There's hope for older workers

7 Tips for Getting Hired After Age 50

from wtop.com
 

It can be especially challenging to find a new job in your 50s and 60s. The unemployment rate for older workers is lower than that of younger workers, but once out of work, older workers seem to have greater difficulties landing a new position. The average duration of unemployment for job seekers ages 55 to 64 was 20.9 weeks in March 2020, compared with an average of 17.5 weeks of unemployment among all workers, according to an AARP Public Policy Institute analysis of Bureau of Labor Statistics data.

    Here are some strategies to find a new job after age 50.
 

Even with social distancing and the cancellation of large group events, every professional still needs a networking pitch. First of all, there are video meetings and virtual summits, where you may need to go around the screen and introduce yourself. Secondly, a friend could still offer to refer you to someone by email and ask you for a few lines about yourself to include – that’s networking in writing! Finally, if you come across a LinkedIn profile that interests you and you want to connect to that person, you should write a note with your invite, and that’s yet another opportunity to introduce yourself.

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My “position” was called back to our store after furlough but I was not. My coworker, who I trained and share the position with, was called back yesterday. No one will answer my calls or questions about my possible return. I am 58 years old and have had higher evaluation scores than my coworker. Is this a case for age discrimination? They will not tell me that I am laid off yet but they are not having me return to work alongside my coworker. Any advice would be appreciated.

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7 Basic Mistakes That'll Slow Down Any Job Search — and How to Fix Them All Today

by Lea McLeod at themuse.com
 

One of the most common refrains I hear from frustrated job seekers is that they spend tons of time applying to jobs, but never hear anything back.

    What gives?

    If you’re not getting the response you want in your job search—but have no idea what you’re doing wrong—it’s time to go back to the basics and make sure you’re not making the following classic mistakes.

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Finding Your Comfort Zone

The lockdown has proven that you HAVE to get comfortable with new technology

Over the course of your job search, how often have you heard someone say, “You really need to upgrade your technology skills”? You know what? They’re right.

    A silver lining to how the lockdown is playing itself out is how people are embracing the technology that enables them to work from home and remain connected to their jobs, to co-workers and their employers. This is also true for job seekers who have been pressed into service using platforms such as Zoom, Skype, Google Hangouts, et.al.

    To maintain contact with people in your network and, in some cases, to experience actual job interviews technology is no longer an option – it’s a must have. While video job interviews have been on the rise over the past several years, over the past few months, despite the lack of any hard data, the consensus seems to be that the practice has absolutely exploded.

    This demonstrates how crucial technology is for today’s job seeker – especially older job seekers who are routinely dismissed for gaps in their technological proficiencies. To have any hopes of landing a job anytime soon, one must get comfortable with today’s technology. You really don’t have much of a choice.

    Need to update your technology? There is good news and bad news. The bad news is that libraries – once a treasure trove of tech training – are all closed. 

    The good news is that there is an overwhelming amount technology training available online – some of it is actually accessible through your library even though the physical buildings are closed. Online courses are available through library sources such as lynda.com as well as an avalanche of YouTube videos which offer tutorials on everything from Zoom, to Microsoft Excel, to Windows 10.

    And it’s there ready and waiting – 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

    So you might as well cozy up to your computer, get comfortable with your favorite beverage, so you can get even more comfortable with the latest technology.