Age and employment

Age and employment:

Do you feel your age is a barrier to gaining employment?
If you are mature-aged and seeking employment, you may feel you are being disadvantaged by your age.
Many employers are changing their ideas about the poeple they are employing and looking for the more mature aged employee as they believe they are the ones who have experience and are willing to stay for the longest period of time. Most employers are willing to train regardless of your age and employment status.
You need to be positive and emphasise those skills and special qualities, gained through years of experience, that you may be able to offer an employer.

Skills such as:
Experience in handling conflict, people and situations

You are stable, reliable and tend not to be out partying all weekend

Have staff supervisory and training skills

Ability to priorities, take direction and deliver direction

These are all transferable skills and valuable in any position.

Organise your time!
One of the things that regular employment does for us is organise our time. While you are looking for work, it is important to remain organised, have focus on seeking employment and approach your job search in an organised way.

Have something planned for each day, for work and for relaxation. 

Network – build your networks:
Talk to as many people as you can about your age and employment. Keep in touch with what is happening on the work scene and be open to new ideas and opportunities. Tell as many people as you can that you are looking for employment. The more people you tell the better the chances of tracking down the job that you are really looking for.

Volunteer positions:
Not for profit agencies have volunteer positions that you can gain valuable work experience and skills from if you are prepared to be training for free. Look through local papers and on community boards at the supermarket and local malls for volunteer positions.

Remember that one of the people you meet might just know of a position becoming vacant that is exactly what you are looking for.