Tips for the 50-and-Older Job Seeker: Staying Plugged In

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There are approximately 36.4 million predominantly full-time U.S. workers between the ages of 50 and 64 (one-quarter of the U.S. work force) working today, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, and with the number of boomers remaining in the work force, this number is projected to continue rising.

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So in order to stay competitive and bring a combination of your experience, expertise and knowledge of how today's work force runs, here are some tips for the 50-and-older job seeker.

You can teach a 'mature' dog new tricks!

Who says life ends at 50? For many, this is the start of a new beginning, and if you're reentering the work force at this stage in your life, don't be afraid to look for something new--maybe something you've never even tried before.

"Oftentimes, we have found that in reentering the work force, there's an interest in perhaps doing something different--something new," Russell says. "If that's the case, there may be requirements such as training if you don't have the skills for that particular job. Take advantage of [the training] whether it's short term or long term."

Looking for a job is hard work, so have the right tools

If you've worked for the same company for many years and are just now beginning the search for something new, you will quickly discover the hard work that goes into finding a job. It's almost as if it should be treated as a job itself.

"Looking for a job is a job," Russell says. "You need to make sure that you create an environment that allows you to really conduct your job search in the most professional way, meaning do you have a desk, a computer, access to the Internet [at home]? [This will allow you] to do job searches online. Many jobs today are listed online."

You have the tools … now use them

In this generation of text messages, e-mail alerts and networking sites, it's easy to get lost in translation. This is true for younger people, too. So it is vital to demonstrate to a potential employer that these technological advancements do not intimidate you and that you can adapt to them and communicate using them if that is the preferred form in the office.

"Ensure that your résumé reflects the fact that you have technological skills and that you are familiar with basic software packages that are used universally in offices," advises Russell. "[Demonstrate your knowledge] both in terms of understanding how to search for a job online, understanding that most employers either require or request that you post your résumé online and what an online résumé looks like as opposed to the traditional paper versions that we used to send in the mail or fax over. They're very different."

Also, consider opening a Facebook or LinkedIn page, or search for similar sites. These can be a resource to which you can direct potential employers.

"There are other applications such as social-networking sites like LinkedIn and Plaxo, and many employers utilize these," Russell says. "[They are a source of networking], and at the executive level, that's probably where a vast majority of the jobs are found, whether through past clients or other colleagues."

Employers value a mature perspective, and so should you

Never underestimate the value of your experience, even if there are younger individuals competing for the same job or on the same team. Because of the multi-generational work force of today, all age groups can bring something to the table that others cannot. More and more companies are seeing that incorporating a multi-generational team is a recipe for success--and you can be a part of it.

"When it comes to creativity and innovation, you have the benefit of younger individuals who are going to bring a fresh and new perspective to the team," Russell says. "However, what they won't bring with them is the experience. When it comes to the creativity that older workers bring to the table, it's usually based on experience, whether it's how we might have done it before or lessons we've learned with similar ideas. That's extremely valuable as well, so if you couple the two of those together, you have the best of both worlds when it comes to creating multi-generational teams." 

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