Wiser Worker Blog

It can be difficult being 60+ and applying for a job.  How do you contest the age biases that you might come across?  First of all, don’t panic.  The key to getting and having a successful interview is confidence.  Besides there is plenty of evidence saying that you may actually have the upperhand in the job search.  Here are a few tips to get you started:

1. Go to the Niche Sites. 
Meaning - use job boards that are targeted to your demographic.  This shouldn’t be too much a problem - you’re right here! WiserWorker.com has jobs that you can search and apply to that are specifically targeted to older workers. 

2. Update Your Skills & Consider a New Industry.
How good are you with the computer? What other skills do you think employers are looking for?  Check out your local community college for a few classes that might help you brush up on some newer skills and increase your chances of catching an employer’s eye.  A good example was I received an email from someone in the midst of her job search and while she was searching, she was taking a Spanish class to gain a little more competitive edge.  You may also want to look at a new industry.  Healthcare, for example, is an industry that can’t seem to find enough people to work.  If you’re going to brush up on your skills, why not learn some new ones. Certification might not take as long as you’d think.

3. Start With People You Know. 
Contact all the people you’ve worked with previously, your friends’ kids and anyone you think might be a good person to find out information. Be assertive and tell them you’re looking for a job, what industry and some of your qualifications.   You never know who they might know.  Of course with any networking be careful to not to go too overboard but the people you already know can turn out to be very valuable in your job search.

4. Use the Youth and the Internet.
Good references are a given, but you might want to consider having a younger professional being a reference.  Someone who might be able to speak about your management skills or ability to work with all ages.  You can also create a LinkedIn profile (which is essentially your resume online) and connect with previous or current co-workers and tap into online social networks. You don’t have to rely completely on Internet networking - attending Chamber of Commerce events and other in-person networking is important as well.  But this gives you an online presence and shows you’re tech savvy and ability to be up to date with what’s going on now with the job market and the workplace.

5. Highlight Your Experience.
Use your age to your advantage! No need to be ashamed.  You have experience and should say so.  This provides a great opening to an interview that will allow you to explain how you can benefit the company you are applying to or interviewing with.  Use your experience and present it as a positive rather than a negative.

(Sources: How to Get a Job When You’re 60 Plus, U.S. News & World Report; How An Older Worker Can Get the Interview, U.S. News & World Report.  Photo by welsh boy)

I am Amy Hoster the Business Development Manager for WiserWorker.com; I wanted to share with you our story, the journey that brought The Employment Guide to create WiserWorker.com. I am more than a manager for a project, or maybe this is more than just a ‘job,’ it’s an honor to have been given the opportunity to help create a tool that will ultimately help older jobseekers find jobs. As a manager of the product I serve many roles within our organization, starting with the older worker initiative and ending with the creation of Wiser Worker. It’s been a long road to get WiserWorker.com to where we are now, and we have plenty more work to do, but today let me share with you how we got started so you can get a better picture of where we are going.

The Problem:

Believe it or not our older worker initiative started with a one sales person from the Phoenix Employment Guide, he came into my office one day and said;

“Amy we need to help older workers reenter the job market so I invited the local AARP program participants to the job fair next week”.

Great idea, but what I didn’t know was that job fair was going to change our business and ultimately send The Employment Guide down a road that would be full of challenges and in the end rewards. A week later at that job fair I met a man in probably his late 60’s who asked if I could help him find a resume. He didn’t know what a resume was but he knew he needed one and he wanted me to show him were he could get one. Luckily we had a resume specialist at that event who was able to help him create a resume, but it was that day I knew we needed to help the older worker.

Start of a Solution

I was also fortunate our event the Phoenix AARP Foundation Project Director Maria Ramirez-Trillo who sat down and educated me on how they helped the community. The next day I set out to work on a plan with the goal of helping senior workers in markets all across the country, I figured that if we could do it in Phoenix we could duplicate our efforts in all of our markets. After months of planning I was able to start setting our program in motion by working with the AARP Foundation on a national level with their Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP). The Department of Labor funds SCSEP programs in markets all across the country and work with many different partners.

Together with the AARP Foundation, our first project would be to create a digest size “resource book” that would hold all the essential information a job seeker would need to know to re-enter the job market. Our first run we published 15,000 books and that only got us through about 3 months, we are now in our 3^rd issue of that publication book titled Wiser Worker Survival Guide due out late this summer, pick up a copy at any of our job fairs or drop me a line at amy.hoster@wiserworker.com.

The Job Fairs

By this point in the older worker project was heating up and The Employment Guide decided that there was a need to hold an events that would highlight jobs and opportunities for the older worker. We strive to create an environment were we could invite mature workers to a locations in their local neighborhoods where they could look for a job. The Employment Guide is no stranger to the world of job fairs and since we started our program with a single job fair in Phoenix it seemed fitting that we move forward to create a job fair program that would not only honor but benefit the older job seeker. In June of 2007 we started planning the 1^st Annual National Employ the Older Worker Job Fair Series honoring the Department of Labor’s older worker programs. We consulted with Department of Labor and The AARP Foundation to ensure the events were created and formatted so that the older worker would get the most out of the event. Employmentguide.com is one of the only job boards that’s listed on the Department of Labors Resource Page. When the last event was held we had hosted over 47 job fairs in 40 states in over 6 weeks, when our events were attended by over 40,000 job seekers. Our events are held in honor of the Department of Labor’s National Older Worker Week held during the last week of every September.

The Website

It was then when the concept of WiserWorker.com was born, the product was created so that there would be a method of helping older job seekers regardless of where they lived. Our goal was to create a internet product rich with resources for the fast growing demographic in the country and with a job board that will ultimately be tailored for the older more mature job seeker. We are still developing our product and value feedback from users, because after all we started this product be finding out what the public needs and creating a product based on that information.

Hopefully you have a better picture of how committed we are to the working adult. Our program started a little over 2 years ago, frankly speaking I don’t think any of us knew we would end up where we are now. We have a great partnership with our flagship product EmploymentGuide.com and our 2008 Job Fair Series is in motion this year with over 65 events. We will be updating the job fairs section as we get closer to the events. Please visit our site and send me your feedback. What do you don’t like is just as important as what you like. I am interested in what changes would you like to see in the future. I can be reached at amy.hoster@wiserworker.com or 623-869-8888 Ext 238

(photo by danesparza)

The Supreme Court has shifted the burden of proof over to companies who are under claims of age discrimination especially in the event of lay offs or downsizing.

By a 7-1 vote, the court ruled that when a company asserts layoffs of older workers were based on factors other than the workers’ age, the company has the burden of proving those factors are valid.

The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), which handles age complaints, reports that age claims have increased steadily over the past decade. About 19,000 are filed annually.

Lawyers who represent employees cheered the decision, as business groups termed it a disappointment. “

… Employers can defend themselves by showing that the lopsided impact was based on “reasonable factors” other than age, such as performance criteria or needed skills.

Read: High court aids older workers who claim bias, USA Today

The article in USA Today goes on to explain that trying to provide proof of reasonable factors is difficult for them to do and will probably lead to more costly lawsuits.  On one hand the representative interviewed from the AARP says that if the ruling swung the other way, it’d be nearly impossible for the defendent.  The ruling is said to help to protect the older workers who seem to bear the brunt of age discrimination or an unfair disadvantage in downsizing decisions.

Advocates for older workers, including AARP, hailed the decision. They said it would strengthen the rights of laid-off workers to challenge supposedly “neutral” corporate policies that fall heavily on the older employees.

… The burden “is now squarely on the shoulders of employers,” said Sheryl Willert, a lawyer in Seattle. She cautioned employers who rely on subjective factors for deciding on layoffs: “It is more imperative than ever that employers engage in very clear evaluation and analysis and remove as much subjectivity as possible from business decisions.”

Read: Court protects workers against age bias, Seattle Times

I read this and was thinking that while this is great, what kind of help does that offer to people facing discrimination issues now.  Or for individuals who are in the midst of a job search.  I received an email from someone just this morning asking for more information on resources that were available for someone who was in their 60’s looking for work.  This individual was frustrated with being 2nd runner up for a job, seemingly only because of their age. 

So I did some research and found this article on the AARP website called: What You Can and Can’t Do About Age Bias.  Bob Skladany offers some good advice for dealing with age bias while on the job hunt.  It includes answers about what you can and can’t do about an employer and their decisions about hiring and firing. 

Photo by dbking

I’ve seen several news sources lately that present quite a positive outlook for the 60+ workers considering getting into the workforce. It’s not surprising with the Baby Boomers gearing up for retirement it seems that there’s a lot of hype about whether or not we’ll have enough people to fill all the jobs that are available. Even now with a lack luster economy, it seems employers are looking for more experience, better quality candidates. Alot of these news stories have been saying that mature workers are actually preferred in some of the jobs that traditionally have been for teenagers or college students.

Quote from the Birmingham Post:

More than a third of businesses in the region are relying on older employees to plug skills shortages in their businesses, according to the Tenon Forum.

And more than half of owner-managers in the region are concerned about skills shortages and many claim younger recruits are often just not up to the job.

A lack of work readiness amongst graduates and poor literacy and numeracy amongst school leavers were key issues cited by businesses.

And many business owners are now looking to the previously untapped potential of older workers to plug the gap, with 63 per cent of SME leaders agreeing that the employment of workers aged 50 plus is a good solution to skills shortages. About one in six entrepreneurial businesses in the West Midlands actually prefer hiring older workers over college leavers as a solution to staffing problems.

(Read the full article: Older generation can solve the skills gap.)

Gazette.net in Maryland also had a similar story that emphasizes how hard it is this summer for teenagers to get their summer jobs. They’re finding that their biggest competition is more experienced adults who either have been laid off or looking to get some extra money to supplement their retirement or social security checks.

‘‘There are still jobs, but they tend to go to older workers who were laid off,” Mance said. ‘‘Kids tend to go to the back of the line, if you will, because more experienced workers are available and taking an interest in retail.”

When young people do find jobs, they either lucked into them or traveled to a tourist destination to live for the summer, she said.

‘‘Their parents want them to have jobs for the summer, but it’s brutal,” she said. ‘‘You have to be aware where the jobs are or stay where the jobs are if they provide housing.”

(Read the full article: For teens seeking a job, it’s summertime blues)

Now, I think the job market is different in every city and whether or not it’s as dire as the article makes it sound for teenagers, I think that there is one thing that is for sure - that mature workers really have a benefit of experience and that employers really have started considering them as a desireable (and in some cases preferred) demographic.

(Photo by ™bluhousworker)

As we begin the journey to get this blog fully launched and functional, I thought it would be a great time to share articles from local employment bloggers that were touching on the subject of Wiser Workers. The articles have been written by Wiser Worker Blog authors Greg Rollett and Rosie Reilman as well as select guests from the Employment Guide family. We hope you enjoy them and we look forward to helping employers, Gen-X and Boomers realize that there are great opportunities and matches out there.

(Click on the title of the article to be sent automatically to the information)

Wiser Workers and Technology

Older Workers, Opportunities in Entrepreneurship

Top Employers for Older Workers

Myths and Misconceptions of Older Workers

The New American Workforce

Hire a Wiser Worker

Retirement is Not an Option

See ya next time!

When starting to write for a new blog I always feel as if I need an obligatory introduction post. It’s kind of like introducing yourself to someone new. On this blog you’ll find issues and posts related to anything regarding the “older worker” or “mature worker”. Personally, I’ve never been much a fan of those terms. That’s where the term “wiser worker” comes in. It reflects the life and work experience that you have.

What’s this Blog all about?

If you do some research on me over the internet you’ll find that I’m in my 20’s. You might think that I know nothing about what the Wiser Worker. You’d pretty much be right. That’s why I’m here: because I can work this blog thing and because I’d like to learn together.

What I do know is that those of you entering retirement age (or starting to think about it) and those post-retirement age are facing so many issues with the economy situation, social security, deciding on when to retire and whether or not you can afford it. I also try and get a good perspective on the job market and read and write a lot about job hunting advice. This blog will hopefully explore some of those issues that you’re facing and provide a resource for you to find advice and information you need on getting back in the workplace, prepare and enter retirement, working part-time or figuring out how to understand and work alongside of the younger generations. We’ll also probably have a lot of information for hiring managers and recruiters who are looking to hire wiser workers.

I look forward to the discussions and the things we can learn from each other and hope that this blog will become a great resource for job seekers and recruiters alike. And at anytime, please feel free to email me with questions or suggestions on what you’d like to see here to rosemary.reilman@employmentguide.com. You can also contact any of the other authors. We’d be happy to help. Or you can always leave a comment.

As Sinatra would say, “The best is yet to come.”

This initial post on the Wiser Worker Blog is a guest post from our Wiser Working friend Dr. Marvin Copes of the AARP Alabama State Leadership Group.

• So you’ve been out of work?
• You want to return to the workforce?
• Where do I begin to look for employment?

Planning for the job search is important. What type of job am I looking for? Assess your talents, skills, and abilities you have to offer an employer. Are you looking for part-time or full-time employment? What type of a schedule fits your needs? Do you need benefits (if not, this may give you an edge)? Do you want seasonal or temporary work? How flexible are you? These questions need carefully considered and YOU need to know the answers.

The best source of job searching is your network of people you have worked with, socialized with, gone to church with, and organizations you are involved in. By previously being in the job market, you have an advantage. Use your network of contacts in developing your plan and learn more about the labor market climate. Look to employers who have made a commitment to hiring older workers. Look for articles or stories concerning senior workers in the media, chamber of commerce office, state employment office, or state career center as sources. Visit career sites such as WiserWorker.com to see what jobs are available in your market.

Many individuals find that job-search activities are a major drain on their energy and on their self-esteem and confidence. Finding a job is a lot like selling a product and you are the product. The most successful salesperson is one who gets out there and makes lots of calls. It’s a number game. The same holds true in looking for a job. The more contacts you make regarding employment, the better the opportunity you hold to get a job.

Keep a journal or record in order to help you track your job search. Do some job-search activity each day. In order to maintain an accurate and current record of your job search, faithfully make entries in your journal. Remember – “The squeaky wheel gets greased.” You may find that volunteering is the perfect outlet for sharpening your skills and getting a foot in the employment door. If you do well at your volunteer job, the organization may want to hire you to keep your expertise.

Selling yourself to an employer may be difficult. You may feel that you don’t have a lot to offer compared to a younger worker or you are unsure about what you have to offer. GET OVER IT!

Employers continue to say that one of the most important things they look for in a job applicant is attitude! Most employers say you can teach individuals how to perform specific tasks, but it is impossible to teach anyone how to have the kind of positive outlook that will be an asset to the organization.

Dr. Marvin Copes, Maylene, Alabama; AARP Alabama State Leadership; Corporate Online Profile Employment Solutions (COPES), www.CopesSolutions.com; Job Counselor, AWARE, Aging Workers Are Reliable Employees, Positive Maturity, Inc., A Partner of United Way mlcopes@charter.net