Companies seek people who are enthusiastic, fit, stable and confident in their skills. With a growing number of older job candidates in the marketplace, one can really get a leg up on the competition by revealing information that may be on the minds of interviewers, but which they are forbidden to ask. My goal is to join a company where I can help the business grow profitably. Retirement is something we both think is for the very old. Even if the job candidate making these statements has graying hair, the interviewer is likely to be impressed with his or her openness.
Maturity is expressed as a positive factor and the job hunter s enthusiasm for working is clear.
Statements about home ownership and marital status reflect stability. The fact that retirement plans are not in the near future sends the signal that, if hired, the person will likely remain for a number of years and will consider the position as his or her last job. The willingness to learn and a social relationship with younger people displays flexibility and dispels the stereotype that older people are rigid in their thinking and attitudes. The worst thing a job-seeker can do is apologize or act defensive about being older. Never say, Nobody really wants to hire someone who is over 50.