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Job Hunting After 40

By Calvin Bruce, IMDiversity.com Contributor

No job seeker carries out a job search in a cultural vacuum. Everywhere you look, Madison Avenue advertisers bombard the senses with appeals to youthfulness. Whether the ads spotlight jeans, make-up, CDs, getaway vacations, “distilled spirits,” fitness club membership or high-powered automobiles — the appeal is similar. If you buy this, that, or the other, you will look (or at least feel) younger. Clearly, the emphasis on youth and youthfulness permeates all aspects of our culture.

To some extent, this mentality has penetrated the work arena. The aura of youthfulness manifests itself in many respects. In the minds of some hiring officials, employing younger workers is equated with injecting “new blood” into the organizational body. The premise of such a hiring decision is that younger workers present fresh, innovative ideas, unbounded energy and enthusiasm, and will offer the employer a greater long-term “return on investment” (ROI) as a new hire.

That may or may not be the case. Without arguing the point, the practical advice for professionals who do not have youthfulness as an asset is to be mentally prepared to compete with younger job seekers, and to enhance their candidacy so that age is not a critical factor in the minds of hiring officials.

Mental Preparation

Apart from consideration of age, job hunting is highly competitive. Regardless of your professional field or discipline, in order to land the best employment opportunities, you need to be “on top of your game,” as they say in sports. Getting some job is not the same as receiving an offer that represents the best use of one’s skills and abilities — and offers the greatest potential for professional growth.

If you are over 40 and scouting the job market, be mentally prepared to compete with younger employers who (in many cases) represent a bundle of energy and enthusiasm, are willing to work for less pay, and are generally more savvy concerning the latest technology.

Because the employment playing field is not altogether level, you will need to develop the mental resolve to compete and win as a serious contender. To accomplish this, mentally focus on the positive attributes of your age and experience. Think of what you offer an employer as a “more mature” job candidate: sound decision-making skills, experience in relating to a wide variety of people, broader perspectives on life, and mature judgment on business matters.

Rather than defending your age, use it as an offensive strategy. What comes to mind is Ronald Reagan’s retort to a presidential debate question concerning his age. With characteristic humor and finesse, he politely responded, “I refuse to exploit my opponent’s age and inexperience.” Right on!

Think of yourself the same way. Age has given you valuable life and work experiences that contribute to your becoming a seasoned professional who has “been around the block a few times” and knows how to handle difficult people and challenges in the workplace.

That is something to take pride in, not apologize for. Maintaining that mind set, you will be better equipped to compete, and win, in the job-search arena.

In practical terms, during an interview mention specific instances in which you have made valuable contributions to the success of a company, offered solutions to vexing problems, trained others to perform at peak productivity, and so on.

In that way you can demonstrate (to use another metaphor) that there’s a lot of tread still on the tire.

Physical Considerations

Mental preparation is one part of the battle. Beyond that, it is essential to convey to a prospective employer the fact the hiring you represents a good, long-term investment. To help make your case, give the employer good reason to select you as a prime candidate for the position under consideration. Here are some tips to strengthen your candidacy:

Look physically fit. One of the biggest concerns employers have in hiring mature workers relates to personal health. It is statistically true that aging increases certain health risks, particularly hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, according to current medical research, racial minorities are more susceptible to these diseases. No employer wants to hire someone whose attendance and productivity might be diminished because of chronic health problems.

Staying physically fit is not only good for your health in general; it can give you an edge in job hunting. Looking over your resume or CV, the interviewer can pretty much guess your age. On the other hand, it he notices that you participate in competitive sports (tennis, racquetball, softball, basketball) — or at least work out regularly — that is certainly to your advantage. If you present yourself in an interview as someone who is physically fit and energetic, that will definitely enhance your candidacy.

Looking physically fit is also a matter of how you dress and present yourself to an employer. Perhaps it has been a while since you had to actively job hunt. Should that be the case, you may need to update your interview wardrobe. It’s probably a good investment to buy a couple of business suits that are more contemporary in style and not so “snug,” to put it mildly.

Has Father Time taken a toll on your hair color? Think about touching up the gray areas a bit. Certain hair coloring products do wonders for men as well as women--without creating an unnatural appearance. “Wash away the gray and look ten years younger” is the claim of some manufacturers. If it works, go for it!

Overcome negative habits. The most common negative habits among mature job seekers are over-eating, excessive indulgence in alcohol, “recreational” drug use, and smoking.

Over-eating is the precursor of obesity. Drinking too much can lead to borderline or actual alcoholism. Drug use fosters other self-destructive behavior. And smoking can result in a variety of health-endangering conditions.

Aside from being heath risks, these habits represent strong negatives in job hunting. Alert interviewers can easily detect “smoker’s breath,” the smell of alcohol, and even subtle signs of drug use. Furthermore, you never know when an employer might ask for a urine specimen as part of the application process. So why risk your chances?

Overcoming these habits goes a long way in increasing longevity and improving the odds of landing a good job.

Confidence in Interviewing

Dressing well, being mentally prepared and physically fit — all are important in job hunting. But presenting yourself as a “winner” during the actual interview is essential to landing the job of your choice. Two main points need to be made.

Be well rested when interviewing. Someone half your age might be able to go “clubbing” the night before an interview and not show telltale signs the next day. But don’t push your luck. Depending on individual metabolism, the lack of proper rest can take a tremendous toll on persons who are middle age or beyond.

Getting proper rest energizes both mind and body. Furthermore, it contributes to an overall sense of well-being, which goes hand-in-hand with self-confidence. Without doubt, you will be more relaxed interviewing if you are not concerned about bags under the eyes due to insufficient rest.

Emphasize your professional strengths. Employers expect a different level of contribution from a mature employee versus an entry-level worker. Essentially, they look for someone who can “hit the ground running” and doesn’t require a steep learning curve in order to be productive on the job.

To satisfy this concern, briefly narrate how successful you have been performing the given job responsibilities in other work environments. Provide specific examples of how you have excelled in the performance of your duties and, as a team player, have helped others do their jobs better.

Caution: It’s good to express a certain degree of pride in your accomplishments. On the other hand, it is counter-productive to convey the impression that you have done it all and know it all. That is a real turn-off to most employers. Instead, indicate how much you are prepared to make a solid contribution — but also mention how eager you are to learn from those with whom you will be working. (This is especially important if those on your team — such as your immediate supervisor—are much younger than you.) In short, give the impression that you are flexible, adaptable, and open to new approaches to improving your performance.

Overall, if you can convey how your extensive work experience and mature outlook are attributes to a prospective employer, you greatly increase your chances of receiving an offer. And if that employer doesn’t hire you, someone else will. Don’t give up!