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8 Ways Older Job Seekers Invite Age Unconscious Bias on Social Media [Guest Post]

Unconscious Bias

unconscious bias
Copyright: andrewgenn / 123RF Stock Photo

Job seekers after 55 have a hard (but not impossible) task of finding work. Many find themselves searching for much lower paying jobs, creating a business, or both. Employers and recruiters look for ways to exclude candidates such as baby boomers. One way is to check to see if he or she has a social media profile, and next what does someone’s timeline say about them.

Older and younger job seekers are not as conscientious about personal brand awareness as they should. Although we see many people talk about transparency, there are limits. There are absolutes needing privacy like medical information or personal affiliations.

There are other things people share offer more unneeded scrutiny:

Too proud to let old accomplishments go

I know you were an award-winning salesperson or sold a startup in the 90s, but it’s likely irrelevant. Most employers want to know your new industry or career exploits. Don’t have any, then make some. There are too many platforms to display expertise on the web. Volunteer work is also plentiful for picking and choosing career growth.

You’re sharing age-defining stuff on social media

Yes, I know what you’ll say, you never shared your age. Right? Well, how about using words like grandkids (not in all instances but suspect), remembering old events like it happened yesterday (You say you’re old school, right?), or referring to groups of ethnicities in old terms builds the perception of your age

Sharing physical or medical aches, pains, or illnesses

I get you are crowdsourcing information, but I plead with you to reconsider. It’s one thing to share too much information, but often sharing age defining information is detrimental to your career. Sharing you have prostate cancer, strokes, or certain chronic illnesses says more than you think

Sharing old pictures

OK, old high school and college pictures are one thing (especially when you scan a Polaroid). Your 30 and 40-year-old children tell an employer everything they need to know. You’re too old

Sharing incessant complaints about lacking energy

Most employers claim to manage a fast-paced environment, and you are complaining about your lack of energy. Always. It says you’re too old to keep up

Sharing you’re relying on old job search strategies to find work

You update show: You work hard and a team player. You’ve applied to hundreds of jobs without a response. There’s one evergreen job search strategy rarely talked about: Networking. You want employers to see you’re connected and active in professional organizations and affiliations. They want to see you add value

Complaining “things aren’t the way they used to be”

Technology has changed everything, and the statement says, “I’m not willing to change.” Instead, show how agile you are with technology even if you are crowdsourcing from your network. Updates are opportunities to demonstrate knowledge and relevancy

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Vocalizing your resistance to constant technology changes

It’s bad enough you’re hanging onto your iPhone 4 (by the way, Apple isn’t supporting it anymore), but you are asking for help. Or any technology you’re unwilling to make a shift to a more relevant device or software it says more about you than you think. No one wants to work with someone with their technological heels dug in

Ageism is still the great Uncle in the room no one wants to acknowledge. We’re glad he’s here, but we wonder for how long. Saying you have 15+ experience if you’re not an executive smacks the wrong label on your career. Although your feelings have validity as you own the right to say them, someone will have an unfavorable interpretation. Friends and family want to refer you, but you can’t upload a clear picture. And that’s a problem.

Mark Anthony DysonThis post was written by Mark Anthony Dyson who is the “The Voice of Job Seekers,” career consultant, job seeker advocate, career writer, and founder of this award-winning blog. I help the employed, unemployed, underemployed, and under-appreciated find jobs using job search strategies to navigate the new job market. He can be found Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, his website: http://thevoiceofjobseekers.com and on iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-voice-of-job-seekers/id704984053.
 

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Category iconLife and Careers in the 2nd Half of Life

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Comments

  1. Satish says

    April 6, 2017 at 12:55 am

    Yes, it is correct older and younger job seekers are not as conscientious about personal brand awareness as they. Online Career Guidance gives the greatest favorable benefit of making trustworthy career counselors open to all students and professionals without the impediment of topography. Online Career Guidance permits an student to take the aptitude test from the place of his/her own particular decision and the outcome of the test is comprehensive statement that rundowns the students personality profile and give the suggestion to future career way.

  2. Gary Marston says

    July 6, 2017 at 4:39 pm

    Interesting article. Basically, this article is providing guidance on how not to “appear” old in the digital world. However, the core issue – “companies failing to follow their diversity policy – not to discriminate against – gender, race, ethnicity, age, religion, and many more. In the first paragraph, the author states “Employers and recruiters look for ways to exclude candidates such as baby boomers.” This conveys intent to be biased. What companies and recruiters should focus on – finding the individual for the position based on objective criteria and cultural fit regardless of their age, gender, race, ethnicity, or religion.

    • Sonia says

      March 10, 2018 at 9:59 am

      I totally agree with what you said. How does noting grandchildren a bad thing? How does saying you have 15 yrs of experience but your not an executive a bad thing?
      Let employers deal with a younger generation that doesn’t have the work experience, ethics or drive as they pit older against younger in the place of employment.
      It’s sad when today you have to brand your life to satisfy and show your worthy.

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