How to Address Ageism in the Workplace

It is so frustrating to be judged based on your age. In a highly competitive job market, my older clients are expressing their increased frustration with the misconceptions that they lack adaptability and energy, or that they'll retire soon. According to a recent AARP Survey, about 64% of workers aged 45 and older believe that age discrimination impacts their job search. Ageism is very real and continues to challenge experienced professionals in their job search! Here are specific strategies to apply in the resume, cover letter, and interview to divert the hiring manager away from your age and toward the reasons why you are a good fit for the job. 1. 𝐅𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐫𝐞. Rather than listing "30 years of experience," highlight recent achievements that demonstrate the positive outcomes you have achieved. 2. 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥. If you're applying for a mid-level role despite having executive experience, explain why. You could say, “I’ve reached a place in my career where I want to apply my expertise to help grow a high-potential startup.” 3. 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐋𝐨𝐧𝐠-𝐓𝐞𝐫𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. Employers may worry about your longevity. Speak directly to your excitement about the work and express your dedication to staying with the company. Example: “My passion for this field remains strong, and I’m excited to contribute for years to come.” 4. 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠. Emphasize your willingness to learn, signaling adaptability and motivation to stay current. Mention recent training, certifications, or other learning efforts relevant to the role. 5. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧-𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝. Communicate a willingness to learn from others, including younger team members. This can help disarm biases about older workers being “set in their ways.” 6. 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦-𝐎𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬𝐞𝐭. Describe projects where you worked in a supportive role, even if you held a leadership position. Emphasize that you’re comfortable in team settings and value collective success. 7. 𝐑𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲. In your resume, cover letter, and interviews, use words like “agile,” “driven,” “passionate,” “flexible,” “innovative,” and “committed” to demonstrate energy and stamina. 8. 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐲’𝐬 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞. Ask for equity in the company. Expressing interest in equity shows a commitment to the company's success over time. This signals a desire to be invested in the organization for the long term.

I just saw 7 people age 50+ get hired. And they didn't hide who they were. But they did make some key changes. If you think age discrimination is holding you back from landing a job, read on. There are 3 places that older job seekers make mistakes: 1️⃣ FOCUSING ON YEARS > RESULTS If your resume starts with "Experienced professional with 15+ years experience..." you're already making this mistake. Your experience is valuable. But it's valuable because of the SKILLS & RESULTS you've earned. 💡 Delete the word "experience" and replace it with your actual skills. 2️⃣ BURYING YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS On average a recruiter spends 5-15 seconds reviewing your resume. That means they don't read it. Most older job seekers bury their achievements in word soup. 💡 Forget page-count, focus on word-count. 350-550 word resumes land the most interviews because they get to the point quickly. 3️⃣ "BEFORE YOUR TIME" The person interviewing you will likely be age 20-40. You want to bring them in as an ally, rather than distancing yourself from them. 💡Avoid phrases like... ↳ "This may be before your time..." ↳ "In the early 90's we..." ↳ "It's kind of like <insert old TV show>..." 💡Instead, use phrases like... ↳ "I'm a big fan of what's happening with AI..." ↳ "The latest trend of X is super fascinating to me..." ↳ "Have you heard of <insert new technology>..." Oftentimes the problem isn't your actual age. It's the signals you're sending about your age. Focus on your RESULTS, SKILLS, and the FUTURE. That's how you land a job in 2025. 👉 P.S. I'm hosting a free workshop on interview prep next week, give my profile a follow and I'll announce the workshop on Monday if you'd like to attend. _ #hiring #jobs

This interview question catches older job seekers off guard every time 😬 "So, when do you plan on retiring?" Yes, interviewers actually ask this. And if you're anywhere near your mid-fifties or older, you need to be ready for it. Here's the reality: your retirement plans are none of their business. Just like your family planning or other personal details not related to the job. But they're asking because they're wondering if you'll stick around (spoiler alert: data shows older workers actually have longer tenure than younger employees). Here's how to handle it: "Retirement's not really on my radar right now. In fact, there's so much more I want to accomplish. I'm excited about what you're doing here at X Company, and I know my experience would be invaluable." Why this works: ✓ Deflects from age ✓ Shows enthusiasm ✓ Focuses on the future ✓ Emphasizes your value ✓ Redirects to your commitment Don't let discriminatory questions derail your interview. You've got decades of experience that will make any company's future better - own it. Have you encountered this question? How did you handle it? PS. I share real talk about navigating your career after 40 - from handling ageist interview questions to protecting yourself during layoffs. Follow Maureen Wiley Clough for weekly insights that actually help, and join my pod/newsletter at itgetslatearly.com for more. Because there's no expiration date on your value in the workplace - we are all awesome at each and every age. 💪 #JobSearch #Interview #Ageism #CareerAdvice #Careers