Do Business Well

Despite laws and company policies prohibiting age discrimination, employers are sometimes unwilling to hire older managers or even consider interviewing them. They erroneously believe that experienced managers are too costly, too set in their ways or too inflexible to work well in today’s lean and mean business environment.

If you’re unhappy in your present job or suspect that you will soon be in the job market, however, don’t allow the possibility of prejudice to negatively influence your efforts to find a position. Plenty of employers are looking for experienced professionals. It’s up to you to convince them that you’re a good catch. Here are some pointers to follow:

• Take the buffet approach to looking for a job. Start by asking those who know you and your work to make introductory calls on your behalf to potential employers they know personally. Recommendations can go a long way towards your being seriously considered. You may have to swallow your pride to ask this favor, but it’s worth it if the person thinks highly of you and is in a position to help.Beyond that, try executive search firms, respond to help-wanted ads and contact employers directly. Even if one or more of these methods hasn’t worked for you in the past, it may this time around. The more feelers you put out, the better your chances are.

• Show your flexibility. Depending on how much difficulty you’re experiencing, it may be to your advantage to indicate in a cover letter or in an interview your willingness to be an individual contributor (rather than a manager), work for someone who is younger than you, take a job that may be considered a lateral or downward move or accept a cut in pay. It’s important to address these issues even if the employer doesn’t bring them up. Otherwise the employer (particularly if he or she is younger than you) may make some incorrect assumptions.

• Demonstrate your willingness to be a team player. Another common employer prejudice is that senior managers are looking for a cushy preretirement position. It’s in your best interest to communicate your enthusiasm for working hard. Cite examples of how you met deadlines, contributed to the success of a project, or otherwise made a difference in productivity. Show that you are making a definite contribution.

• Avoid criticizing your current employer. Even if you resent the way you’re being treated, you can’t afford to let prospective employers think you’re a complainer or a prima donna. You want to show that, as a mature professional, you’ve risen above this kind of attitude.

• Consider registering with a temporary agency. More agencies are placing professionals with experience into staff positions (which are often the targets of downsizing). Employers don’t apply the same tough standards to temporary employees. Once you’re “in,” you can prove your worth, which may result in the permanent job offer you’re seeking. It’s an indirect route that can prove to be very effective.

Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)
Job-Hunting Strategies for Managers Over 50

• Talent Career Hunting
• How High Is High Enough for You?
• A Lateral Move Can Lead Upward
• Work, Too Much College, Too Little Kindergarten
• The Art of Tough Love: how do great managers terminate someone and still keep the relationship intact? part 3
• Job Career and no Job no Career, Coping with Dismissal
• The Manager and the New Career
• Using Participative Management
• My Successful Business Tips, One Rung Doesn't Necessarily Lead to Another
• Cultivating allies
• Career Managing Power: The First Thirty Seconds

6 Comments »