Successful Job Hunting After Age 50!

By John Groth

Successful job hunting after age 50 can be the start of something positive with long range beneficial results.

You're over 50 and you just lost your job, or the one you have is going to be eliminated and you haven't looked for work for over 20 years, what do you do?

First, don't listen to those who tell you the world if rife with age discrimination, you'll be looking for work for months and months and the only job you'll be offered will be half of what you're making now. With some work and planning you can dispel all these myths. The only fairy tale that has some validity is it might take some time to find the right job.

So the first step is clear, get tough and believe in yourself. You'd be surprised what can be accomplished if you have a positive attitude and believe it can be done. If you spend time agonizing over a possible age biased job market you're setting yourself up to fail. Age discrimination is a fact of life but use it to fuel your resolve.

Therefore, if you work at job hunting full time, do the required research and self-analysis you will probably be one of the many job hunters over 50 that find new jobs that are better than the one they left. So let's get started and build a winning job hunting plan.

Unless you participate in triathlons see your doctor and get checked out for the start of a fitness plan. Start slow and build up your fitness. You don't need to join a health club, if you do that's fine but walking and running and some weight work will get you moving in the right direction. Becoming more fit, and plan to lose some weight, and then doing it, will do wonders to your confidence. Successful job hunting is all about confidence.

Recently, at a presentation to a group of 50+ out of work executives the following questions were asked: Do you weight more or less now than when you lost your job? Do you engage in at least 30 minutes of strenuous exercise at least 5 or more times a week? Out of 43 individuals only 3 indicated they weighted less now than when they lost their jobs and not surprisingly the same 3 answered yes to the second question. Over the next six weeks all three found jobs compared to only one of the 40 who did not engage in a personal fitness and diet program.

Those of you reading this that has a passing knowledge of statistics know the above numbers are not statistically significant. But the anecdotal evidence is clear, if you go into an interview, and you best suit doesn't fit well because you put on 12lbs, the first impression you make is not as good as it could be.

The one thing to remember is that those over age 50 have an asset that all employers want, and that is experience. Don't discount this prized asset. There are many employers who are searching for employees that can prove they can do something better, faster, within budget, increase sales, reduce costs, do something more efficiently, and provide great customer service regardless of the age of the candidate. It's up to you to tap into this employer's need and when you do you'll find the right job, and it likely will be better than the one you left.