When Worlds Collide: Parnasah for a Long Life

Apr 3, 2019 by Sue Weston

By Sue Weston

 On Rosh Chodesh, Jews pray for goodness and joy, for lives of physical health and radiance, and for fulfilling work with dignity, satisfaction, success, and sustenance. We all want to support ourselves financially over a long life. Unfortunately, securing fulfilling work becomes increasingly difficult with age.

For example, in recent years, some barriers to employment have become more difficult to overcome. Since the 2008 financial crisis, older workers have experienced increased long-term unemployment.

Furthermore, once older workers manage to land new jobs, it is likely that they will find their new salaries are 25 percent lower than their prior ones.  One of the reasons is that, in today’s job market, older workers are pitted against the crop of new graduates, and companies favor younger employees who can be hired at lower salaries.

Ageism Is Real

  According to one study, when employers were given resumes which were identical except for the age of the applicants, the call-back rate for middle-age candidates was 25 percent lower than for younger applicants, and it declined by another 25 percent for applicants whose ages ranged 46 to 65. Some studies suggest that age discrimination starts as young as 35.

Although age discrimination in the workplace is illegal, it is difficult to prove in the hiring process as long as a qualified candidate is selected.   When dismissing employees, companies never identify age as the reason for discharge, and, when sacked workers file legal suits, most of the claims are settled out of court.

Some companies use job postings to exclude older applicants from the outset by advertising that they are looking to fill entry-level positions requiring recent graduates.

Unfounded Negative Assumptions

The most common unfounded myths that plague older employees include that they are:

• Not current with technology and lack computer skills
• Set in their ways, which makes them difficult to train
• Will leave when a better opportunity comes along

In fact, statistics show that older employees are as tech-savvy as their younger counterparts and are less stressed when learning new technology.  Both applicant pools have comparable performance records when it comes to investing in learning new skills and keeping fit. Employee loyalty is equivalent. Studies show that 58 percent of millennials expect to stay at their current jobs for less than three years. In fact, there is no parametrical evidence that shows younger employees are any better than older ones no matter what criteria is used.

Offsetting the Negatives

When applying for a job, a candidate can manage his or her image.  There are ways to construct a “young” resumé and to think and act with youthful exuberance. Here are some suggestions:

• Dress and act young: Be positive. Spruce up your image by purchasing a new interview outfit, get a haircut, and deliberately put a spring in your step. Act the part!
• Build your Web-Presence: Create a profile on LinkedIn. Google your name and see what comes up (this is what your future employer will find).
• Give your resume a facelift: Remove dates and unrelated experience. Show only your past 10 years of experience and omit graduation dates.
• Stay current: Get certifications in your field, read articles, become familiar with new acronyms and emerging trends.
• Be technically literate: Keep your skills current. This also applies to your personal electronics.

Networking and Searching

• Grow your network: Experts report that 85 percent of jobs are filled as a result of networking. In addition to poring over advertised positions, successful job-seekers find that networking exposes them to approximately 80 percent of jobs, almost all of which were never publicized.
• Use volunteer activities: These can expand your skills and show that you can hold a leadership position. Volunteerism shows you are active. It is an easy way to build your network by helping you connect with people who share your passions.
• Check out the culture: Look for companies whose philosophy and ethos value experience and diversity
• Showcase your successes: During an interview, explain how your experience can benefit your future employer! Probe for business problems that you have solved. This changes the dynamics of the conversation and shows your maturity and knowledge while positioning you as a trusted advisor.
• Consider alternatives: Perhaps a new career path, such as consulting or entrepreneurship would better suit you. Some 60 percent of the women who started a business in 2016 were over 45 years old.

Take Stock of Yourself

The time between jobs can be used as a transitional opportunity to rediscover and follow passions.

It’s the time to look for the type of job that you find exciting, and if that seems impossible, you can create your own.

Facing the job market these days is scary. Rejections can be devastating, but they can all be liberating, freeing the older adult to change directions. This is the time to explore, test the water, and maybe try something different. If it does not work, you can always pick yourself up and start all over again!

Ms. Weston is an innovator with proven ability to deliver sustainable results through collaborative partnerships, creation of an inclusive workplace and the elimination of gender bias. She holds an undergraduate degree in Industrial Engineering from Columbia University, and two masters degrees: one in Industrial Engineering from NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering and the second in Organizational Management from University of Phoenix.