Strategies for Older Workers to Market Themselves

Posted by in Career Advice


Just because you may be entering retirement age does not mean that you are too old to work if you still want (or need) to. In fact, many companies are looking to the Baby Boomer generation and beyond to fill in roles that require years of experience.

So if you’re looking to come out of retirement, or simply want to switch jobs and are at an age that some might consider older, don’t put yourself out of the game. Instead, take on a few of these strategies to help you market yourself so that you can obtain the same great opportunities as your younger counterparts.

Remember, You’re Experienced

Everyone knows that as an older worker, you’re coming to the table with years of experience that someone out of college could only dream of. But your level of experience goes way beyond just years of responsibility. You also have life experience.

You may have been through difficult periods in your life where your primary goal was to keep a roof over your family’s heads and food on the table. So now that a recession is upon us, to you, this is old news – been there, done that. When marketing yourself to a prospective employer, it helps to note the level of work and life experience you hold. Employers can appreciate an emotionally stable mind in the midst of times that can leave fragile souls weaker than ever before.

You’re Confident and Self-Sufficient

Unlike a younger counterpart who may just be starting out in the work world and is feeling a bit overwhelmed and under-confident, you have been in the midst of new challenges multiple times throughout your life. You know how to adapt quickly to a new environment, don’t need constant feedback and reassurance that you’re a good worker, and aren’t too intimidated to reach out to people you don’t know to ask for help or begin projects. You understand that when the job needs to get done, it needs to get done – and you don’t let fears get in the way of doing just that. You’ve seen too much to have inhibitions at this stage in your life – definitely a great asset to market to any prospective employer.

Learning and Being a Team Player is No Problem

One concern of employers looking at older candidates is whether that candidate will be easy to train and work with, or stuck in his or her ways. It is important to assure any prospective employer that you are incredibly flexible, love to learn new things and enjoy working with others. You can use examples in your resume, cover letter, and interview of new technologies you’ve used and how you were successful in group environments in the past. You want to make sure the employer understands you will not be difficult as you may be stereotyped to be. Instead, you are the exact opposite and look forward to making a substantial difference in their company.

Applying for a new job in your later years can be as easy as it was when you were young if you market yourself well. So don’t be intimidated. Instead, take control and show them what they’d be missing if they didn’t hire you.

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  • Deejay
    Deejay
    Great post!
  • Delly
    Delly
    Glad I've finally found something I agree with!
  • China
    China
    Sounds great to me
  • Datherine
    Datherine
    Sounds great to me
  • Flip
    Flip
    That's the best answer so far!
  • Cami
    Cami
    Wow, that’s a really clever way of thinking about it!
  • ruth l.
    ruth l.
    I am finding that trying to get a job at my age is almost an impossibility. When I read the paragraphs above about experienced, confident, self-sufficient and team work qualities among the older generation, I agree that all these are true certainly from my point of view.When I consider that not only have I had to completely re-do my life, I have had to do it at an advanced age. Personally I would think that would be enough proof to show any employer that if they want a pro-active and flexible person they would find that in me.I supported myself from the sales of my art for almost 40 years until we hit the age of cheap imports followed by the crash of the economy. I had to simply drop the first passion of my life and pursue a second passion that I had shelved long ago. I have been in school since 2005 and will shortly have my Masters in mental health counseling.This should present to me many opportunities for work with substance abuse, the elderly, family and marriage therapy or with trauma and PTSD.However, employers seem to want 3 years experience and although I look like I have been doing this forever I am actually a beginner. How does one present oneself out there in the working world at age 70? I know there are a million things I can do and there is much need for my services, yet I am overwhelmed by the endless resume submissions that lead no where.
  • Mary Ann Uschak
    Mary Ann Uschak
    Hire me!
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