I bet you did not even know that the US Supreme Court recently made a dramatic change in procedures for litigating age discrimination cases. The court agreed to hear a case involving what is called "mixed-motive" discrimination. Basically that means there is more than one factor involved with a layoff, demotion or other negative employment decision. Previously an employee had to prove that age was one of the factors to file an age discrimination claim against an employer. It was then the employers burden to show that the decision was made for legitimate reasons OTHER THAN age.
What the Court did with this ruling is shift the total burden of proof to the employee, who must now prove that age was the deciding factor in order to pursue a case of age discrimination. Age discrimination is difficult to prove to begin with and now the court has set a pretty high standard for future cases.
The truth is, it can be almost impossible to know what the real factors are in any employment decision. Probably a much bigger problem facing older workers today is not the decisions in current employment, but the fact that they often are screened out before the interview process even starts.
Here are a few tips for those "over 50" job seekers.
1. Minimize dates on your resume but don't be misleading. Emphasize the positive economic impact you have had on previous companies rather than your tenure. Most resumes get a quick keyword scan these days, so draw the attention to your previous contributions not your years of experience.
2. Keep your technology skills current. No matter what job you are applying for you should know how to use Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint. If you can't put that on your resume, go take a class and then put it on your resume. In my opinion, don't put that you know how to use Outlook. It is assumed EVERYONE knows how to use email.
3. I know you have a cell phone and I know that in 2009 that cell phone is capable of receiving text messages. Under contact information put cell/txt and your cell phone number. Then go get one of your kids or grandkids to show you to read and reply to text messages.
4. Have an online presence. Sign up for an account on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. Yes sign up for ALL THREE. Trust me it is not that hard and if it is that hard for you, think of it as a chance to spend some quality time with a 12 year old you know who can help you out. This is one you can actually turn around to your advantage, because a lot of 20 somethings still have not learned that employers really do check these sites.
I know you are not going to have a picture of yourself drunk at a frat party. You would not want anyone to see you in those patent leather shoes and plaid bell bottom pants you wore to the last frat party you attended anyway.
5. Finally check your email address. If it is Num1granpa@verizon.net, go to www.gmail.com and get a new professional looking one to use for job searching. You might consider a gmail account regardless, just because it is free and gmail was launched in 2005. Having a gmail address proves you have actually used the internet in the last 4 years.
Where to find More Information:
The Old Folks who Stuck It to the Old Folks
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