Dear Abel & Sofi: Ageism Alert -- She’s Going Broke Doing Good
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Admittedly, I am not immediately keen on hiring somebody who isn't "youthful" but as I think about it more, there are MANY benefits to hiring somebody who may be older. I'm not an expert on this by any means, but I would say to be gentle but straightforward about the "age elephant" when applying but also to ALWAYS impress your qualities and the benefits of your application in your cover letter and outreach. And there are many!
- you may have a lot of relevant experience, you are competent and (hopefully/probably) dont need micro-managing (sure, some training may be needed, but that's another thing entirely & is part of most hiring situations)
- One of my concerns with hiring someone older is that I would not be able to satisfy their pay requirements as a small company. So perhaps demonstrating flexibility with salary requirements would be helpful, and understanding that it may not be feasible for you to make as much as you may have been earning at the peak of your career.
- flexibility of working hours and availability during the day (especially if working remote or contracting)
- you will not (likely) be needing allowances for things like leaving early or missing work time to care for children (or having them & needing to take maternity/paternity leave)
- express that you are looking for a position (if this is the case) where you can stay put for a while and not hop around to the next thing. Longevity and especially reliability are assets.
- are you caught up on your industry's trends and best practices? Demonstrate that you can stay current & relevant.
In reading through this thread there is definitely some valuable advice. For me the key tips are these:
- calling the CEO/owner or hiring manager directly. It shows initiative and that you care about the position you are applying for.
- Trim a few years off your resume. You really only need to include the last 10 years of work history, most people won't really care what you were up to decades ago when systems, processes, & industries were quite different from how they may exist and operate today. -
- Most importantly, be sure to include a cover letter with your application that is brief (less than 1 page) and to the point; introduce yourself and then explain WHY they should hire you and how you could be an asset to their business. This is for any applicant of any age -- always explain to your audience the WHY -- why they should care! What makes you stand apart?
If an employer still doesn't want to consider you despite you having so much to offer, then you are better off without them. As frustrating as that can be. Be persistent, don't lose heart, and stay positive! While it may be difficult to find them sometimes, there ARE employers out there who will happily hire at any age & who could be a potentially great fit for you.
- you may have a lot of relevant experience, you are competent and (hopefully/probably) dont need micro-managing (sure, some training may be needed, but that's another thing entirely & is part of most hiring situations)
- One of my concerns with hiring someone older is that I would not be able to satisfy their pay requirements as a small company. So perhaps demonstrating flexibility with salary requirements would be helpful, and understanding that it may not be feasible for you to make as much as you may have been earning at the peak of your career.
- flexibility of working hours and availability during the day (especially if working remote or contracting)
- you will not (likely) be needing allowances for things like leaving early or missing work time to care for children (or having them & needing to take maternity/paternity leave)
- express that you are looking for a position (if this is the case) where you can stay put for a while and not hop around to the next thing. Longevity and especially reliability are assets.
- are you caught up on your industry's trends and best practices? Demonstrate that you can stay current & relevant.
In reading through this thread there is definitely some valuable advice. For me the key tips are these:
- calling the CEO/owner or hiring manager directly. It shows initiative and that you care about the position you are applying for.
- Trim a few years off your resume. You really only need to include the last 10 years of work history, most people won't really care what you were up to decades ago when systems, processes, & industries were quite different from how they may exist and operate today. -
- Most importantly, be sure to include a cover letter with your application that is brief (less than 1 page) and to the point; introduce yourself and then explain WHY they should hire you and how you could be an asset to their business. This is for any applicant of any age -- always explain to your audience the WHY -- why they should care! What makes you stand apart?
If an employer still doesn't want to consider you despite you having so much to offer, then you are better off without them. As frustrating as that can be. Be persistent, don't lose heart, and stay positive! While it may be difficult to find them sometimes, there ARE employers out there who will happily hire at any age & who could be a potentially great fit for you.
More answers from Juliette
