Tips for Navigating Job Hunting After 50

Let's talk about the elephant in the room: if you're 50+ and interviewing, you're fighting age bias, whether anyone admits it or not. I've seen brilliant, experienced professionals stumble in interviews because they're using strategies designed for 25-year-olds. That approach doesn't work when you have decades of experience. Here's the reality: age bias exists despite legal protections. The key is reframing your experience as a competitive advantage, not a liability. Your strategic preparation framework: 1. Research your interviewers - Look up their backgrounds and company demographics. Find potential advocates and cultural alignment opportunities. 2. Demonstrate technology fluency - Show current technical competencies and familiarity with modern tools. Don't let them assume you're behind the times. 3. Project energy and enthusiasm - Combat assumptions about engagement levels through forward-looking discussions and genuine excitement about the role. 4. Lead with recent wins - Start conversations with current achievements and capabilities, not a chronological career history that spans decades. 5. Show adaptability - Provide specific examples of successfully adapting to new systems, methodologies, or market conditions. Prove you're not stuck in the past. Position your experience strategically: Your decades of experience aren't just nice-to-have - they're business risk mitigation. You bring relationship assets, seasoned judgment, and capabilities that create immediate value. Your industry knowledge and professional networks are competitive advantages that reduce onboarding time and accelerate contribution timelines. Stop competing with younger candidates on identical terms. Emphasize the unique value propositions that justify your investment level. What strategies have you found most effective for positioning senior-level experience during competitive interview processes? Sign up to my newsletter for more corporate insights and truths here: https://vist.ly/3z9fc #deepalivyas #eliterecruiter #recruiter #recruitment #jobsearch #corporate #seniorprofessionals #interviewstrategy #careerstrategist

Marsha was in her 50s and hoping to make a career pivot. "Have I got chance?" she asked me. I'll tell you what I told her: Ageism in the job market is real. But, if you are prepared, you can overcome the obstacles. It had been years since she'd applied or interviewed for a job. We worked together on her resume, LinkedIn, networking, and interviewing to package her for the job she wanted. When she called to say she'd gotten an offer for a great new job in pharma, with a 30% pay increase, I was jumping up & down!! I want to be clear that this was not easy. It took a lot of focus. Here is the multi-pronged approach we worked on together: 🎯 Resume Strategy: ↳ Focus on impact ("Delivered $2M in savings" vs "25 years of experience") ↳ Go back no more than 15 years  ↳ Highlight current technical skills, leave off old ones ↳ Take the graduation year off all degrees ↳ Contact info should include only city, state (no street address) ↳ Ditch the AOL, and hotmail email addresses; they date you 🌐Networking Strategy: ↳ Reconnect with former colleagues & give them an update ↳ Practice talking about your skills and abilities ↳ Speak to others who've successfully overcome the age barrier ↳ Make sure your LinkedIn profile follows best practices ↳ Work toward 500+ connections ↳ Post and comment on LinkedIn weekly 🏢 Employer Strategy: ↳ Target 40-50 companies with age-diverse cultures ↳ Talk to people in similar roles & ask about key skills ↳ Ask HR/recruiters about their hiring process ↳ Follow each employer on social media to learn priorities 💡 Interview Strategy: ↳ Lead with energy and genuine interest ↳ Show you've done your research with deep preparation ↳ Be ready with stories that include cross-generational work ↳ Share examples of your adaptability and growth mindset ↳ Talk about new skills you've built and show you're on top of trends ↳ Communicate your experience working with diverse people 🤵🏼Personal Strategy: ↳ Take additional courses & certifications to keep your skills fresh ↳ Stay current in your field with podcasts and social media ↳ Make reasonable adjustments to your appearance ↳ Clothes should fit well and be current, but not "trendy" ↳ Avoid language that "dates" you (ask a trusted younger friend) Remember: You're not "overqualified" You have battle-tested wisdom. That, along with these strategies, will set you up as a strong candidate! ♻ Repost to help people who are facing ageism in their job search 🔔 Follow Sarah Baker Andrus for more strategic career insights

It is so frustrating to be judged based on your age. In a highly competitive job market, my older clients are expressing their increased frustration with the misconceptions that they lack adaptability and energy, or that they'll retire soon. According to a recent AARP Survey, about 64% of workers aged 45 and older believe that age discrimination impacts their job search. Ageism is very real and continues to challenge experienced professionals in their job search! Here are specific strategies to apply in the resume, cover letter, and interview to divert the hiring manager away from your age and toward the reasons why you are a good fit for the job. 1. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐞. Rather than listing "30 years of experience," highlight recent achievements that demonstrate the positive outcomes you have achieved. 2. 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥. If you're applying for a mid-level role despite having executive experience, explain why. You could say, “I’ve reached a place in my career where I want to apply my expertise to help grow a high-potential startup.” 3. 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. Employers may worry about your longevity. Speak directly to your excitement about the work and express your dedication to staying with the company. Example: “My passion for this field remains strong, and I’m excited to contribute for years to come.” 4. 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. Emphasize your willingness to learn, signaling adaptability and motivation to stay current. Mention recent training, certifications, or other learning efforts relevant to the role. 5. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧-𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝. Communicate a willingness to learn from others, including younger team members. This can help disarm biases about older workers being “set in their ways.” 6. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦-𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭. Describe projects where you worked in a supportive role, even if you held a leadership position. Emphasize that you’re comfortable in team settings and value collective success. 7. 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲. In your resume, cover letter, and interviews, use words like “agile,” “driven,” “passionate,” “flexible,” “innovative,” and “committed” to demonstrate energy and stamina. 8. 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲’𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. Ask for equity in the company. Expressing interest in equity shows a commitment to the company's success over time. This signals a desire to be invested in the organization for the long term.

7 Ways To Combat Ageism In The Job Search: 1. Lead With Results, No Years Too many senior professionals tout their years of experience as one of their biggest benefits. While experience is great, in cases of ageism, it can actually be working against you. Instead, shift the focus to the recent results you’ve driven to highlight the value of bringing you on board. 2. Update Your Resume (Design & Content) Outdated resumes look and feel, well, outdated. If your resume has a modern template and uses more modern language to describe your experience, it’s going to go a long way towards building your credibility and adaptability in the employer’s mind. 3. Update Your LinkedIn (Design & Content) The same goes for LinkedIn! A high quality headshot, banner image with a modern feel, a Summary section with modern language. All of these showcase a savviness that you’re in tune with what matters right now. 4. Remove “Early” Career Experience Unless you’re applying for a role that specifically requires it, you should remove any experience that’s more than 15 years old from your resume. Companies want to see what you’ve done lately, and likely don’t view experience from that long ago as relevant. 5. Stay Current With Upskilling Invest in courses and certifications that align with relevant skills in your field. This will help you stay on top of cutting edge processes and platforms. It also signals to employers that you’re intentional about keeping your skills in line with the current market. 6. Be Proactive About Objections Carve out time to list all the objections an employer might have about your age. For each objection, brainstorm an example that offers a counter. When you network and interview, proactively weave these counters into your stories and answers to help handle those objections before they come up. 7. Believe You Belong The job search is difficult for people of any experience level right now. You’re not alone in this process, or the emotions that come with it. Do your best to stay positive and keep that mindset of believing you belong, and the right opportunity is going to find its way to you.

I just saw 7 people age 50+ get hired. And they didn't hide who they were. But they did make some key changes. If you think age discrimination is holding you back from landing a job, read on. There are 3 places that older job seekers make mistakes: 1️⃣ FOCUSING ON YEARS > RESULTS If your resume starts with "Experienced professional with 15+ years experience..." you're already making this mistake. Your experience is valuable. But it's valuable because of the SKILLS & RESULTS you've earned. 💡 Delete the word "experience" and replace it with your actual skills. 2️⃣ BURYING YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS On average a recruiter spends 5-15 seconds reviewing your resume. That means they don't read it. Most older job seekers bury their achievements in word soup. 💡 Forget page-count, focus on word-count. 350-550 word resumes land the most interviews because they get to the point quickly. 3️⃣ "BEFORE YOUR TIME" The person interviewing you will likely be age 20-40. You want to bring them in as an ally, rather than distancing yourself from them. 💡Avoid phrases like... ↳ "This may be before your time..." ↳ "In the early 90's we..." ↳ "It's kind of like <insert old TV show>..." 💡Instead, use phrases like... ↳ "I'm a big fan of what's happening with AI..." ↳ "The latest trend of X is super fascinating to me..." ↳ "Have you heard of <insert new technology>..." Oftentimes the problem isn't your actual age. It's the signals you're sending about your age. Focus on your RESULTS, SKILLS, and the FUTURE. That's how you land a job in 2025. 👉 P.S. I'm hosting a free workshop on interview prep next week, give my profile a follow and I'll announce the workshop on Monday if you'd like to attend. _ #hiring #jobs

Age is just a number—until it’s used against you Age discrimination can feel like a barrier to career advancement, especially in a workplace or job market that may favor youth It's frustrating to think that the wisdom and experience you’ve gained over the years could be seen as a disadvantage But here’s the thing Age doesn’t have to be a weakness With the right approach, you can turn it into your greatest asset Here’s how: - Highlight Experience as a Strength: Your experience is your edge, make sure it's front and center. Emphasize your ability to navigate complex challenges and mentor others in your workplace or during interviews. - Stay Current With Industry Trends: Whether it’s taking online courses, attending webinars, or reading up on the latest tools in your field, showing that you’re engaged with modern trends dispels the myth that age equals obsolescence. - Leverage Your Network: Networking helps you stay visible and can lead to opportunities where your age is seen as a benefit, not a hindrance. Your network can also provide valuable referrals, helping you bypass some of the biases that come with job applications. - Focus on Results: At the end of the day, results speak louder than anything else. Data-driven success stories can shift the focus from your age to your performance, making it clear that your contributions are still highly relevant. - Embrace Lifelong Learning: Demonstrate adaptability by continuously learning and growing. Whether it’s gaining certifications, learning new software, or tackling fresh challenges in your current role, lifelong learning is key to staying competitive. The challenges of age discrimination are real, but they don’t have to define your career Don’t let age hold you back—let’s make it your secret weapon Do you have strategies that have helped you combat age discrimination? P.S. If you’re ready to take control of your career and connect with others facing similar challenges, join my free community of over 200 midlife professionals. Join here: https://lnkd.in/ezZBS98D

🎂 Today is my 51st birthday! 🎂 I love birthdays (especially the more I accumulate) but how do we address ageism in the career search? Ageism in the job market is real, but it doesn’t have to define your career trajectory. As an executive, your experience is an asset—if you position it correctly. Here’s how to combat age bias and stay competitive in today’s market: ✅ Stay Cutting-Edge – Demonstrate that you’re not just experienced but also current. Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and market shifts. Invest in continuous learning—whether it’s AI, digital transformation, or the latest in leadership methodologies. 🎓 Enhance Your Education – Consider executive education, certifications, or board governance training. A LinkedIn course, an AI workshop, or a designation like NACD Directorship Certification® signals your commitment to growth. 🤝 Engage Across Generations – Show that you can lead and collaborate with both younger and older professionals. Highlight projects where you’ve successfully integrated diverse perspectives. Reverse mentorship—learning from younger colleagues—can be a powerful differentiator. 🎯 Mentorship Matters – Position yourself as a leader who lifts others up. Coaching emerging talent and guiding teams through transformation showcases your leadership agility. It also expands your influence in your industry. 📢 Network with Intention – Don’t just reconnect with long-time colleagues—expand your circle. Join industry groups, contribute to thought leadership discussions, and engage in digital and in-person networking to remain top of mind for opportunities. 🚀 Own Your Narrative – Age is an advantage when framed correctly. Speak to your ability to drive results, lead change, and develop high-performing teams. Avoid dated language and focus on impact. The most effective way to combat ageism? Show up as a leader who evolves, adapts, and delivers. Your value isn’t in your years—it’s in your insight, agility, and ability to drive success. How are you staying competitive in today’s job market? Let’s discuss in the comments. 👇 #Leadership #ExecutiveCareers #JobSearch #Networking #Mentorship #Careers

Age discrimination is real. If you're over 50 and lose your job, your resume won't save you. But your network might. If you've nurtured it. I'm watching too many talented friends struggle. They have decades of experience, weathered multiple economic cycles, and built real expertise. Lost jobs due to fed cuts, AI, layoffs, you name it. It's devastating. Kids college expenses. House payments. No income. Their resumes are getting lost in stacks of hundreds. AI screening tools filter them out before human eyes ever see their qualifications. When much younger hiring managers do review applications, they often can't appreciate the depth that comes from years of operational expertise, industry knowledge, and ability to navigate massive downturns -- some have never seen a downturn. TODAY'S REALITY: You can't wait until you need a job to start building your visibility. The professionals who are thriving after 50 aren't just relying on their track record. → They're building relationships before they need them. → They're demonstrating their expertise in real-time, not just listing it on paper. → They're actively sharing observations. They're commenting on industry trends. They're offering insights that only come from years of real experience (not from ChatGPT). YOUR INSURANCE POLICY: Your experience is your competitive advantage. But only if people can see it. → Activating and growing your network isn't optional today. It's the only insurance policy that will save your career when you're too young to retire yet old enough to experience age discrimination. Don't wait until you need a job to start building your visibility. Start building that insurance policy today by sharing your insights once or twice a month on LinkedIn. Short or long post - doesn't matter. Consistency matters. Authenticity matters. LinkedIn isn't just a sales tool. Use it to build your visibility, credibility, and authority. ♻️ Was this helpful? Please repost to your network. ➡️ Follow for more ideas to build your influence. Thanks!