HR Words to Live By for Older Adults

Relieable, congenial, compassionate, educated, quality, and wise are words that employers should be considering when hiring for today’s jobs. Instead of tossing the resumes out for the over 50 applicant, take another look at what you might be throwing away. Many of today’s over 50 job applicants who can’t even get the interview are taking a different route. Instead of waiting for younger HR Directors to hire them, they are hiring themselves.

i just read an article today about a man over 50 that got tired of not hearing anything from the 50 resumes per week he was sending out so he started his own business. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well in today’s Baby Boomers. One friend started her own housecleaning business since she is a really good housecleaner. She now makes her own schedule and has built a full clientele by her reliability, quality of work, and her congeniality. Another friend started her own home care business for older adults no longer willing or able to do some things for themselves. Another few started a telephone helpline for seniors. One older gentleman makes a very successful living coaching older women in golf lessons. My own husband is 70 and is teaching tennis to all ages. He still enjoys a good game of singles himself. He is fond of telling me that age is just a number. I may have quoted Satchel Paige before who was known for telling reporters when they asked how old he was and still playing baseball. He was famously quoted as saying, “How old would you be if you didn’t know how old you was?” I just watched the Ironman Triathalon Race in Kona this weekend and saw many older adults finish the grueling race. Perhaps age is just a number.

Understand that HR Companies may be on a mandate to not hire too many over age 50. I have heard they even use a certain percentage. That is discrimination even if they get around it by having a small percentage over the age. It may be that their insurance companies aren’t covering older people at the same cost as younger people? I’m asking the question because everyone knows that as you grow older you need more medical care (sic). That isn’t the case with everyone but I digress.

If you are sitting by the phone, laptop, iPad, iPhone or whatever, waiting for young HR people to think you are worthy enough to call you in for an interview, don’t hold your breath. Start your own luck and do something you love. Turn your hobby into a small business and enjoy life. Chances are one of those young HR Directors may hear or see you and come looking…if they are smart.

Thanks for reading! 😉