Combating ageism in the workforce

Benefits of Hiring Older Employees

There are many reasons why hiring seasoned employees

will improve a company's work atmosphere

by Glynn Dowdle at tennessean.com

The workforce is aging at a rapid rate – 25% of workers in the U.S. and the U.K. are expected to be over the age of 55 by 2025, per Deloitte’s latest future workforce trends report. 

    Of the 10,000 companies surveyed by the Harvard Business Review and Deloitte, over two thirds view older workers as a competitive disadvantage in their respective markets due to potential obstacles, such as lack of technological skills or being “set in their ways.”
 

You know that Friends episode, “The One Where Chandler Gets an Unpaid Internship”? That actually reflects a real-life example of any former generation being in job competition with the younger during the hiring process.

    Even though this is a fictitious story where Chandler is in his mid-30s pursuing a new career, what if you are even older just trying to get back into the same career field after a hiatus? How do you start?
 

Upwork is a trusted leader transforming traditional staffing, and their new report is a pivotal trendsetter. The Freelance Forward Report providing insights from more than 6,000 U.S. workers, found that approximately 59 million Americans freelanced in the past 12 months, representing 36% of the U.S. workforce.

    Do not abandon freelance work if you're looking for a full-time job as it can likely lead to something else while keeping your skills and growth current. I know freelancing has some negative connotations, and it doesn't fit the traditional career success path. 
 

Are Résumés and Cover Letters Obsolete? 

by Johnny C. Taylor Jr. at usatoday.com

Due to the global pandemic, many sweeping changes have taken place. I would like to know: Will resumes, CVs and cover letters become a thing of the past? What will be the proper medium to apply job opportunities?

    We might be acclimated now, but remember: We jumped from record-low unemployment to levels unseen since the Great Depression. That’s unbelievable and a tragedy for the millions of hardworking Americans affected, so I hope neither you nor your loved ones are among them.

    But even if you are, don’t get too down on yourself. After all, refreshing these items will keep you busy and get you back into the swing of things in no time.
 

Sometimes older workers have to chuckle when they hear younger upstarts mulling over problems that their experience conquered decades ago.

    Most certainly this is true when you’re considering day-to-day tasks or industry – or institutional – knowledge. But, truth be told, your background brings a lot more to the table than simple task management and accomplishment.

    Of course they want someone who can “do the job.” Fact is, many younger candidates can make that claim just like you can. But once you’ve cleared that turn around track, that’s where your real advantages will cause you to separate from the pack.

    Let’s look at some of those “extras.” 

    Ability to adapt. One of the myths about older workers is that you’re set in your ways and you’re resistant to change. Really? Peel back the onion of older workers’ experience and you’ll most likely find that they’ve been adapting throughout their entire careers. Let’s face it. In many workplaces, you either adapt or you die. (Or the company dies.) Going to work is one adaptation after another.

    How about working with employees of all ages, types, etc. Unless you’ve spent your entire work life as a monk, you’ve been dealing with people of all types: gender, race, religion, personality, temperament, agreeableness, et.al. Chances are you’ve seen them all and dealt with them all.

    Technology. This is a big bugaboo for many employers. “Can you use a smart phone?” “Do you even know what an ‘app’ is?” “We have pretty sophisticated software here. Can you…?”

    Of course you can. You’ve been learning new systems, processes, software, etc., for your entire life. What’s one more?

    For an older worker in a job interview, doing the job shouldn’t be the question. If you couldn’t do the job, you would not have gotten this far. What you bring to the table goes well beyond simply “tab A into slot B.” And that’s one of the things that make you an ideal candidate.