Job hunters over the age of 50 struggling to find work may think their age works against them -- but their lack of success might result from a bad job search.
"One component of a good job search -- if you're unemployed -- is spending 35 hours a week on the search," said David Madison, director of the Five O'Clock Club's National Guild of Career Coaches, in the September issue of the group's newsletter. The Five O'Clock Club is a career-coaching and outplacement service.
Madison said the quality and effectiveness of the job search needs to be understood before blaming age discrimination for not finding work.
"Of course, age discrimination is real," he said. "But if you are over 50, you can take steps to protect yourself as you try to keep your career on course while moving through your 50s, 60s and perhaps beyond."
Madison offered these tips:
- Work hard at staying on the cutting edge, whatever that
means in your field.
- If you think your age may be working against you, don't
allow your image to compound the problem. Image is not everything, but
it does matter. Dress and grooming should be at 100 percent. This may
mean shedding a few pounds, buying new clothes -- and asking your
friends, "Do I look as sharp as I can be?" Get honest feedback and take
corrective measures if necessary.
- Age may not be the problem, but the discouragement factor
is, and it's fueled by negative articles in magazines and newspapers.
Avoid reading these articles. If older workers look for a job properly,
they will find one almost as quickly as younger job seekers. We have
rarely found that age alone is an impediment.
- Hire a job-search coach and pay by the hour. It may be
time to be guided by an expert.
- Spend 35 hours a week on the search if you're unemployed
(15 hours if you have a job).
- Develop a detailed personal marketing plan -- and a resume
and cover letters.
- Search by organized targets -- all mapped out on your
marketing plan. Target jobs in an industry, organization size, a
specific position in those industries, or a certain geographic area.
- Aim for 200 positions -- not job openings -- and always
push toward this goal.
- Use four ways for getting interviews (networking, direct
contact, search firms and ads -- print and Internet) with special focus
on direct contact and networking.
- Measure the quality of all your efforts. Keep in touch
with six to 10 people in your target area and get feedback. If you're
not getting positive feedback, your target is wrong.
- Get expert guidance from a career coach and from a weekly strategy group.
