How does one handle age bias?
From older workers feeling job discrimination to younger employees wanting to switch careers, job seekers want advice. Career counseling expert Terri Carpenter of the Sacramento (Calif.) Employment and Training Agency offers some guidance.
Q: I have been to resume critique and job-search seminars and found them very valuable. But when I visit a prospective employer, there seems to be a huge elephant in the room: my age. While my cover letter and professional qualifications open the door for interviews, I cannot hide the fact that I am a 62-year-old white male.
I recently attended a job orientation with a national company that received 450 resumes for five positions. Nine of us were invited to the orientation. I thought this time would be different because my personality, affable nature and experience would garner an interview. It did not. It seems the 30-something (interviewer) ... could not see hiring someone who reminded her of her dad.
Why do I not hear the outcry of older workers about an issue that is epidemic?
A: Complaints about discrimination against older workers are on the rise and have been covered by the media, both nationally and locally, in recent months. I have received quite a few e-mails from older workers expressing your same
concerns.
The best advice I can give to older workers is to keep your skills current, especially your computer skills. Depending on the type of job you’re seeking, be sure you are Internet-savvy and familiar with Windows-based programs such as word processing, spreadsheets, databases and presentation applications. Microsoft offers training programs through organizations such as AARP. You may be eligible for a grant to pay for computer courses.
Q: What are the best tools to assess your job skills and interests?
A: There are a couple of free tools available that will help determine your skills and interests.
The first is IDEAS (Interest, Determination, Exploration and Assessment System), designed for students and adults. It helps identify your interests and the different types of careers that you might enjoy. Visit pearsonassessments.com for more information.
The second, ONet OnLine, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, lets users search for occupations that use their skills. It has extensive data on numerous occupations, including those in the “green” industry. Find out more at online.onetcenter.org.
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