Tip to employers: Experience counts
Students meet prospective employers at Hofstra's annual job/internship fair. (March 2, 2011) Credit: Newsday / Audrey C. Tiernan
For anyone older than 50 and out of work, the path to a paycheck is a steep climb. After hundreds of cover letters and a smattering of personal interviews that don't lead to employment, many older job seekers wonder what is wrong with their qualifications. The answer may be that it's not because their qualifications are too weak, it's because they are too strong.
"We've got this 'overqualified' stigma," says Maribeth Kuzmeski, an author and founder of Red Zone Marketing, an Illinois-based business consulting firm. Kuzmeski says hiring managers' often automatic rejection of highly experienced candidates is not only unfair to job seekers, it is harmful to the company.
"With a younger worker or a less experienced worker, you don't know what you're going to get," Kuzmeski says. "People who have more qualifications typically require a lot less in terms of training and have a better work ethic."
Her advice to hiring managers: Don't ignore candidates based on your own stereotyped assumptions. For example, Kuzmeski says, research and statistics show that older workers are not more expensive. They call in sick less often, are more productive and are less prone to quit. "Someone 55 or 60 years old is not likely to job jump," she says. "They will be someone who plans to stay for some time."
Instead of routinely rejecting a seemingly overqualified applicant, Kuzmeski urges hiring managers to find out why the person wants a job that may be on a lower level than their previous job. "I don't believe there's any such thing as 'overqualified,' " she says. "Either you're qualified or you're not qualified."
As for those seeking jobs, Kuzmeski says deal with the "overqualified" issue immediately. "Address the topic in the cover letter," she says. Applicants must clearly and passionately describe why they want a job that may seem below their skill level. Perhaps you can quote statistics or research that shows why older workers make better workers.
If the job is in a different field than where your experience lies, describe why you believe you are perfect for the job and will be happy doing it.
"It's your only hope of getting past that first level of screening, when people are putting those letters in the garbage can," Kuzmeski says.
