Mar 09 2009
Being Over 40 in Today’s Job Market
Recently I had a friend laid off from a large local tech company. It appeared pretty obvious that the layoffs were hitting the over 40 crowd, but worded in such a way that it was for “financial” reasons.
Now, you may or may not know how this works. So yours truly is going to illuminate the issue. First off, as a person works longer, their salary goes up. If you *really* climb the corporate ladder, say into management, your salary can *really* increase.
Add to that the fact that the older a person gets, the more expensive it is to insure them from a health perspective, and you begin to get an idea of the reasons “financial” is the generic reason attributed to layoffs. In addition to that, there is even the philosophy that “if someone is over 50, their careers have a finite life expectancy before retirement, therefore I don’t want to invest more money in training them when they are leaving in fifteen years or less.”
Age discrimination in the US is *illegal*. However, in a job market such as today’s, when there are so many candidates available, it fairly easy for a company to rationalize that the “best” candidate for the job is younger. In addition to the financial aspect to hiring younger workers, there is often a belief that older workers are harder to train, that they don’t keep up with the world around them, that they are inflexible. There is some merit to this belief in many ways. I see less of that in the tech industry, by virtue of the fact that it *is* a rapidly changing industry.
So what are some things you can do if you *are* in the over 40, or for that matter the over 50 and even over 60 category?
First of all, stay at the forefront of your industry with training and certifications. Things change, expectations morph over time to whatever the industry trends are. With the rate that technology is changing every industry, it is *vital* to stay abreast of these trends.
Second, make sure your *resume* and interview styles reflect current standards. I’ve devoted a *lot* of space on this blog to the tools that you can use to keep current. Guys, I’m a *recruiter*; it is my job to both look at resumes all day and to make sure I know what hiring managers are looking for in the documents that cross their desks. I know the tools in the biz today and how they work. Honest, I’m not giving you a load of doodoo with what I’m telling you.
Third and the most sad IMHO, do your best to look as young as possible. I’m not talking about plastic surgery. But make sure your interview clothing is stylish and not outdated. Some industries and geographies require a traditional blue suit, others do not. But make sure your suit is not a throwback to the 80’s. Look at magazines and catalogues to see what is out there. If your budget is tight, hit thrift and consignment stores or talk to friends or family members that wear your size. (Include shoes in this process as well.)
Same thing with your hair. Women, longer hair and bangs make you look younger; shorter hair ages you. Consider your haircolor and style. Go to a department store and have a free makeover to see what palettes and application techniques make you look younger. Men, if you are balding there isn’t much you can do, but take a hint from the younger generation: consider shaving your head all the way, at least for your interviews. It may sound bizarre, but it works. One of my exes started balding in his twenties. He shaved his head all the way at age 35 and it took 5+ years off his perceived age. Think Samuel L. Jackson a la Matrix. If you are lucky enough not to have to deal with baldness, again consider haircolor (both head and facial hair if you have it) as well. Also think about facial hair; some men look older with a beard or moustache, some younger. Maybe try growing a moustache or goatee if you haven’t in many years. You can always shave it off. And if it grows in vastly salt and pepper, again, try coloring it.
It is a sad truth in our society that youth is more revered than wisdom. But right now your primary goal is getting the job. Who knows? You may decide you like the new look.
I was a casualty of a company going belly up. It was run by 20 and unders, which I always had concerns about, since they had never seen lean times. I am over 50 and have been looking for over 4 months. I cannot tell you how often I meet with a Director that might be 35. I already know I am out of the running since they want a fraternity type environment. So many companies have young executives that have not been through enough business and economic cycles to understand how to navigate through them. They are used to booming times. I disagree that the older employee earns more, I have supported HR and see the 30 somethings salary and bonus structure. I know they are protecting their turf, and have come into a lifestyle that tool me longer to achieve.
Just venting
The trouble with recommending longer hair on women, or growing facial hair on men, is that those things take TIME. It’s very difficult to grow out a short haircut without going through an awkward stage, and no one wants to put off their job search for even a week just to get a good start on a beard. I’ll guarantee you that no matter how much older I supposedly look with a short haircut, I will look far less polished and sure of myself with it half grown out. Plus, I LOVE my hair short. Getting it cut makes me feel great, and having it look as though it needed a cut makes me feel dowdy and incomplete. I am sure that comes through when I interview.