Close to Retirement? Here are Tips for Finding Work
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Many professionals follow a traditional career path, which includes settling into a long-term job and working there until retirement. Retirement is a significant achievement for many nine-to-fivers, showing their loyalty and dedication to a company or organization. However, while the romanticized version of retirement often includes visions of starting a garden or going on a month-long cruise after the last day of work, many seniors are faced with the reality of returning to the job hunt to make ends meet.
The current economy, inflation rates and the impact of a declining stock market on retirement accounts has led many people to reconsider their retirement or plans to retire as their funds dwindle. With this in mind, many older Americans are looking for jobs to supplement their income. A survey from CNBC revealed that 68% of respondents who were retirees would consider working again.
Unfortunately, acquiring a job becomes difficult for those aged 50 and older due to age discrimination. A research study by AARP in 2020 discovered that 78% of older workers had seen or experienced age discrimination in their workplace. Many companies discriminate against older talent due to the perception of costly insurance rates, possible health conditions, and a perceived lack of flexibility.
At the same time, there are many companies and organizations that expressly value mature talent. Older professionals are “more engaged; more likely to look forward to work; more connected to their companies, and less likely to consider quitting,” Jason Greenberg, head economist at Homebase, told CNBC. In addition, with the recent Great Resignation leaving several open positions across many industries, recruiters are more open to hiring senior experienced workers to fill these openings.
For highly experienced professionals looking for work, use the following approaches to find an accommodating work environment.
Utilize the AARP Employer Pledge Program
The AARP Employer Pledge Program allows companies to demonstrate their commitment to diverse staffing regardless of age. On the AARP website, older workers can find a list of participating companies, including CVS, H&R Block, and many others.
Examine job descriptions to understand a company’s values
Determining whether a company is age-friendly can often be found in the job description. For example, a company may cap the years of work experience required (which is a bad practice FYI) or might not provide a brief explanation that they follow the Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) guidelines. In that case, they may be, albeit inadvertently, sending a message that they are not open to hiring older professionals.
Resumes and interviews still matter
At the end of the day, mature professionals should not let age discrimination stop their career dreams. While age discrimination is real, it’s important to focus on the aspects of your job hunt that you can control. Take advantage of the resources at The HBCU Career Center to fine tune your resume, and hone your job interview skills. Also, join our newsletter to stay in the loop about career events built to support mature professionals making career moves.