How Do You Demonstrate You Have Great Value to Your Employer When You’re Over Fifty

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I

magine the following scenario: You are relaxing in your gym’s hot tub after a long, exhausting day of job-hunting. As you let the jets of hot water gradually relax the kinks in your neck and back, you look around at the other two guys who just happen to be sharing the space with you. Shocked, amazed and not just a little star-struck, you recognize them as two of the most renowned athletes of our time: Peyton Manning and Michael Jordan. How could these sports luminaries be hanging out in your humble little health club, you wonder. Then you notice that both men are looking right at you.

“We’re here to share some important things with you,” Michael Jordan explains. “Don’t ask us how, but we heard you were having a tough time and figured you could use some encouragement.”

Peyton Manning chimes in, “You might find this a little hard to believe, but the three of us have a lot in common. We’re all older guys, not past our prime yet but definitely not in our youth either. In both our cases, people have thought that we were over the hill and should just hang up our spikes, so to speak. We’re both living proof that youth isn’t always better and that maturity can sometimes actually be an advantage.” What could these multi-millionaires have in common with you, you ask.

Michael is the first to volunteer a pearl of wisdom. “Remember when I retired from basketball? I just couldn’t see myself playing shuffleboard or spending my life watching highlight videos. So what did I do? I tried other things, like professional golf, minor league baseball and even owning my own team.” Michael goes on to tell you that just as he cast his net wide, you can, too. You can take many of the skills and experiences you gleaned from past jobs and transfer them to new career opportunities. Think of it as redirecting, not reinventing your abilities.

“One thing that was indispensable for me was forcing myself to network,” Peyton volunteers. You realize that he’s not talking about those often trite and cheesy mixer parties; no, he means using the contacts and connections you have gathered through a lifetime of experience to help you at a time when you’re feeling adrift. After an injury that most thought had totally ended his career, Peyton didn’t lie down and die. Instead, he pushed himself almost beyond endurance, didn’t allow himself to lose faith that he would succeed and garnered support from his family, friends and fellow football players who truly believed in him. We all know the result: one of the most amazing come-backs in NFL history. In your case, networking means renewing old alliances, getting cozy with technology such as LinkedIn and not being afraid to ask for help. Whether it’s through an old college buddy or an unemployment support group, help—and eventual employment success—can come from unexpected sources.

“Think of this as a time when you can do a total reboot,” Michael says, smiling a bit guiltily at the tech pun. What he means is that when you have finished the routine tasks of your daily job search, take an hour or two to hone a skill or learn a new one. Not sure how to use a Mac? Never quite understood the ins and outs of Twitter? Always wondered how to do basic html? Well, there’s no time like the present to add a few new items to your tool kit.

“It’s all about your attitude and how you present yourself,” Peyton adds. While getting depressed or down is nothing to be ashamed of, don’t let it consume you. Instead, re-brand your age by turning maturity into an asset instead of a liability. Strut your stuff by articulating over and over until you believe it that your years of experience have molded you into being a creative, flexible thinker. When problems arise, you use your impressive archive of life lessons to arrive at a solution that a younger worker wouldn’t even know existed. Once you are convinced of the truth of age’s benefits, be sure that your resume reflects it. A resume is much more than a list of skills; the best ones chronicle a person’s tangible achievements. And that’s where an older worker can truly shine.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Michael cuts in. ‘Nobody wants to hire me because I have too much experience. I’m just plain over-qualified. Well, I can tell you something about that. Going from five-time MVP to minor league ballplayer was quite a leap. Who was going to take me seriously?” To avoid failing because of this trap, Michael advises that you focus on the moment. Emphasize the strong points that you see in your prospective employer; let your interviewer know that you want to join an organization whose philosophy and goals gel so perfectly with yours. Tell the person that you would be delighted to put your experience and skills toward realizing the company’s vision. If they don’t bite after that amazing sell, it’s their loss.

“Do you have any other tips for me?” you ask after noticing that Michael and Peyton are reaching for their towels and preparing to leave the hot tub.”

“If we had to sum it up in one sentence,” Peyton answers, “it would probably be this: Get support from positive people, list your talents, rebrand your age, find out what you don’t know, fill in the gaps and toot your own horn.“

“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Michael agrees as he claps you on the shoulder with one of his huge hands. “Good luck, buddy. We have faith in you.”

Of course, this conversation never took place. In fact, chances are quite good that you will never share a hot tub with these world-famous celebrities. Yet, there is nothing false about their advice. Think about it, take it and use it. Before long, you too may see how you can overcome what you thought was an insurmountable barrier. Remember this: you may be over fifty, but you’re still in the game. All you need to do is take a run at the ball.