Do you feel like employers are ignoring you even though you’re qualified? So keep reading. Here are 13 solid tips to combat ageism in your remote job search.
In some cases, trying to find a new job with decades of experience can be just as difficult as trying to land your first role with little on-the-job training. Every year, thousands of older people and young people can become victims of age discrimination in the workplace based on outdated stereotypes and perceptions. Age discrimination is being discriminated against on the basis of age, meaning being perceived as too old or too young for a job.
Unfortunately, these negative attitudes are more common than you might think. According to research from AARP and the Jobs Data Series, approximately 64% of workers age 50 and older have experienced age discrimination. Currently, approximately 35% of the U.S. population is over 50 years of age. Given that nearly 25% of all Americans in the workforce are over 50, this amounts to potentially significant discrimination based on someone’s age and maturity.
Fortunately, no matter your age, there are steps you can take to combat age discrimination in your job search. Keep reading for a practical guide on how to take your older age (or younger age) into account when searching for new employment opportunities.
1. Update your resume and remove age indicators
Indeed.com’s guidelines state that it’s perfectly acceptable to omit graduation year or other early career dates on your resume or resume, as long as your graduation date is not within the past 5-10 years. You should also organize your past work experience into a simple past experience section on your resume and LinkedIn profile so that recruiters can focus on recent, relevant experience and accomplishments.
Unfortunately, research has shown that some cues on resumes (such as college graduation or other employment dates) can cause age bias, a practice that has received widespread attention, according to a study published in the online journal Collabra: Psychology.
2. Lead with the latest skills and certifications on your resume
According to Indeed.com, be sure to place your latest technical skills, certifications, latest projects, and course badges near the top of your resume or resume to counter potentially outdated skill assumptions. That’s because employment surveys and studies often show that employers are responsive to the current, demonstrable skills of people of all ages.
3. Optimize your LinkedIn profile
The social media site LinkedIn is a useful tool when searching for a new job. That’s why it’s important to make sure your profile is optimized by taking into account your current role, measurable accomplishments over the past 5-8 years, and a project-based overview. A study published by Science Direct found that screening on the platform can penalize applicants who appear to be older, so making your profile more up-to-date can help.
4. Explain Learning Agility in the interview
When interviewing, it’s wise to use concise stories and examples to guide your narrative and show how you’ve quickly adopted new processes, learned new tools, and successfully led digital projects. According to career coaches, older adults can also use energetic examples to counteract potential age assumptions.
5. Be proactive about addressing potential concerns about age.
According to guidance provided by The Balance, if you sense that age is a concern for an employer during an interview, you can easily reframe it as a strength by pointing out positive factors such as stability and guidance, and then pivot to how you’ll add value in the role. This is also a great time to provide specific examples of how you worked long hours or overtime to complete a project on time, the news site explains.
6. Take time to refresh your digital presence
File this under the heading “Use it or lose it.” If your field has demonstrable achievements in code, design, report writing, etc., we recommend highlighting some of your best recent achievements to counter assumptions about skill loss or decline. Fortunately, some employers don’t judge potential new hires by their age, but rather by their recent track record, a study from Collabra: Psychology finds.
7. Target more senior-friendly companies and jobs
One way to combat age discrimination is to look for employers and carriers that value experience and age diversity. This includes areas such as healthcare management, nonprofit organizations, federal and state government roles, and some professional services. You can also follow AARP’s guidance and focus your job search on companies that are actively advertising their search for experienced talent and senior individual contributor roles. These companies often have age-sensitive practices built into their workplaces and have a history of awarding promotions based on performance and productivity.
Related: 15 Top Companies That Hire Older People to Work Remotely
8. Ask for referrals and network strategically.
There’s a reason people say it’s not what you know that matters, but who you know. According to AARP research, many older applicants lose out on potential jobs during the selection stage of the hiring process. So until the United States becomes a more age-inclusive society and overcomes age bias and other prejudicial practices, it’s wise to explore strategic ways to target the early stages of the hiring process. One way to do that, according to AARP, is to use internal referrals and direct outreach as a way to reduce the chance that your application will be filtered out by automated screening or first-pass bias.
9. Consider contract or consulting work that bridges your permanent role.
Sometimes you need to let your work and solid work ethic speak for themselves. Therefore, project-based work and other short-term jobs, including freelance work and consulting roles, can quickly demonstrate your value and ability and can potentially be converted into a full-time position. Career and human resources experts say this type of hiring situation is becoming a more common employee-search strategy when companies want to hire talent and make sure a particular person is a good fit.
10. Do not unintentionally signal retirement or semi-retirement.
Whether they admit it or not, potential employers are likely to search for candidates online before deciding to offer an interview. Unfortunately, there is a strong possibility that individuals will be judged based on their age here.
To ensure that potential recruiters don’t write you off just because you’re only a year or so away from retirement, choose the words and photos you use on social media and other online platforms carefully. For example, avoid profile photos and emotional language such as “semi-retired.” You should also avoid using phrases like “looking for part-time or seasonal work” if you’re interested in a full-time job, according to AARP and other career guides.
11. Prove that you are a team player
Unfortunately, awareness may not immediately eliminate ageism. So when a hiring manager or recruiter thinks you’re too old to work well with other groups, it’s time to provide concrete examples of how you can be a team player, according to Ageism.org.
what does it look like? Talk about how you specifically supported another employee during a project, or how you positively impacted the situation when someone needed help completing a difficult task.
12. Practice concise and energetic interviews
One way to demonstrate engagement and adaptability is to present your most energetic self during a job interview. Career research suggests that this is because some interviewers unconsciously equate energy with youth.
Career coaches also say you can prevent this from happening by speaking clearly and concisely and demonstrating what you’ve recently learned. Ask a friend or family member to help you practice this style before you head to a job interview.
13. Keep records of suspected discrimination
If you believe you have been unlawfully discriminated against in employment because of your age, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission provides guidance on the definition of age discrimination and outlines your options for filing a complaint.
The EEOC says it’s important to keep notes and dates of applications and interviews along the way. Under-reporting is common, so you can make a stronger case by documenting your specific experiences, if necessary. AARP also has some great tips you can use to combat age discrimination when you feel like you might be targeted because of your age at work.
Combating age discrimination in job hunting: Conclusion
Age discrimination is likely to remain an issue in many career fields as older women and older men continue to seek new jobs in the United States. That’s why it’s essential to develop a toolkit of resources to combat age discrimination when looking for new career opportunities.
