Tips for Older Job Seekers

Employment 

Options:
KNOWING YOURSELF AND YOUR SKILLS 

Start by taking an inventory of the skills and experience you have acquired through 

jobs and activities in your life. Work, parenting, hobbies, part-time and seasonal 

work, volunteering—all require skills that can be readily applied to the employment 

you seek. Describe the main duties for each activity and list the skills you used 

to accomplish them, then think about how these skills could apply to a job that 

interests you. For example, 

If you know how to... Your transferable skills might include... 

develop a budget basic accounting, office management 

care for children or relatives care giving, customer service

organize a community event organizational skills, event planning

weatherproof your home conducting energy audits and other “green services”

Older adults from all walks of life are returning to the workforce—

or joining it for the first time. Many employers value older 

workers’ knowledge, maturity and work ethic, but finding a job 

can be difficult, particularly for adults over age 50. Studies 

show that entering or re-entering the workforce at later ages 

is more difficult than at younger ages. Older adults, however, 

have something that younger workers do not have: experience. 

Even if you have not been steadily employed, you have picked up 

transferable skills just by living your life. If you are an older adult 

who has not applied for a job in many years, this guide provides a 

framework for you to increase your odds of finding employment. 
FINDING JOB LEADS 

The Hidden Job Market 

Many job opportunities are never listed 

online, in the newspaper, or in a job 

bank. Some experts say 80 percent of 

openings are never advertised. Many 

businesses do not need to advertise or 

prefer to hire someone referred to them. 

Unadvertised openings make up the 

hidden job market. 

Your best source of leads for these jobs 

is your network, people you already 

know— your friends, neighbors, 

relatives, former co-workers, church 

members. Tell them about your 

job search and ask for ideas about 

organizations that may be hiring 

or people they know who can offer 

information about job openings. 

Consider adding to your existing 

network by joining organizations, 

volunteering, or attending meetings 

related to occupations or industries 

that interest you.

Make a list of potential employers and 

learn as much about them as you can. 

What are their needs and how can you 

fill them? You can increase your odds 

at every step in your job search by 

learning as much as you can about a 

specific job lead, including the skills and 

prior experience the job requires. Use 

your network, newspapers, newsletters 

and magazines as sources. Once you 

know about the company and the job, 

determine the best way to approach it: 

Send a résumé, complete an application, 

call the business directly or schedule an 

informational interview.

PRESENTING YOURSELF

TO EMPLOYERS

Potential employers will want to see 

your skills and experience in writing 

(in a résumé or job application) and in 

person (during a job interview). Target 

your potential employers’ needs in 

your application, résumé and interview. 

In Writing

Whether you submit a résumé or 

complete an application, tailor it to the 

position—when it comes to résumés, 

one size does not fit all. Use words 

from the job description, if there is one. 

It is important to describe your skills 

in a way to motivate the employer to 

interview you. Many companies require 

applications to be submitted online. 

If your computer skills are weak, find 

someone to help you fill out and submit 

your online application.

Résumé Tips

 Write a summary of your skills and 

experience targeted to the requirements 

of the job. Emphasize experience 

within the last 10 to 15 years. Keep 

information brief and to the point.

 Mention volunteer work, training and 

certifications only if pertinent to the 

position. Avoid including personal 

information.

 Include your education. If you have 

a GED, list yourself as a high school 

graduate. If you have a college degree,

it is not necessary to list your high 

school education. 

 Have someone review your résumé 

for errors.
Application Tips

 Make a list of your work-related 

information to take with you when 

you apply, including dates and 

positions held, employer addresses, 

salaries, skills and duties. 

 Read the entire application before you 

begin and follow directions carefully. 

Double-check your answers.

 Type or print neatly and avoid errors. 

If possible, take the application home, 

so you can take your time filling it out 

and seek assistance if necessary.

 Avoid negative information, such as 

personal, legal or financial problems. Do 

not volunteer unnecessary information.

In Person

An interview lets you and your 

potential employer learn about each 

other. Prepare by learning as much 

as you can about the company and 

the position. Practice what you will 

say, so you feel comfortable and can 

make a positive impression. Illustrate 

that age is an asset by discussing your 

skills and experience in a way that 

targets the position for which you are 

applying and shows employers you 

are adaptable and willing to learn. 

Keep in mind that the overall goal of 

the interview is to describe your skills 

in a way to motivate this particular 

employer to want to hire you.

Interview Tips

 Anticipate questions; prepare answers 

for each one. Practice with a friend. 

 Review your accomplishments. 

Anticipate difficult questions about 

gaps in your employment history, 

career changes, and so on.

 Where possible, mention your 

willingness to learn new skills (such 

as technical skills) and to work with 

diverse co-workers and customers.

 During the interview, listen. Take 

your time responding. Don’t dwell on 

topics unrelated to the job.

 Ask questions about the job to show 

your interest, but avoid asking about 

benefits or salary until you are offered 

the job.

 By law, interviewers may not ask your 

age, marital or family status. Do not 

discuss race, religion, age, national 

origin or gender.
In Your Community

 The Senior Community Service 

Employment Program (SCSEP) places 

income-eligible workers over age 55 

in part-time, temporary community 

service positions where they can learn 

job skills. Many Area Agencies on 

Aging (AAAs) are the point of contact 

for SCSEPs; to find out if there is a 

program in your area, contact a AAA 

by calling the Eldercare Locator at 

1-800-677-1116 or by going online to 

www.eldercare.gov. 

 One-Stop Career Centers offer skills’ 

assessments, training referrals, career 

counseling, help with résumés and 

interviewing, and job listings. To find 

one near you, call 1-877-348-0502. 

 Public libraries often offer career 

services, including résumé help, 

job listings, classes and access to 

computers.

 Many community colleges’ career 

service offices assist job seekers, 

even non-students, with finding 

job leads, résumé-writing and 

interviewing skills.

Online

This guide will help you get your job 

search started, whether or not you use 

the Internet. The Internet is a vastly 

useful job-searching tool; numerous 

job listings, career and company 

information, and applications are 

available online. Check for availability 

of free computer access at libraries, 

senior centers/AAAs and schools. 

Librarians at your public library or 

career counselors at a One-Stop Career 

Center can get you started.

Useful websites for older job-seekers: 

www.careeronestop.org

The One-Stop Career Center website has 

links to information on job searches, 

résumés, interviewing, education and 

training.

www.aarp.org/work/job-hunting 

AARP offers advice and information for 

older job-seekers.

www.doleta.gov/seniors

This website describes the Senior 

Community Service Employment 

Program (SCSEP), a community service 

and work-based training program for 

older workers.

RESOURCES 
1-800-677-1116 

www.eldercare.gov

The first step in finding resources for 

older adults in any U.S. community 

and a free national service of the U.S. 

Administration on Aging (AoA). The 

Eldercare Locator is administered 

by the National Association of Area 

Agencies on Aging (n4a). 

Senior Service America, Inc. (SSAI)

SSAI is a non-profit organization 

that provides civic engagement and 

employment opportunities for adults 

over the age of 55 who wish to reenter the workforce. SSAI is one of 

18 national sponsors and 56 units of 

state and territorial governments of the 

Senior Community Service Employment 

Program nationwide. 

The funding for this project was provided by a grant from the Administration on Aging, 

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.