workers. One good place to start is on the AARP website
which has links to companies who are seeking workers over 50. This is
aimed mostly at people in the US, but many companies featured there
have Canadian operations too, so go ahead and call them.
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Look for openings at smaller companies. Smaller firms tend to be more
open to hiring older workers, and your experience may be more valuable
here than in a larger corporation.
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Network. This is just as important for older job-seekers as it is for
younger ones. Spread the word that you’re looking to change jobs or
careers. Tell family and friends. And search on the Internet for
companies in your area that look promising.
-
Use your resume to your advantage. If you have college degrees, list
them, but don’t give the date when they were awarded. You only need to
go back 15 or 20 years when listing past jobs, and it’s best to only
include experience that pertains to the job you’re seeking.
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Be positive during your interview. Highlight your experience and
positive attributes. Be sure to tell the interviewer about your past
accomplishments. Project an air of youthfulness, and make it clear that
you intend to work for the company for a long time.
Most of all, don’t get discouraged. Just remember that Colonel
Sanders didn’t launch his fried chicken empire until he was 65 years
old, and George Burns re-invented himself as a movie actor at age 80.
There are lots of opportunities for older workers, you just have to
stay positive and keep trying.
Related: Jobs, jobs, jobs
About the author: Kent Johnson is an
author, publisher and career coach, who enjoys "helping people realize
their dreams one career at a time". You can visit his website for career tips and info.
Source: Ezine Articles
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